Your personal statement should be two to three pages, double-spaced, and at least 11-point font.

What motivates you to study law? What experiences will you bring to your law school education and build on in your career after law school?

Supplemental statements allow you an opportunity to provide us with relevant information that you were not able to include elsewhere in your application materials. Please submit your response to at least one, but no more than two, of the following topics. Each supplemental statement should be no more than two pages, double-spaced, and at least 11-point font. Please include the corresponding letter of the topic you are addressing at the top of your statement(s). 

A. Mitchell Hamline values perseverance, resilience, and self-awareness as traits necessary to succeed both at Mitchell Hamline and in the legal profession. Tell us about a challenge or adversity you have faced, and how your response demonstrates one or more of those traits. 

B. Mitchell Hamline students come from a broad range of backgrounds, with diverse views and perspectives. We aspire to be a community where students can learn and thrive in an equitable and inclusive environment. Tell us something about yourself, and how it shapes the way you would learn from and contribute to our community.   

C. What about Mitchell Hamline's vision, mission, values, community, academic offerings, and/or distinct programming make it a good fit for your educational, personal, and/or professional goals?

This section is optional.

If you would like to include an LSAT and/or GPA addendum, please submit a one-page addendum explaining your LSAT score and/or GPA.

This section is optional.

If you answered "yes" to "Have you ever been placed on academic probation, or disciplined, suspended, or dismissed by any educational institution (whether for academic or non-academic reasons)?" you must provide a complete explanation.

Your application will not be considered until all necessary documents are received.

This section is optional.

If you answered "yes" to "Have you ever withdrawn or been dismissed from any law school," please provide 1) an official transcript from the law school, 2) a complete explanation, and 3) information about why you believe you will succeed now at Mitchell Hamline.

Your application will not be considered until all necessary documents are received.

This section is optional.

If you answered "yes" to "Have you ever been disciplined for academic dishonesty," please provide 1) a letter of explanation from the Dean of Students or responsible school official about the incident and the disciplinary action taken; and 2) a complete explanation.

Your application will not be considered until all necessary documents are received.

This section is optional.

If you are interested in the North Star or Native Justice scholarships, please submit a one page addendum explaining why you believe you are eligible.

Your résumé should include a complete history of your post-secondary employment and education, including graduation and employment dates, colleges, and degrees received. Other information that you should list on your résumé includes community service, leadership activities, awards and honors, and internships.

There are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Further, those seeking bar admission should be aware that, in some states, the Board of Law Examiners will request a copy of a student's applicant for admission to law school.

In Minnesota, for example, the Board of Law Examiners will certify a bar applicant's good character and fitness for admission if the Board finds that the applicant has a current record of conduct which demonstrates that the applicant meets the essential eligibility requirements for the practice of law and justifies the trust of clients, adversaries, courts, and the public. Honesty is the single most important characteristic. Full and complete disclosure is important. In addition, serious misconduct in an applicant's past will require an applicant to provide evidence of rehabilitation. The burden is on the applicant to prove a current ability to meet the essential eligibility requirements to practice law.

1. Criminal History

Per Minnesota state law, Mitchell Hamline School of Law does not ask questions about the criminal history of applicants. After an offer of admission is made, however, we do ask admitted students to disclose whether they have a "conviction or delinquency adjudication that occurred within the previous five years for a violent felony or sexual assault." We will provide clear instructions and guidance regarding what criminal history requires disclosure.

If an admitted student discloses any such conviction or delinquency adjudication, we will 1) provide the student with an opportunity to submit an explanatory statement and supporting documents, 2) review any submitted documents, 3) inform the student whether we are rescinding their offer of admission and, if so, a) provide an explanation of the basis for the decision to rescind and b) provide an opportunity to appeal.

Please affirm the following statement: it is my responsibility to understand the admission and character and fitness requirements for any jurisdiction in which I intend to seek admission.

Character and Fitness Questions

Please answer the following character and fitness questions. If you answer "yes" to any of the questions, this does not necessarily mean that you will not be admitted to the law school, but it does mean that you will have to explain your answer. Please provide any necessary documentation, as described, in the question to which you answer "yes". Any documentation must be electronically attached in the attachments section. Your application will not be considered until all necessary documentation is received. We encourage you to reach out to the admissions office if you have questions about the character and fitness questions.

