Why Mitchell | Hamline?
Mitchell Hamline is renowned for its pioneering blended-learning J.D. program, offering a flexible, practice-based legal education that combines online and on-campus instruction.
Mitchell | Hamline is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 64.9%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.29 GPA and 152 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 2.96–3.60 GPA and 149–155 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 350 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Minnesota, Texas, and Florida — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, Mitchell | Hamline admitted 7 transfer students into the 2L class.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #152
- Median GPA
- 3.29
- 25th–75th: 2.96–3.60
- Median LSAT
- 152
- 25th–75th: 149–155
- Acceptance rate
- 64.9%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 350
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 7
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students Mitchell | Hamline admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
Top employment markets
- 1Minnesota
- 2Texas
- 3Florida
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define Mitchell | Hamline's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Mitchell | Hamline" essay where they align with your interests.
- Immigration Law ClinicStudents represent foreign-born individuals and families seeking lawful immigration status in the U.S.
- Self-Help ClinicStudents assist low-income clients with pro se paperwork in family law, criminal expungement, and eviction expungement matters.
- Child Protection ClinicStudents represent parents and relatives in child welfare proceedings.
- Intellectual Property Law ClinicStudents assist clients with filing patent or trademark applications.
- Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP) ClinicStudents investigate prisoners' claims of wrongful conviction and actual innocence, and represent incarcerated persons in civil matters.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Mitchell Hamline Law Review— Publishes timely articles of regional, national, and international legal interest.
- Mitchell Hamline Law Journal of Public Policy and Practice— Focuses on legal practice, public legal issues, and policy solutions.
- Journal of Law and Practice— Disseminates scholarly writings on the forefront of legal practice.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
President and Dean
- Camille M. Davidson
Clinical Law
- Ana Pottratz Acosta· also Medical-Legal Partnership
- Carolyn Grose· also Child Protection
Dispute Resolution
- James Coben
Constitutional Law
- Peter B. Knapp· also Civil Rights
Intellectual Property Law
- R. Carl Moy· also Patent Law
Health Law
- Laura Hermer· also Bioethics
- Thaddeus Mason Pope· also Bioethics
Native American Law and Sovereignty
- Angelique W. EagleWoman
Legal Writing
- Hetal Dalal
What makes Mitchell | Hamline distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Pioneered the nation's first ABA-approved hybrid J.D. program, combining online and on-campus instruction.
- ·Offers a practice-based curriculum with extensive experiential learning opportunities, including 17 clinics, externships, and residencies.
- ·Provides various J.D. enrollment options, including full-time, part-time day/evening, and blended learning, to fit diverse student needs.
- ·Features several specialized centers and institutes, such as the Dispute Resolution Institute, Health Law Institute, and Native American Law and Sovereignty Institute.
- ·Offers dual degree programs, including 3+3 programs with undergraduate institutions, allowing students to earn a bachelor's and J.D. in six years.
Using this for your "Why Mitchell | Hamline" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about Mitchell | Hamline
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Mitchell | Hamline?▾
Mitchell | Hamline's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.29 and a median LSAT of 152. The 25th–75th percentile range was 2.96–3.60 GPA and 149–155 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Mitchell | Hamline's acceptance rate?▾
Mitchell | Hamline's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 64.9%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Mitchell | Hamline offer?▾
Mitchell | Hamline's notable clinical programs include: Immigration Law Clinic, Self-Help Clinic, Child Protection Clinic, Intellectual Property Law Clinic, Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP) Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Mitchell | Hamline publish?▾
Mitchell | Hamline's notable student-edited journals include: Mitchell Hamline Law Review, Mitchell Hamline Law Journal of Public Policy and Practice, Journal of Law and Practice.
Where do Mitchell | Hamline graduates work?▾
Mitchell | Hamline graduates concentrate employment in Minnesota, Texas, Florida, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does Mitchell | Hamline admit?▾
Mitchell | Hamline admitted 7 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to Mitchell | Hamline
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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