Hamline University Law School

By | January 5, 2023

Hamline University Law School was founded in 1883 by Judge Harry M. O’Gorman and was the first law school in Minnesota. It was originally part of Hamline University, a private Methodist university with a focus on the liberal arts that had been founded in 1854. In 1902, the law school separated from the university and became an independent institution. In 1910, it received its charter from the state of Minnesota to become Hamline University College of Law, which is still its official name today. Over the years, Hamline has grown to include three campuses and six degree-granting schools and colleges.

The Hamline University College of Law has an impressive history of producing successful graduates who have gone on to become influential members of their communities and beyond. Notable alumni include former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, and former U.S Congressman Martin Sabo among many others. The school has also educated many notable educators such as former dean Thomas Ebeling who went on to become a professor at Northwestern University School of Law among other accomplishments throughout his career. As the oldest law school in Minnesota, Hamline continues to be a leader in legal education with top-ranked programs and dedicated faculty who are committed to helping students succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

Hamline University Law School

Hamline University Law School is located in the state of Minnesota. As one of the leading law programs, Hamline University Law School has a high average LSAT score of 151-159 when recruiting new students. As a return, the median starting salary for law graduates reaches $110,000 per year. See the following table for detailed admissions information and career profiles of Hamline University Law School.

Admissions: Hamline University

Hamline University Law School is an esteemed institution with a long history of excellence in legal education. The school boasts an impressive student population, with over 500 students enrolled each year. The admissions process is highly competitive, with only around one-third of applicants accepted annually. The median LSAT score for incoming students is 155 and the median undergraduate GPA is 3.5. Additionally, the average age of students at Hamline Law School is 28 years old, indicating a diverse student body composed of both traditional and non-traditional students.

In terms of student demographics, most incoming law students are from Minnesota or other Midwest states such as Wisconsin and Iowa. However, the school also has international students from over 30 countries across the globe. This contributes to a vibrant learning environment that encourages collaboration between diverse perspectives and backgrounds. In addition to its diverse student body, Hamline Law School also has faculty members from all around the world who bring their unique expertise to the classroom. All faculty members have extensive academic backgrounds in their respective fields and are actively involved in research projects that benefit society as a whole.

Fall 2019 Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
Total number of full- and part-time applicants 1,506
Total number of full- and part-time acceptances 744
Overall acceptance rate 49.4%
Total number of full- and part-time first-year students enrolled 207
Number of full-time program applicants 1,331
Number of full-time program acceptances 628
Full-time acceptance rate 47.2%
Number of first-year full-time students enrolled 147
Number of part-time program applicants 175
Number of part-time program acceptances 116
Part-time acceptance rate 66.3%
Number of first-year part-time students enrolled 60
Fall 2019 GPA and LSAT Scores
25th-75th percentile GPA scores for all students 3.16-3.66
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students 150-158
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for full-time students 3.27-3.68
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for full-time students 151-159
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for part-time students 2.95-3.51
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for part-time students 147-155

Careers: Hamline University

Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2018 administrations)
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar MN
School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers 92.8%
Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers 91.1%
Class of 2018 Graduates
Total graduates 201
Graduates employed at graduation N/A
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 90.3%
Starting Salaries of 2018 Graduates Employed Full-time
25th percentile private sector starting salary $65,000
Median private sector starting salary $110,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary $160,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information 45%
Median public service starting salary $50,000
Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2018)
Percent employed in academia 1.0%
Percent employed in business and industry 26.6%
Percent employed in government 8.4%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships 15.1%
Percent employed in law firms 40.6%
Percent employed in public interest 7.2%
Percent employed in an unknown field 1.1%
Percent employed in a judicial clerkship by an Article III federal judge 1.2%
2018 Graduates Employment Location
Graduates employed in-state 74%
Graduates employed in foreign countries 1%
Number of states where graduates are employed 18
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 0.0%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) 1.8%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 11.6%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 76.0%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) 1.8%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) 0.0%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) 0.6%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) 1.2%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) 6.2%
Employment location unknown 0.6%
Career Services
(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)
Career services operations The Career Services Office assists students & alumni with job searches, providing informational programs, mock interview & networking opportunities, one-on-one counseling, informational interview contact referrals, job fair opportunities, on-campus interviews, & an online job bank. The staff meets with the legal community to market HUSL students & maintains a library of hard-copy & web resources.
Job Type
Bar admission required or anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) 77.0%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) 17.6%
Professional/other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse) 2.4%
Nonprofessional/other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path) 3.0%