You can study any type of law you want to at William Mitchell

You don’t have to know what kind of law you want to practice when you enroll. In fact, most students don’t. And many of those who do enter Mitchell interested in a specific area change their mind.

One of the great things about Mitchell is that we have programs and professors focused on nearly every area of law, so you can explore a variety of different types of practice while you’re here. In fact, we encourage it.

Another great thing about Mitchell is that we’re flexible, which means that whether you think you know what type of law you want to practice or have no idea, we’ll be ready to help you find the right course, change course, and succeed.

Public Interest

“With all of the opportunities to volunteer and work with practicing attorneys at Mitchell, I learned that I am not limited to a corporate job. A year ago I thought I would work in estates and trusts, but after volunteering almost 500 hours with so many different organizations, I am seeking a public interest fellowship after I graduate, possibly with the ACLU.”

—Andrew, 3L
Student coordinator, Project Homeless Connect
Advocate, Dignity Center, Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church
Volunteer, Second Judicial District Public Defender’s office
Mediator, Conflict Resolution Center

Your Pathway to a career in
public interest law…

Criminal Law

“In law school I wanted to be a trial lawyer, and I thought the way to do that was to take a job in civil litigation. But the majority of civil litigation happens in your office, not in court. I found that I had a real talent for dealing with people and that I was good on my feet. I wanted to play to those strengths.

“William Mitchell’s clinical program, writing program, advanced advocacy courses, and moot court competitions, combined with the diversity of the student body, prepared me to practice criminal law. Mitchell students are a mix of those coming right out of college and those pursuing a second or third careers, so you get to see a lot of different perspectives on life. It prepares you well for dealing with juries, judges, clients, and other attorneys.

—Ryan Pacyga ’02
Attorney, Pacyga and Associates, Minneapolis
Defends clients in murder, assaults, criminal sexual conduct, drug crimes (possession, distribution, and manufacturing), DWI, and white collar crimes, including the largest mortgage fraud case in the history of the upper Midwest.

Your Pathway to a career in criminal law…

Intellectual Property Law

“I worked as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and at a small patent law firm in Pittsburg when I decided I wanted to apply for law school. Mitchell has a strong reputation in Intellectual Property law, with a large number of classes, hands-on learning opportunities, and faculty who are international experts in the field. With all of the large biotech companies in the state, Minnesota is the place to practice patent law and most of the IP practitioners are Mitchell graduates.

—Elizabeth, 1L
Mitchell Fellow
Member, Student Intellectual Property Law Association

Several Pathways to a career in IP Law…

• Copyright
• Patents
• Trademark
• Transactional IP Law

Large Firm

“I came to law school knowing I wanted to practice corporate law, and was able to take classes that matched my career path; specifically tax, corporations, agency, estates, and trusts. One of the most beneficial classes for me was WRAP—it was my first exposure to legal writing and covered so much of what I needed to get started in law school and I know it will help tremendously once I graduate. I took a family mediation course—not because I wanted to practice family law—but because mediation skills cross all practices.”

—Laura, 3L
Incoming First-year  Associate (2010) and Summer Associate (2009), Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly
Intern, IRS Legal Counsel office
Staff member, Law Review
Volunteer, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services

Several Pathways to a career in a large firm…

• Real Estate Law
• Tax Law
• International & Comparative Law
• Negotiation & ADR
• Estate Planning 
• Family Law
• Civil Litigation

Business/Industry

“At Mitchell, I acquired legal knowledge as well as practical skills. The clients expect not only an answer to their question, but they also want to know how the answer would address the issue they face. Often, a theoretical answer alone does not solve the underlying question. This is when practical skills come into play.”

—Scott Xi ’02
In-House Lawyer, Cargill
Counseling a variety of clients in the areas ranging from risk control, contract negotiation, business acquisitions and dispositions and financial transactions.

Pathways to a career in a business and industry…

• Business Law (General)
• Commercial Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• Negotiation & ADR
• Real Estate Law
• Tax Law

Public Sector/Government

“Mitchell taught me the art of trial advocacy and how to work a courtroom. After all, the best lawyers, the most visible lawyers, and the lawyers we see on television and read about in the papers, are the lawyers that argue before a jury and thunder away at witnesses on the witness stand. It’s the trial lawyers that make thought-provoking scintillating arguments in front of a jury. That’s what I wanted to be, and that’s what Mitchell made me.”

—Evan Tsai ’07
Assistant Public Defender, Ramsey County

Your Pathway to a career in government practice (civil)…

Judiciary

“There aren’t a lot of law schools in the country where sitting trial judges come in and teach law students Evidence. Judge Patrick Fitzgerald taught me Evidence and opened my eyes to the world of courtroom practice and made me realize that courtroom drama was where I really wanted to be. Justice Rosalie Wahl ’67, the first woman appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court, spoke to our first year class.

Advanced Advocacy prepared me to handle my first trial within a few months after I graduated. I knew how to give an opening statement, call witnesses, and cross examine witnesses. I tell students looking at law schools to think about where they want to practice, and what they want to do—if they want to practice in Minnesota or the region around Minnesota and have a high possibility of being hired, then Mitchell is going to open doors.”

—Justice Helen Meyer ’83
Minnesota Supreme Court
Attorney, Pritzker & Meyer; Meyer and Associates
Associate attorney, Schwebel, Goetz, Sieben and Hanson