University of Minnesota Law School

Published November 2007, last updated November 2009

Though there may not exist a law school ideal for all applicants, the University of Minnesota Law School exhibits many characteristics that one would search for in an ideal law school. Aside from boasting nearly perfect employment and bar passage rates, the school offers one of the most extensive clinical programs in the country, as well as a law library that is among the largest in the nation. Further, the school’s location in Minneapolis, often mentioned as one of the most livable cities in America, promises law students an enjoyable and exciting atmosphere in which to study law.

Note: You may also be interested in reading the Interview with Joan Howland, Associate Dean at the University of Minnesota.

Admissions and Tuition:

In a recent interview with Top-Law-Schools.com, Jean Howland, the co-chair of the Admissions Committee of the University of Minnesota Law School described an ideal candidate as “highly-qualified, diverse, motivated, energetic, and ethical.” It should come as no surprise that Minnesota seeks such high-qualified candidates, as the school is consistently considered to be among the premier law schools in the nation. Nearly 3,600 applications were received for the Fall 2009 incoming class, which consisted of 215 seats. The LSAT median of those who enrolled was an impressive 167, while the 25^th and 75^th percentile LSAT scores of the class were, respectively, 160 and 168. GPA wise, the median of the 2009 entering class was 3.64, while the 25^th and 75^th percentile GPAs of the entering class were, respectively, 3.30 and 3.85. Applicants with numbers near or above the LSAT and GPA medians of the 2009 class should stand a good chance at admission at Minnesota.

Applicants with less impressive numbers should focus on highlighting other characteristics mentioned in the Dean’s description of an ideal applicant. Generally, successful emphasis of any diversity that an applicant may bring to a law school’s student body is seen as a potential equalizer, and the personal statement is usually the means of conveying this diversity. The personal statement also provides an opportunity for applicants to explain why they wish to attend the University of Minnesota, and, in fact, the school specifically asks students to address this matter in the personal statement. By highlighting diversity and articulating strong reasons for wanting to study law at Minnesota, applicants, regardless of the strength of their scores and grades, can maximize their chances at admission.

Residents of Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota may have added incentive to apply to Minnesota, as the school offers in-state tuition to residents of these states. For the class of 2012, those who qualify for in-state tuition will face $25,324 in yearly tuition, while non-resident students will face $34,726. It should be noted that tuition payments also cover the cost of a laptop that is given to all entering students at Minnesota. Also, Minnesota awards approximately 60% of a typical incoming class with scholarships, ranging from $2,500 to full tuition, and on the whole, 85% of Minnesota students receive financial aid.

Academic Reputation and Curriculum:

With many nationally and internationally recognized scholars among its faculty, the University of Minnesota enjoys a strong academic reputation throughout the nation. Despite the impressive credentials of this faculty, the school maintains an impressive 12.6:1 student to faculty ratio, and students and recent graduates of Minnesota have found the professors to be highly accessible and willing to go out to great lengths to accommodate the needs of students.

The law school offers the sixth largest law library in the nation, with over one million volumes, and is open to students 24 hours a day. The library and school facilities underwent a major expansion and renovation that was completed in 2001. The law school building is named after its most famous alumni, Walter F. Mondale, former Vice President and the 1984 Democratic presidential candidate.

The school also takes great pride in offering one of the most extensive clinical programs in the country. In all, Minnesota offers 19 clinics, and an impressive 50% of all students enroll in one of these clinics during the course of their studies, compared to a 25% national rate. These clinics allow students to gain real world law experience in the field of their choice, and they often find themselves representing clients as a part of their second and third-year curriculum. Though these clinics are extremely popular among students, most experience no great difficulty in securing a spot in the clinic of their choice.

Minnesota also offers an impressive 196 elective courses in which students can enroll after completing standard first year requirements. Further, students can pursue various joint degrees, such as JD/MBA, JD/MA, JD/PhD and several others. Students are also able to partake in various study abroad programs, including exchange programs with reputable universities in Spain, Sweden, Germany, China and Ireland.

Quality of Life:

Students at the University of Minnesota Law School enjoy high quality of life, as do most residents of the Twin Cities area. Minneapolis is known to be a safe, clean and charming city, yet still offers most of the amenities usually associated with big-city life. The city boasts an ever -growing art scene, as well as restaurants, bars and nightclubs for all tastes. In addition, the weekly bar review is popular among law students, allowing them to meet and socialize with classmates while touring the bars of Minneapolis. For the sports fan, three major sports teams, the Vikings, Twins, and Timberwolves, call Minneapolis home, and the school itself fields competitive teams in many sports and the law school itself even fields an ice hockey team, the Fighting Mondales. Although the school does not offer on-campus housing for law students, ample affordable housing is available near the law school, and bus lines are available to take students to and fro.

Employment and Bar Passage:

Throughout the northern Midwest, the University of Minnesota Law School enjoys a supreme reputation and offers students excellent job placement. Over the last five years, the school has averaged a 99% employment rate for graduates within 9 months of graduation, most of which have secured employment in the northern Midwest. Through its on-campus interviews and alumni network, the school is also able to help students secure employment throughout the nation, and a considerable amount of graduates are able to find jobs on the coasts each year. The career services office at Minnesota is reportedly dedicated and reliable, and students have found the school’s full-time career counselors to be helpful and resourceful. Thus, it is safe to say that Minnesota students can comfortably look forward to job offers in several fields before or immediately after their hard-earned graduation. Of the 2008 graduating class, 60% of graduates began working in private law firms, while an impressive 17% accepted judicial clerkship positions.

In terms of bar passage, there is hardly any law school with as impressive numbers as Minnesota’s. The school boasts a near-perfect 99% passage rate for first-time exam takers in the state of Minnesota over the past five years.

Synopsis:

With its highly reputable faculty and the breadth of its clinical program, the University of Minnesota Law School offers students a challenging and unique legal education. Further, the school’s excellent reputation throughout the northern Midwest, along with its near-perfect employment and bar passage rates, ensure that graduates will be able to reap the fruits of their labor after graduation. The fact that such a school is located in the Twin Cities, consistently considered to be among the most livable areas in the nation, is icing on the cake.

Contact Information:

229 19^th Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN, 55455
(612) 625-3487
http://www.law.umn.edu/
umnlsadm@umn.edu

Quick Reference:

U.S. News Ranking: 20^thLSAT scores at 25^th and 75^th percentiles: 160, 168
GPA at 25^th and 75^th percentiles: 3.30, 3.85
Application Deadline: 3/01
Application fee: $75
Entering class size: 215 (2009)
Yearly Tuition: Resident: Resident: $25,324, Non-Resident: $34,726 (2009)
Bar passage rate in Minnesota: 99%
Percent of graduates employed 9 months after graduation: 99%

Interview: Joan Howland, Associate Dean at the University of Minnesota