A Law School for the Real World.

William mitchell iN

52 WORDS

That’s William Mitchell College of Law.

That’s practical wisdom.

ONe Of the tOp-RaNkeD cliNical pROgRamS iN the cOuNtRy.

A leader in teaching theory and practical, real-world skills. Robust

externship and mentoring programs. Faculty who teach, study, and

practice. A large, engaged, supportive alumni base. A commitment

to community service. Innovative enrollment options.

For 114 years, William Mitchell has built

a reputation in Minnesota and across the

country as a law school that prepares

students from all walks of life to hit the

ground running as lawyers and leaders

as soon as they graduate. From day one, our students learn to think and act like lawyers. Our courses

teach legal theory and skills. Students don’t just study contract law, they

negotiate and write contracts in class. They file motions, negotiate deals,

and advocate—all before they’ve completed their first year.

Students also have opportunities to develop and hone their skills every year

they’re on campus. Many 1Ls volunteer in the community through the

Minnesota Justice Foundation and work as research assistants with the Public

Health Law Center at William Mitchell. After the first year, every student who

wants hands-on, practical experience can participate in our top-ranked clinical

program, our externship program, or the new legal residency program.

Getting out of the classroom and into the field serves our students well.

They gain real-world skills and experience. They also connect with our strong,

supportive alumni network, which includes 11,000 attorneys and business

professionals working at law firms large and small, businesses in an array of

industries, government agencies, legal aid organizations, and public policy

firms. Our alumni like helping Mitchell students succeed, and they work

closely with our Career and Professional Development team to provide

networking, job-shadowing, and employment opportunities.

When you graduate from William Mitchell, you’ll have the skills, knowledge,

network, and confidence to start practicing law the first day on the job.

That’s the William Mitchell advantage.

The William Mitchell aDvaNtage

Number of years William mitchell has been opening the doors of opportunity for students from all walks of life and pioneering practical legal education

Number of William mitchell alumni serving on the minnesota court of appeals (out of 17 judges)

Number of court of appeals clerkships awarded to mitchell students in 2013 (out of 25 total)

Number of judicial clerkships awarded to mitchell students in 2013

Rank of William mitchell’s clinical program among the region’s law schools(u.S. News & World Report)

Number of William mitchell alumni who served as mentors to first-year students in 2013

Rank of William mitchell in a recent survey of 1,500 practicing attorneys in minnesota for “preparedness of graduates”

William mitchell by the numbers

114

9

13

43

1

1

116

Theory and practice: from day one, our classes teach theory, practical skills, and professionalism

Academics

Enrollment OptiONS William Mitchell is the only ABA-accredited law school to offer three enrollment options to meet the needs of students from all walks of life:

Traditional Full Time l On-campus l 4–5 classes per semester l Classes meet Monday through Friday

Traditional Part Time l On campus l 3–4 classes per semester l Classes meet at 6 pm three nights per week (with an occasional fourth night) Monday through Thursday

Hybrid Part Time l On-campus and online l 3–4 classes per semester l Come to campus the first week of the first and third semester, come back to campus the last week of each semester for Capstone week

theORy aND DOctRiNe

Courses integrate lectures, reading, and hands-on training.

They empower students with the ability to think critically, argue

compellingly, write sharply, negotiate successfully, and favorably

complete transactions.

By the time our students earn their degree, they have the skills,

knowledge, professionalism, and experience to feel like confident

lawyers. We call it practical wisdom.

SkillS-BaSeD cuRRiculum

Learning to practice law isn’t entirely about reading casebooks and

listening to lectures.

At Mitchell, students gain a distinct advantage in their education and

professional careers during their first year of law school. All students

take Writing and Representation: Advice and Persuasion (WRAP). It

features small-group classes designed to help students begin to master

fundamental client representation skills such as interviewing clients,

writing memos, researching the law, negotiating contracts, settling

cases, and arguing motions.

In addition, all Mitchell students take a hands-on skills-building Advocacy

course that focuses on client representation, and advocacy skills in a

courtroom setting.

“Deals and Dispute Resolution is different than a lot of the courses offered at Mitchell or any other law school. It’s a lot more hands-on—you’re thrown into the fire. You do a lot of negotiations, interviewing, and actually writing contracts. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it in the end.”

– Nate Snyder, 3L

Only at Mitchell:Deals and Dispute Resolution Innovation and a commitment to practical wisdom are William Mitchell

hallmarks, so some of our classes are unlike anything you’ll find at other

law schools.

Deals and Dispute Resolution is a one-of-a-kind J-Term course that has

been called “exhausting but exhilarating.” It’s also been called “the most

realistic class” some students have ever taken.

Over the course of five days, students work morning, noon, and night

doing the work of a transactional lawyer. Under the supervision of 10

professors, they spend a pressure-filled and hectic week working on

complex negotiations between two fictional companies.

