University of St. Thomas - Minnesota

The University of St. Thomas - Minnesota requires 3 semesters of Lawyering Skills, for a total of 8 credit hours, plus a 30-page upper-level writing project. In the first semester (3 credits), students learn basic research, common law and statutory analysis, legal writing, and citation form. Students write an open-research practice memo, a rewrite based on their professor’s written critique and a conference, and a longer graded open memorandum. There is a multiple-choice exam (100 questions) at the end of the course. In spring (3 credits), students cover basic ADR and advanced research, and they write an opinion letter based on a client interview. Then they write a motion brief to dismiss, and a motion brief for summary judgment, which they also argue orally. In the second year, students learn appellate brief writing and oral advocacy (2 credits). Finally, students satisfy their upper-level writing requirement either in a seminar or by writing a supervised research paper.

Lawyering Skills professors are on tenure-track. The school is divided into three departments (Lawyering Skills, Clinical Skills & Legal Studies); the faculty acts together on all matters except appointments and tenure (on which each department’s faculty has primary voting privileges). The scholarship requirements vary by department to reflect the demands of teaching, but tenure is granted by the university and is the same for all professors. Student loads are 40-42 per professor; all professors receive the same kind of titles, offices, admin support, and professional development funds. Starting salary is in the mid-60s. The second-year course is taught by adjunct professors who are appellate specialists in the legal community.

For more information, contact Ursula Weigold at uhweigold@stthomas.edu