Meet the Legal Practice Center Staff

: Jean Backes
Jean initially came to William Mitchell as the legal secretary for students enrolled in client representation clinics, 1994-1999. Returning in 2005, Jean now administers the Clinical and Externship programs. Prior to coming to work at William Mitchell, Jean has worked with the Ramsey County Guardian ad Litem Office in the Juvenile and Family Justice Center in St. Paul. Jean received her Legal Office Administrator diploma from the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, MN.

: Darlene Finch
Darlene has been the Administrator of the WRAP program since 1998. She previously worked as a legal secretary, insurance agent, and in a child support office. Darlene has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in Professional Writing from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

: Sue McKenzie
Sue joined William Mitchell as the Advocacy Program Administrator in 2007. Before coming to William Mitchell, she was employed as a litigation paralegal. Sue earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Winona State University.

: Jennifer Miller
Jennifer has been part of the Legal Practice Center for over 10 years. She administers the Legal Practicum: General Practice course, the Advanced Advocacy course, and the Mitchell in London program. Prior to coming to work at William Mitchell, Jennifer worked as an administrative assistant at a law firm, an acute medical center, and a television station. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

: Linda Thorstad
Linda has been the Administrative Coordinator for the Business Practicum since it began Spring semester 2008. She joined William Mitchell in 1996 as a Faculty Publication Specialist. In 1999, together with Professor John Sonsteng, she began co-authoring and developing Practicum Exercises for the Legal Practicum and Advanced Advocacy courses. In 2005, with Sonsteng she co-developed and designed the Legal Practicum: Business Practice course and co-authored the exercises and teaching materials. Previously, she was a newspaper advertising representative, small business owner, real estate broker, editorial assistant, Geography instructor and published author. Linda continues to be a free-lance writer. She has a B.S. in geography from St. Cloud State University, Minnesota; a M.S. in geography from Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington; and a Ph.D. in cultural geography and American history from Louisiana State University.