Hamline/William Mitchell Law Schools to Merge
( St Paul ) - Two law schools that have shaped Minnesota’s legal landscape for more than a combined 154 years, Hamline University School of Law and William Mitchell College of Law, have announced plans to combine.
The combined school will be named Mitchell|Hamline School of Law and will be located primarily on William Mitchell’s existing campus in Saint Paul. Mitchell|Hamline School of Law will be an autonomous, non-profit institution governed by an independent board of trustees, with a strong, visible and long-lasting affiliation to Hamline University.
The Mitchell|Hamline School of Law will offer more enrollment options than any other school in the country, including full-time, weekend, and part-time programs, as well as a hybrid, on-campus/online JD option. In addition, students will be able to earn dual degrees through the school’s affiliation with Hamline University, and they will have access to Hamline’s athletic facilities, library and cultural programs.
“This move brings the best of each existing school together and is a win for Hamline, for William Mitchell, for the legal community both regionally and nationally, for alumni, and most of all, for all of our students,” said Dr. Linda Hanson, president of Hamline University, “This combination is an example of the innovative leadership shown by the board chairs of both institutions, Bob Klas, Jr. and Dan O’Keefe. We expect the process to move forward as expeditiously as it can for the benefit of our students, faculty and staff.”
“This is a bold move at a time when students and the legal profession are calling on law schools to do things differently,” said Eric Janus, William Mitchell president and dean. “It will leverage the best of two outstanding institutions to create a stronger law school with the ability to put a greater focus on helping students prepare for the new realities of the profession, which is increasingly competitive, specialized, and technology-based.”
“The combined law school will be a unified and vibrant blend of two institutions with common goals, focused on innovation and a comprehensive and dynamic approach to legal education that produces problem solvers,” said Jean Holloway, dean of Hamline University School of Law.
The president and dean of the combined law school will be Mark C. Gordon. Gordon brings nearly 30 years of experience in higher education and public service. He is currently president of Defiance College, a private college in Defiance, Ohio. Previously, he served as dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
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