“The professional opportunities in the Twin Cities are unparalleled. You’ll find the same diversity challenges that you do in other cities, but those issues affect our entire profession nationally. For my part, I’d rather face those challenges here than someplace else.”
Seema Shah
Director, External Partner Development - Open Innovation, General Mills and former Executive Director of Twin Cities Diversity in Practice
Student Resources
First year and transferring law students have much to contemplate when deciding upon a law school. The location of your law school is as important a factor as the caliber of the school’s program and its record of turning out successful graduates.
Location is integrally connected to your career opportunities, as your network begins to grow exponentially during law school. It is during this time period that you will be called upon to make a decision concerning where you would like to establish roots personally and professionally. The Minnesota legal community invites you to make our state your first choice to live, develop and practice.
Living in Minnesota (Click Here For More Information)
Minnesota offers a diverse range of opportunities for practicing and non-practicing lawyers. With 19 Fortune 500 companies located in Minnesota, in addition to law firms, non-profits and the public sector, lawyers who make Minnesota their home have a variety of employment options. From high rise offices in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul to charming cities such as Duluth, St. Cloud and Mankato, legal employers seek diverse talent to add value to their firms, companies and departments.
Though Minnesota we are well known for our winters and sports teams, did you know that Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States and home to an estimated 60,000-70,000 Hmong, making it the second largest state by population for the Hmong community?
Here are some other captivating facts about the state. Minnesota...
Has Unparalleled Employment Opportunities
Of the 2008 Minnesota law school graduates seeking employment, 93% were employed within 9 months of graduation.
19 Fortune 500 companies such as Target, 3M, Best Buy, General Mills, Medtronic and U.S. Bank are headquartered in Minnesota (and 32 Minnesota companies make the Fortune 1000 list).
16 of the nation’s largest privately-held companies are based in Minnesota. Minnesota-based Cargill tops the list with over 150,000 employees internationally and 116 billion dollars in revenue.
Approximately 100 medium to large-size law firms, including firms with multi-jurisdictional practices and global offices.
Is a Great Place to Live and Raise a Family
Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs made Money Magazine’s top 10 best places to live the last four years (2006-2009)
Minneapolis ranked second on Kiplinger’s Smart Places to Live (2006).
Average home cost in Twin Cities Metro area: $ 175,000.
Minnesota high school students lead the nation on ACT test scores in 2007 and 2008
Leads the Country in Health & Fitness
Ranked second in the nation by Men’s Fitness and the American Fitness Index (AFI). The index ranks 45 metropolitan areas (cities and surrounding suburbs) and measures each city's performance based upon 30 indicators, including acres of parkland, death rate from cardiovascular disease, the number of primary care physicians per capita and the percent of residents who bicycle or walk to work.
Values the Outdoors
Minnesota received its nickname, “the Land of 10,000 Lakes” for good reason. Minnesota boasts:
1,000’s of lakes and is bordered by Lake Superior, the largest lake in the world.
1,000’s of miles of protected state parks and trails for camping, hiking, running, cross-country skiing and other outdoor activities.
Reinvests in its Community
Volunteers from the legal community work to help establish a pipeline of diverse attorneys.
With unprecedented financial support from the community, including local corporations, Minnesota promotes education and enrichment programs for K-12 students.
Attending Law School in Minnesota (Click Here For More Information)
Minnesota law schools offer a blend of traditional classroom theory and practical skills experience from judicial internships and non-profit organizations to advocacy courses and student clinics. With strong alumni networks, mentoring programs and innovative Career & Professional Development Offices, Minnesota law schools provide students with practical resources to assist with the transition from law student to practicing attorney. Contact the law schools directly or visit their websites to obtain more information about the law schools, admissions process and student organizations.
Hamline University School of Law
1536 Hewitt AvenueSt. Paul, MN 55104
(800) 388-3688 or (651) 523-2461
William Mitchell College of Law
875 Summit AvenueSt. Paul, MN 55105
(888) WMCL-LAW or (651) 290-6326
University of St. Thomas School of Law
1000 LaSalle AvenueMinneapolis, Minnesota 55403-2015
(651) 962-4892
University of Minnesota Law School
290 Mondale Hall229 19th Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 625-3487
Network (Click Here For More Information)
A strong network offers mentors, employment opportunities and friendships, which will provide you with a solid foundation throughout your legal career. Organizations such as affinity groups and minority bar associations provide a practical effective starting point for your network. With discounted rates for law students, these organizations offer mentoring, networking and a variety of opportunities for professional development.
Hispanic National Bar Association
Minnesota American Indian Bar Association
Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers
Minnesota Black Women Lawyers Network
Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association
Minnesota Lavender Bar Association
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Minnesota Chapter)
Twin Cities Diversity in Practice
Justice Alan Page
“New lawyers need support . . . support can be found in the various bar organizations such as MABL or MN Women Lawyers or the MHBA. For any attorney coming to MN from the outside it’s [also] critically important to connect with the community at large.”
Minnesota Supreme Court