Hamline University School of Law looks to its alumni and friends to serve in volunteer capacities that are designed to advance the Law School and engage the volunteer in meaningful opportunities. Volunteers serving on various boards and committees will enhance the relevance and the prominence of the Law School within the legal community and the broader community. The volunteers will have the opportunity to improve the quality of legal education, mentor new lawyers, and enhance their understanding of significant issues impacting the legal community.

Board of Advisors  

The Board of Advisors will be the primary external organization of the law school. All other volunteer advisory groups and committees will be coordinated through the Board of Advisors. The Board of Advisors provides input for the Dean of the Law School on all issues related to the success of the organization. This board is comprised of those individuals best positioned to advance Hamline University School of Law with influence, financial support and expertise. Members may be alumni and supporters. Feel free to review the Letter of Understanding for additional information.

There will be two categories of committees that will report up through the Board of Advisors. One category will focus on the operations of the Board and include development, professionalism, and alumni relations. The other category will focus on specific areas of the law, identified as practice areas or substantive fields.

Operational Committees  

1. Development. This committee will assist with the critical function of generating the necessary resources to fulfill the vision of the Law School. The ability to create new programs or to enhance existing ones can no longer be based solely on the revenue from tuition. This committee will assist with the gift acquisition process at the Law School in the areas of Law School Justice Society annual giving, major giving, and planned gifts.
2. Diversity and Outreach. This committee will position the Law School to influence law firms and other hiring entities relative to the employment of our graduates within the minority and other underserved communities. It will advise our efforts with the MSBA, minority bar associations, county bar associations and other communities supporting the practice of law. The goal is to expand the Law School’s sphere of influence within the legal and general communities so that Hamline is viewed as the source for expertise in this area.
3. Career Development and Professionalism. This committee will serve the need to continue to assist recent graduates in "bridging the gap" between graduation and the professional development as a lawyer. It will have a dual focus of assisting young practioners with career decisions and working with all alumni in the area of professional development, including both CLE and mentoring.
4. The Alumni Association Board. This board will be comprised of more recent graduates with focus on engaging alumni in the life of the Law School for mutual benefit. Membership on this board will serve as a proving ground for alumni to step up to more prestigious and responsible volunteer roles. Key Alumni Association committees and their areas of advisory responsibility will include:

•  Communications
•  Online community
  •  Alumni news
   

•   Annual fund raising
  •  Class agents
  •  Direct mail
  •  Phonathon
   

• Culture and outreach
  • Mentoring
  •  Engagement of young alumni
  •  Nominating
   

Practice Area Advisory Committees – Alternative Dispute Resolution, Health Law  

These committees and boards are comprised of practioners in the field and others who can contribute to advancing the program area at the Law School. Members counsel the Dean, Director of the program, and faculty on issues such as:

• external outreach (marketing)
• providing and securing financial support
• salient issues within the field
• professional development within the field
• specific issues related to the Hamline program
• career services and admissions

1. Alternative Dispute Resolution. The Law School is currently ranked fourth by U.S. News and World Report in the area of ADR. This advisory board would work with the Dispute Resolution Institute (DRI) to explore partnerships for funding opportunities, assist with Hamline’s training program development in the United States and in countries such as India, England, and Italy, and assist with determining the needs of the Midwest legal community regarding DRI’s activities.
2. Health Law. The Law School will be formally launching its Health Law Center in 2005-06 academic year. The advisory board will work with the director of the center to develop the Law School’s understanding of the needs of the Minnesota health law community, partnership opportunities, and the best opportunities for strategic growth.

Please contact us us to find out more about work with our advisory Boards and Committees.