They prepare late into the night and negotiate during the day. They use

their classroom knowledge to write contracts. They use the skills they’ve

gained in the Business Law Clinic and the Center for Law and Business to

advocate and negotiate. And by the end of the course, they know what

it’s like to be a lawyer in the real world.

This intense, skills-building course is something Mitchell has been

doing for a long time, and it’s the model for the simulation courses

that students who choose the hybrid enrollment option will experience

during their on-campus Capstone weeks.

Practical wisdomLearning by working with real clients on real cases

Gaining wisdom through practical, hands-on experience is a hallmark of a William Mitchell

education. Our professors were pioneers in developing practical legal education—and they

continue to be on the forefront of innovation today.

We believe that good lawyers know the law, great lawyers have the ability to put it to

work for their clients and communities. Mitchell students gain practical wisdom through our

top-ranked clinical program, a robust externship program, a new legal residency program,

and skills courses that are highly regarded for their rigor and real-world applications.

Robyn Meyer-Thompson ’14 came to William Mitchell to earn a J.D. degree and use it to help

people who have traditionally struggled to access the justice system. By the time she graduated,

she had already represented 15 clients in the Civil Advocacy and Immigration Law Clinics.

William mitchell clinics l Business Law Clinic

l Child Protection Clinic l Civil Advocacy Clinic

l Community Development Clinic

l Criminal Appeals Clinic

l Immigration Law Clinic

l Indian Law Clinic

l Intellectual Property Clinic

l Law and Psychiatry Clinic

l Legal Planning Clinic for Tax-Exempt Organizations

and Low Income Clients

l Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners Clinic

l Misdemeanor Clinic

l Reentry Clinic (helping women being released from prison)

l Self-Help Clinic (a student-run, not-for-credit clinic helping

people representing themselves in court)

l Veterans Law Clinic (a student- run, not-for-credit clinic serving military veterans)

Under the supervision of full-time professors, more than

200 students a year hone their skills and serve the public by

working with clients who might not otherwise have access to

legal representation.

Students interview clients, write memos and briefs, represent

clients in court, and argue cases before judges—all before

they graduate.

They help secure patents for new inventions, protect Native

languages, reunite children with their parents, secure

citizenship for new Americans, and help small-business owners

connect with legal resources they otherwise could not afford.

Their work in our clinics makes a positive difference—in their

futures as well as in the lives of their clients.

Our last graduating class worked with 8,000 clients during their

time at Mitchell through the Minnesota Justice Foundation, our

clinical program, and our externship program.

The William Mitchell Clinical Program

“When I am able to directly serve our clients, I am the one who benefits the most,” she says of her work with the clinics. “My decision to attend William Mitchell was based on the strong reputation of its clinical program—and it has paid off tremendously. I feel equipped with the practical skills to represent low-income clients in the real world.”

l University of Minnesota Office of Institutional Compliance

(Compliance) l Department of Labor & Industry Chief Legal Counsel’s Office

(Labor Law) l Department of Transportation General Counsel’s Office

(Government) l Department of Public Safety Internal Affairs

(Government) l Department of Human Services General Counsel’s Office, Appeals & Regulations

(Government) l Public Utilities Commission

(Government, Compliance) l Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

(Environmental, Public Policy) l Minnesota Pollution Control Agency General Counsel’s Office

(Government, Environmental, Compliance) l Minnesota State Colleges and Universities General Counsel’s Office

(Government, Compliance, Employment) l Hennepin County Title Examiner Office, Tax Services Contracts and Procurement

(Government, Tax) l United States Department of Agriculture

(Government, Compliance, Employment)

l Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Regional Counsel’s Office

(Government, Compliance, Health Care) l National Labor Relations Board, Regional Counsel’s Office

(Public Policy, Labor) l St. Croix County, Wisconsin, District Attorney’s Office

(Criminal) l Wilson Law Group

(Immigration) l NCS Pearson, Inc.

(Trademark) l Colich & Associates

(Criminal) l Kagan Binder

(Intellectual Property) l White Bear Lake Area Schools

(General Practice) l Jardine, Logan & O’Brien

(Litigation) l Paschal Nwokocha Law Offices (Immigration) l St. Paul City Attorney’s Office

(Civil & Criminal Divisions) l U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

(Government) l Shepherd Data Services, Inc.

(E-Discovery & Litigation Management)

the William mitchell exteRNShip pROgRamWilliam Mitchell offers a variety of externships that allow our students to earn credit outside of the law school by working with practicing attorneys in the community. iN 2013, 300 StuDeNtS WeRe aWaRDeD exteRNShipS. They worked

with public defenders to preserve the rights of the accused. They worked with

state and county agencies to shape public policy and protect society’s most

vulnerable. And they worked with federal judges to ensure the judicial system

is just. Among the partners students have worked with are:

The William Mitchell legal residency programStudents in the legal residency program get to experience

the best of in-classroom and in-the-field education. They

participate in a three-credit seminar taught by a professor

with expertise in the area of law in which the student will

be working as a legal resident. Together, the students and

professors focus on developing lawyering skills such as

counseling clients and preparing for and appearing in court.

