Do you want to further your law career by attending a leading law school? With a good LSAT score, you can secure admission to some of the best law schools in Minnesota.
Similar to most states, Minnesota has several institutions that provide law courses. However, if you want to graduate and start working immediately, it is advisable to apply to ABA-accredited law schools. Securing admission to an ABA-accredited school has several benefits, the top of the list being graduating practice-ready.
Wondering which top law school in Minnesota you should apply to? Read on as we look deeper into the various features and statistics of Minnesota's leading, ABA-accredited law schools.
1. University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School opened in 1888 and has since then established itself as one of America's leading law schools. The U.S. News & World Report ranked UMN Law School as 22nd in its 2018 list of top law schools.
With an acceptance rate of 45%, securing admission to the UMN Law School is not a walk in the park. Its status as a leading institution makes it more competitive, especially in regard to GPA and LSAT scores. The median LSAT score in 2018, for instance, stood at 164, while the median GPA was 3.79.
UMN Law has a commendable student ratio of 10:1, which makes it highly appropriate for students looking to develop academic relations with their professors. However, the law school does not provide on-campus housing, graduate housing, or even law-specific housing.
The school has a fantastic bar passage rate of 84.6% compared to Minnesota's average of 83.2%. Another factor that makes UMN Law one of the leading law schools in the country is its graduate employment rate of 91% within the first ten months.
2. Mitchell Hamline University School of Law
Located in St. Paul, Hamline University School of Law has been operational since 1972. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is among the best-rated law schools in Minnesota. It is also a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
The U.S. News and World Report ranks Hamline University School of Law as 141st in its list of top law schools in the country. The school provides on-campus housing but does not offer law-specific housing for its law students.
Hamline University School of law is among the best rated due to its highly impressive employment rate upon graduation. The 2018 graduates, for instance, there was a 90% employment rate within the first ten months after graduation.
In regard to the student-to-faculty ratio, the school has a not-so-impressive ratio of 1:21, which means that student-professor interaction might be an area of concern.
To gain admission to the Hamline University School of law, your GPA and LSAT scores must be impressive. The median LSAT for 2018 admissions stood at 152, while the median GPA was 3.25.
Concerned about failing in your application? Worry not. Hamline University School of Law has a favorable acceptance rate of 62%, which means you can easily secure a spot (provided you meet the bare minimums).
3. University of St. Thomas School of Law-Minneapolis
Simply known as UST or St. Thomas, this law school is ABA accredited but is yet to join the Association of Americas Law Schools. UST Law is Catholic-based and is named after Thomas Aquinas, a popular Catholic saint. The school was opened in 1923 but was later closed only to reopen in 1999.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked UST Law School as 111th in a long list of top law schools. The school has an encouraging acceptance rate of 64%, which means you have high chances of admission if your credentials are a good match.
Housing options are limited at UST Law as the school does not provide on-campus, graduate, or law-specific housing. The student to faculty ratio stands at 15:1, meaning students have better chances of interacting and engaging their professors at personal levels.
The median LSAT in 2018 stood at 154, while the median GPA was 3.48. UST Law School also registered impressive bar passage rates of 80% in 2018.
If you are concerned about securing employment after graduating from UST Law, then you need to worry. 91% of its 2018 graduates secured employment within the first ten months of job searching. This means that provided you maintain an impressive academic record, you have high enough chances of landing a top paying job.
Since UST Law is founded on catholic principles, applicants with impressive scores coupled with strong catholic backgrounds are usually favorites to secure direct admission.
Our Take
With several schools providing legal courses in Minnesota, you have to be extra careful to ensure that you select the best, ABA-accredited institutions. Our list contains only accredited institutions, which ensures that you choose from schools that will guarantee employment immediately or shortly after graduation.
The University of Minnesota law school is, without doubt, the leading law school in the state. However, as discussed earlier, securing admission is anything but a formality. You will need to have strong LSAT and GPA scores to be considered.
University of Saint Thomas School of law is also another great option, especially if you have a strong catholic background. The school's favorable acceptance rate means that you stand high chances of admission if your records are deemed satisfactory.
Hamline University School of Law merged with William Mitchell College of Law to form the Mitchell Hamline School of law. The school has an impressive bar passage rate as well as a graduate employment rate of 90%.
Now that we have discussed Minnesota's leading law schools, the ball is in your court to select the option that best fits you and your goals. Remember to write a killer personal statement to support your GPA and LSAT scores.
You should never assume that good scores will guarantee consideration or admission. In competitive schools such as UMN Law, you will need to sell yourself in the best ways possible for your application to stand out.
