The goal at Mitchell Hamline is for every student to be able to spend a semester working full time at a firm, business, courthouse, or other legal setting. Rick Petry is leading the effort to make that happen.
Petry, a 1998 graduate of Hamline University School of Law, was hired this summer as assistant director of career and professional development.
He said Mitchell Hamline offers more than 30 “residency” placements at the moment but that he’d like to get that number to about 150 by 2019. Students participate in residencies in one of the last three semesters of law school. They earn credit, and in some cases are paid. They spend all week at their work site except for a few hours of class, and they are supervised by faculty as well as the attorneys at their site. Residencies are a key part of Mitchell Hamline’s effort to help students make the transition to practice.
Petry comes to Mitchell Hamline after nearly 20 years as an attorney and consultant. He encourages alums who may have a residency opportunity to email him or call 651-695-7633.