President and Dean Camille M. Davidson and Board of Trustees Chair Brian Batzli ’85 welcome the incoming class of 2026 on the first day of term.
Mitchell Hamline School of Law welcomed a record 403 students to campus on Aug. 24 to start their law school journey as part of the incoming class of 2026. The strength of this year’s incoming class is the result of a competitive admissions cycle and reflects a nationwide demand for legal education.
“These students chose Mitchell Hamline because they are excited to participate in the clinics and learn from the centers and institutes. They were encouraged by many of our alumni around the state and country,” said Vice President of Enrollment Annie Gemmell ’12. “And, of course, for so many we offer an opportunity otherwise unavailable because of location, work and family commitments, or personal challenges.”
The incoming class of 2026 leverages Mitchell Hamline’s flexible enrollment options, with students earning their J.D. on campus or partially online through the blended-learning program. Sixty-one percent of the class is attending law school part time, taking advantage of the largest part-time program of any law school in the country.
There is no one right way to pursue a legal education, and this incoming class is an exemplar of students forging their own paths to law school that makes sense for their lives.
With ages ranging from 20 to 66, students have come to law school with undergraduate and graduate degrees or after serving in the military. They have worked in education, engineering, and agriculture, and they’ve served their communities as firefighters, activists, and artists. They’ve gained experience in the legal field and justice system as police, paralegals, and patent agents.
The class includes alumni of 203 domestic and international institutions, with more than 80 students holding graduate degrees. In addition to Minnesota, the class hails from 42 states and D.C. They represent 10 countries from regions around the world and 18 Native American Tribes.
Thirty-five percent of the incoming class are first-generation college students, while 89% are first-generation law students—the first in their families to attend law school.
“I know that so many students chose Mitchell Hamline because they found a law school community that is truly supportive and invested in their success,” said Gemmell.
Starting from Week One, faculty and staff are invested in meeting students where they are and helping them be successful in law school and after graduation. This first week of the term frontloaded the course Legal Methods to acclimate students to the skills and rigors of law school and provided opportunities to engage with student organizations and resources that will support them throughout law school and beyond, including academic support, bar preparation, an extensive alumni network, and a culture of mutual care.
Interested in being part of the Mitchell Hamline incoming class of 2027? Connect with our Admissions team to learn more about the process of applying to law school.