2. Have you ever been placed on academic probation, or disciplined, suspended, or dismissed by any educational institution (whether for academic or non-academic reasons)? If you answered "yes," you must provide a complete explanation.

3. Have you ever been disciplined for academic dishonesty? If you answered "yes," please provide 1) a letter of explanation from the Dean of Students or responsible school official about the incident and the disciplinary action taken; and 2) a complete explanation.

4. Have you ever withdrawn or been dismissed from any law school? If you answered "yes," please provide 1) an official transcript from the law school, 2) a complete explanation, and 3) information about why you believe you will succeed now at Mitchell Hamline.

APPLYING FOR ADMISSION 2027-2028

Office of Admissions, 875 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105-3076 admissions@mitchellhamline.edu, www.mitchellhamline.edu, 651.290.6476

Admissions Policy

Mitchell Hamline School of Law seeks to educate talented, motivated students who will effectively and ethically serve their clients and employers, their local and wider communities, their profession, and their law school. To achieve that goal, the law school and the Admissions Committee hold themselves to high standards of judgment, experience, and fairness.

Mitchell Hamline School of Law strives to ensure that:

• all students offered admission are qualified to meet the challenges of law school and of the profession of law;
• each applicant gets full, careful, personalized consideration;
• all relevant information, quantifiable and nonquantifiable, is considered, including undergraduate and graduate school transcripts, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), career experience and focus, motivation, activities outside of work or school, interpersonal skills, and intellectual and personal breadth and depth; and
• the entering class complements a diverse student body that includes a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints.

Information submitted to Mitchell Hamline School of Law as a part of an application becomes the property of the school.

The school reserves the right to reject any applicant for admission, regardless of fulfillment of requirements stated in this application or elsewhere. The law school's nondiscrimination policy is observed in all cases.

Because Mitchell Hamline admits students on a rolling basis, it is to the applicant's advantage to apply early in the application process. Strong preference will be given to applicants who submit a complete application by June 1. The submission deadline for applications for fall semester enrollment is July 15.

Artificial Intelligence Policy: It is not prohibited for an applicant to use artificial intelligence in their application to Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Applicants should consider whether use of generative AI tools afford sufficient space for their authentic voice, which is a vital component in how Mitchell Hamline makes admissions decision. Further, applicants should understand that they are ultimately responsible for the information contained in their application and must certify the information they submit is accurate.

Admissions Process

The Admissions Committee will evaluate your application as soon as it has received all required documents. Please consult our application page for detailed information about the required application items.

First-year U.S. Applicants

• Arrange to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and register with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
• Complete the Application for Admission.
• Attach personal statement, supplemental statement(s), and résumé.
• Attach character and fitness addenda and documentation, if required.
• Have at least two letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf directly to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service. Letters mailed directly to Mitchell Hamline will not be accepted. Please consult LSAC's Letters of Recommendation page for additional information. Your recommenders should know you well and be able to assess your personal qualities and your potential for success in law school. They should describe at least some of these characteristics: academic ability, including creative thinking, reasoning ability, analytical skills, and oral and written communication skills; leadership and interpersonal skills; motivation and self-discipline; demonstrated ethics.
• Have all transcripts (including undergraduate, graduate, and law school, if applicable) submitted directly by the school to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service.

First-year International Applicants

Submit all of the above information, plus the following:

• International transcript evaluation through the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). We strongly encourage you to request your international transcripts early to account for the time necessary to have them sent directly to LSAC by the institution and then for LSAC to evaluate them.
• If accepted for admission, submit the International Student Questionnaire and Certification of Finances form (needed from applicants who require an F-1 student visa), which is available online.
• Submit a photocopy of your passport or other non-US citizenship documentation.
• Optional: Have your official TOEFL score or other English language test score forwarded directly to the Office of Admissions.

Applicants with Previous Academic Dismissal from Law School

A student previously dismissed from any law school may seek readmission after two or more academic semesters have elapsed since the dismissal. It is strongly recommended to submit a letter of recommendation from a law school professor, and your application should demonstrate that the nature of your interim work, studies, activities, or other experiences indicate a stronger potential for the study of law.

In the case of previous academic dismissal from MHSL, MHSL will provide the Admissions Committee information about your dismissal, including, if applicable, dismissal appeal materials and decision.

Qualifications for Admission to the Bar

In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.