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Professors Roger Haydock and John Sonsteng: Innovators of Practical Legal Education

Roll Justice and Mirth video

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In their more than 30 years at William Mitchell College of Law, Professors Roger Haydock and John Sonsteng have revolutionized the way law students are taught. Their efforts have contributed greatly to defining William Mitchell’s distinct brand of practical legal education, and they have influenced how law schools across the nation teach legal practice skills. Their passion for legal education extends beyond the classroom to law firms and legal organizations, where they have been integral in developing new ways for practitioners to continue refining their legal practice techniques. Their accomplishments are testament to the Mitchell mission: We serve the law. We teach it, study it, practice it, and work to make it just.

“Thank you for the leadership you’ve shown in legal education. When I came here 25 years ago and met professors from other law schools, they knew Mitchell because they knew the two of you and the materials you had developed. You are leaders in the field—pioneers. You had the confidence to believe that we can teach the skills of lawyering. And you had the courage to focus on and elevate legal skills education at a time when many other legal educators were marching to a different drum.”

—President and Dean Eric S. Janus