The Mitchell Fellows Program

An Honor and a Select Opportunity

The First Year: The Fellows Colloquia Series

The first year of law school is inevitably and purposefully intense, so the first year of the Fellows Program consists of components designed to be thought-provoking but (comparatively) relaxed.

First-year classes tend to narrow a student’s focus, as the emphasis is on analytic power and precision rather than on breadth of vision. As a counterweight, the Fellows’ first year colloquia series brings to the College judges, practitioners, and academics to explore the overlap between law and other major conceptual frameworks.

Colloquia occur monthly throughout the academic year and are informal. The guest speaker begins with a 30- to 45-minute presentation, and then a Mitchell faculty member moderates a discussion between the speaker and the Fellows and, equally importantly, among the Fellows.

The "Onion" Seminar

In the movie Shrek, Shrek explains to the Donkey that Ogres are like onions because they both have layers. That characterization also applies to any substantial topic in the law. The "Onion" Seminar meets four times in the spring semester, and at each meeting a different member of the faculty leads a discussion on a topic within the faculty member's area of expertise. Reading assignments are light - 50-75 pages per meeting, and the focus is on following the faculty member as she or he demonstrates what layered and nuanced analysis looks like within the realm of law. Participation is limited to first-year Fellows and is required. The seminar is not for credit but is also unpressured. Fellows are expected to do the reading, attend the discussions, and bring their minds along.