Hamline's Commitment to Diversity flows from our deep-felt belief that a well-trained lawyer must be fully aware and fully engaged with the community in which he or she practices. A diverse faculty and student body is essential to this education. Only through the shared experiences and points of view, can a law student come to appreciate the diversity in our community and our world.
Since 1994, the Hamline University Board of Trustees has embraced diversity as an academic goal and a mandate to create an inclusive, supportive educational environment.
As a school that prides itself on creating new opportunities, Hamline Law School leads in this effort through our outreach. For each and every student, Hamline is a supportive, rigorous, and transforming place to become a lawyer.
Our Students
Hamline University School of Law provides a welcoming environment for all students. We have a number of active student organizations that address the concerns of various diverse communities. Please visit our student organizations web page for more information on the following:
Black Law Students Association
Bethany Clark President bclark02@hamline.edu
Kelli Baxter Secretary kbaxter01@hamline.edu
Andres Ybarra Treasurer aybarra01@hamline.edu
Mission: to help foster an welcoming environment in law school for African-American students and help promote awareness in the law community of African-American issues.
Asian American Law Student Association
President Hli Xyooj lxiong03@hamline.edu
Vice President Mihir Patel mpatel01@hamline.edu
Treasurer Amanda Jee amandajee@gmail.com
Secretary Jake Yu jakeyu01@aol.com
Faculty Advisor Professor David Larson dlarson@hamline.edu
Mission & Purpose:
The mission of the organization is to provide a forum for expressing concerns and to represent the interests of Asian Pacific law students as well as to serve the Asian Pacific American community outside the Hamline University School of Law.
The organization shall exist for the following purposes:
To represent the interests of Asian Pacific law students at Hamline University School of Law.
To serve as an academic support mechanism for Asian Pacific students in the law school.
To promote increased representation of Asian Pacific Americans at Hamline University School of Law as well as in the State Bar of Minnesota.
To provide coordinated outreach services for the Asian Pacific American community in the Twin Cities area.
To provide an opportunity for fellowship and social interaction among Asian Pacific law students at Hamline University School of Law as well as with other law schools and practicing Asian American attorneys in the Twin Cities area.
To develop and encourage cooperation with other fellow minority organizations at Hamline University School of Law.
Latino Law Students Association
Andres Ybarra President aybarra01@hamline.edu
Bethany Clark Vice-President Email: bclark02@hamline.edu
Carrie Skripp Secretary cskripp01@hamline.edu
The Latino Law Student Association is an organization committed to providing a voice for the interests, concerns, and empowerment of the Latino students at Hamline University School of Law. The Latino Law Student Association's mission is to promote understanding and respect among all students, regardless of race, sex, creed, culture, or religion through the spirit of community. We welcome all students who wish to explore and enjoy the Latino culture!
Native American Law Students Association
Lindsay Brice, President: lindsay.brice@gmail.com
Rachel , Vice-President: rethorso@aol.com
Katie Kneissel, Secretary: kkneissel01@hamline.edu
Candy Riordan, Treasurer: criordan01@hamline.edu
Activities
-Co-Sponsoring the National NALSA Moot Court Competition with William Mitchell, UST, and UMN.
-Indian Taco Sale
-Speakers on various issues in Native American Law
-Involvement with National NALSA and MAIBA (MN American Indian Bar Association)
Mission
The Native American Law Student Association is dedicated to promoting the study of Federal Indian Law, Tribal Law and traditional forms of governance, and to support Native Americans in law school.
-We strive to reach out to Native communities and encourage Native People to pursue legal education.
-We also strive to educate the legal community about Native issues
Multicultural Students Association
President: Deepa Patel
Vice President: JoJo Lee
Treasurer: Kari Houchin
Secretary: Rachel Horne
The mission of the MCLSA is to provide a forum to empower and represent the interests of all students at Hamline University School of Law. We seek to:
- Promote fellowship and social interaction among the different ethnic students groups at Hamline School of Law
- Create dialogue and discussion to raise cultural awareness,
- Reduce prejudice and foster diversity
- Support the increase of underrepresented applicants at Law Schools in Minnesota as well in the State Bar of Minnesota
- Provide an opportunity for comradeship and social interaction among the ethnic student groups in the Twin Cities law community and practicing attorneys in the Twin Cities area.
Muslim Law Students Association
Taneeza Islam
Jewish Law Students Association
Dori Smith, President
Stonewall Alliance
Kris Maul (3L) kmaul01@hamline.edu
Robyn Hazlett (2L) rhazlett01@hamline.edu
Treasurer Erin Parks (3L) eparks01@hamline.edu
Stonewall Alliance is HUSL's student organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Queer, and allied students. Stonewall organizes political, educational, and social events for and concerning the LGBTQ community. We work with other student and community groups to raise awareness of diversity issues on campus.
Student Bar Association Culture and Diversity Committee
Featured Events:
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Juris Fiesta (pictured right)
-BLSA Soul Food Sale
-NALSA Moot Court Competition
-Indian Taco Sale
-Multicultural Law Students Association CLE
-Multicultural Law Students Reception
Our Diverse Faculty
The faculty and administration at HUSL reflects its commitment to an enriching and diverse environment. We are proud to have 5 diverse faculty members, five of who also serve as faculty advisors to student organizations.
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Tom Romero |  |
Mary Jo Hunter | |
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Robin Magee |  |
Sharon Sandeen | |
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Jill Barclift |
Assistant Dean for Student and Multicultural Affairs
The Office of the Assistant Dean for Student and Multicultural Affairs serves as the liaison between the student organizations and the administration. The Assistant Dean also provides general support to the student organizations. In addition, the Assistant Dean's office is committed to promoting diverse issues and cultural competence throughout the Law School experience and providing support and assistance for events that are pertinent and enriching to the whole law school community.
Darrell Davis
ddavis07@hamline.edu
651-523-2966
Twin Cities Community
The Twin Cities provides a vibrant professional community with many opportunities for students with diverse backgrounds. The following professional organizations provide opportunities for networking and support.
Minnesota Association for Black Lawyers (“MABL”)
Asian American Lawyers Association
Hispanic Bar Association
Hmong Bar Association
Minnesota Lavendar Bar Association
Minnesota Women Lawyer’s
National Asian Pacific Islander Bar Association
Twin Cities Diversity in Practice
Minnesota Minority Bar Summit
For additional information about practitioners and students of color that have come to Minnesota from other parts of the country visit www.MNLegalDiversity.org