Students then venture into the real world to work at least three

full days each week at their residency sites, which have included:

minnesota public Defender’s Office

St. croix county District attorney’s Office

family law Referee–hennepin county

minneapolis city attorney’s Office

federal public Defender’s Office

united States attorney’s Office

mid-minnesota legal aid (minneapolis and St. cloud)

central minnesota legal Services

Waggoner law Office

colich & associates

The William Mitchell campus is located in the Summit Avenue neighborhood in St. Paul, Minn. We’re located just minutes from the downtowns of Minneapolis and

St. Paul, which are home to state and federal government offices, top

law firms, and 18 Fortune 500 companies—all of which employ William

Mitchell graduates in leadership positions.

Because William Mitchell is an independent law school, our students

have the advantage of fully dedicated student services staff, financial

aid office, and a career and professional development team that is made

up of people with J.D.s who understand what it takes to land the right

job after graduation.

Our sole focus is the success of our students, and we take great pride

in helping students from all walks of life achieve their individual goals.

The William Mitchell on-campus experience

l Faculty who treat students like

colleagues

l A welcoming, collaborative,

supportive environment

l More than 65 student groups

focused on professional

development, political activities,

social justice, public service,

and recreation l The only law school in the region

to receive the “Military Friendly”

designation

l Home of the Legal Practice Center,

an “on-campus law firm” where

students practice law

Our large, supportive alumni

community is a powerhouse in the

region, and our alumni help our

students by serving as mentors,

teaching courses as adjunct professors,

and helping them find jobs.

William MitchellOn campus and in the community

From the bench and bar to the classroom: nationally recognized, accomplished faculty

What if you could study criminal law with a professor

who currently defends the accused in court? Or Indian

law with a tribal court judge? What if you could study

the First Amendment with a professor who used to

be a CNN news producer?

At William Mitchell, you can.

Our full-time professors don’t just research and teach law—they practice it.

They work with Fortune 500 companies, law firms large and small, and government

agencies. Their connections to the profession enhance the classroom experience

and ensure that you’re learning the skills and knowledge that real lawyers use every

day in the real world.

That law you’re reading about? A Mitchell professor wrote it. Wondering about

the legal defense strategy on a case? Ask the Mitchell professor who tried it.

Questioning a legal policy? Work with a Mitchell professor to change it.

In addition to teaching a slate of criminal law classes full time at Mitchell,

Sampsell-Jones is of counsel at the San Francisco law firm Riordan & Horgan,

one of the nation’s leading criminal appellate firms, working for high-

profile defendants such as Bonds and Phil Spector. He also volunteers for

Minnesota’s Appellate Defender’s Office, representing indigent defendants

appealing convictions for crimes ranging from simple assaults to murder.

“Practicing law makes me a better teacher,” he says. “It gives me a better

understanding of how the courts work, a better understanding of legal issues.

I can bring it all back to the classroom and show students how cases are being

prosecuted in the world.”

When Mitchell Professor ted

Sampsell-Jones teaches Evidence,

he has his students evaluate the

prosecution’s evidence from the Barry

Bonds case. In his Sentencing class,

his students write a memo from the

perspective of a Minnesota public

defender. It’s real-world work that

Sampsell-Jones knows personally.

PROFESSOR TED SAMPSELL-JONES: Bringing the Courtroom to the Classroom

See for Yourself

ScheDule a peRSONal viSitMeet students, professors, and Admissions representatives.

Tour campus. Sit in on a class. Envision yourself as a student

at William Mitchell.

JOiN uS at aN iNfORmatiON SeSSiONWe host several information sessions throughout the year.

Come to campus and learn more about how William Mitchell

can help you reach your goals.

learn more about William mitchell college of law 651–290–6476

admissions@wmitchell.edu

wmitchell.edu

@875Summit

facebook.com/Williammitchellcollegeoflaw

Scholarships for students from all walks of life William Mitchell has a robust scholarship program designed for students from all walks of life. Scholarships are awarded based upon a variety of factors and range in value from 15 percent of tuition to 100 percent of tuition.

of students who entered last year received scholarship assistance100%

contact the William mitchell financial aid Office

651-290-6403finaid@wmitchell.edu

A legal education is an investment that requires thoughtful planning—and we are here to help.

Financial Aid Office staff can help you understand your financial options and resources and welcomes your questions.

for a degree in

PRACTICAL WISDOM

Office of Admissions

875 Summit AvenueSt. Paul, Minnesota 55105

888-962-5529wmitchell.edu

01263 2014-06