Nine full-time faculty members, two resident full-time adjunct faculty members, and countless other adjunct faculty members and clinic supervisors devote substantial portions of their time to developing and teaching practical skills courses, directing programs within the Rosalie Wahl Legal Practice Center, and incorporating practical skills into the college's entire curriculum. These faculty members are recognized for their research, writing, and expertise in the areas of clinical education, trial skills and advocacy, mediation and dispute resolution, and legal writing. William Mitchell's adjunct faculty come from the judiciary; county and state attorneys' offices; the state public defender's office; top law firms; large and small public interest organizations; and corporations.
Professor of Law
and Co-Director of Clinic Program
Prof. Juergens is recognized for her work in clinical programs. She is an authority on housing law and has written about several early woman lawyer leaders (Lena O. Smith and Rosalie E. Wahl.) As co-director, with Prof. Peter Knapp, of William Mitchell's clinic program, they oversee the administration of hundreds of cases and legal matters each year. Before coming to William Mitchell in 1984, Juergens worked in private practice, as an associate city attorney for Berkeley, Calif., and for the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County in California.
Professor of Law
and Co-Director of Clinic Program
As co-director, with Prof. Ann Juergens, of William Mitchell’s clinic program, they oversee eight clinics, nine supervising adjunct professors, 20 field supervisors, and about 100 students each year. He also was instrumental in designing William Mitchell’s lawyering program to prepare students for practice in all types of law. Before joining William Mitchell's faculty in 1989, Knapp was an associate with Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly in Minneapolis.
Professor of Law
Prof. Haydock helped establish William Mitchell's clinic program in 1973 with then-William Mitchell professor Rosalie E. Wahl '67. He also was the first director of the Minnesota Advocacy Institute. He is the author or co-author of dozens of books on alternative dispute resolution, trial advocacy skills, and negotiation. Before joining William Mitchell's faculty, Haydock was chief counsel for Legal Assistance of Ramsey County.
Interim President and Dean
Prof. Janus has used his expertise in the areas of law and health science to create William Mitchell's unique Law and Psychiatry Clinic. Unlike other law school clinics, this clinic works with the University of Minnesota's Medical School to provide forensic psychiatric evaluations for the clients of public service lawyers. Before joining William Mitchell's faculty in 1984, Janus worked with the Minneapolis Legal Aid Society for 11 years.
Professor of Law
Prof. Kirwin co-coordinates and teaches our Writing & Representation: Advice & Persuasion program, teaching students legal research, writing, and trial skills. He also focuses on teaching students about lawyers’ professional responsibility. Before joining William Mitchell's faculty in 1970, Kirwin was an associate with Lindquist & Vennum in Minneapolis.
Professor of Law
Prof. Schmedemann focuses on the teaching of legal practice skills and the ever-changing law of employment relations. She is one of four William Mitchell faculty members to author the textbook The Process of Legal Research, now in its sixth edition and a popular legal textbook nationwide. Before joining the William Mitchell faculty in 1982, she was an associate with Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly in St. Paul. She also spent a year as a volunteer staff attorney with the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund.
Professor of Law
Prof. Sonsteng heads William Mitchell's renowned trial skills and advocacy program. Teaching trial advocacy skills and Legal Practicum, Sonsteng demonstrates to students necessary trial skills, like deposing a witness. He has been director of the North Central Region of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy since 1989. Before coming to William Mitchell in 1979 he was the Dakota County Attorney and Assistant Hennepin County Attorney in Minnesota.
Professor of Law
Prof. Ver Ploeg focuses on ways to resolve legal disputes outside of the court system. Experienced as an arbitrator and mediator, she uses her background in the classroom. She recently designed a program in the Advanced Dispute Resolution course that pairs students directly with real clients and allows them to create a real dispute resolution system. Before joining William Mitchell in 1977, Ver Ploeg worked as a special assistant U.S. attorney and as a trial attorney for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Associate Professor of Law
Prof. Ver Steegh focuses on mediation, family law, and trial advocacy skills. She gained extensive experience in these areas before joining William Mitchell's faculty in 2002. Ver Steegh, who is a licensed social worker, was a mediator at the Erickson Mediation Institute. She has experience as a domestic violence consultant and also was a legal aid attorney for 10 years. As an attorney she was involved in law reform litigation, legislative advocacy, and community organizing.
Resident Adjunct Professor
Bradford Colbert is a resident adjunct professor, teaching William Mitchell's Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP) Clinic, which provides civil legal services to indigent inmates in Minnesota prisons. When the state cut the budget for LAMP in 2003, William Mitchell continued to fund the program with the addition of Colbert to the college's faculty. Colbert is also a part-time public defender for the Minnesota Public Defender's Office.
Resident Adjunct Professor
Diane Dube is a resident adjunct professor supervising William Mitchell's Civil Advocacy Clinic and Community Development Clinic. Dube has worked in private practice in the areas of real estate and family law and as a staff attorney for Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services' Housing Equality Law Project.