Merger of Hamline/William Mitchell Law Schools Approved

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The American Bar Association Council has approved the merger of St. Paul's two law schools.

The council agreed Tuesday to a plan to combine William Mitchell College of Law and Hamline University's law school.

The schools have collaborated since February when they announced plans to merge under the name Mitchell-Hamline School of Law. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports upperclassmen from each school already are taking classes at the other's campus.

The schools intend to become one next month in time for the school year's second semester

Mitchell's new dean, Mark Gordon, will lead the combined law school. The school will have about 1,000 students and 42 full-time faculty.

There are two other law schools in Minnesota — at the University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas.