University of St. Thomas School of Law—Minneapolis
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
At the University of St. Thomas School of Law in downtown Minneapolis, you’ll prepare for a meaningful legal career in a collaborative learning community where relationships matter. St. Thomas provides abundant opportunities for practical experience and reflection, along with unparalleled individual support across all three years, to help each student develop a professional identity and find a path into the legal profession that is meaningful and fulfilling.
Rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and welcoming students of all faith traditions and backgrounds, St. Thomas Law challenges students to think deeply about justice, service, ethics and the kind of lawyer they want to become.
The JD Program
St. Thomas Law is a collaborative learning community. Relationships are important in the legal profession, and they are important in law school. Students support one another rather than compete with one another, faculty are approachable and committed to student growth, and mentors, alumni and donors are in your corner as you build the skills and relationships needed to become a lawyer.
St. Thomas Law is ranked No. 2 in the nation for practical training by National Jurist (2026), reflecting the breadth of opportunities students have to learn by doing before graduation.
Curriculum
The University of St. Thomas School of Law offers an innovative curriculum that emphasizes professional formation and the development of the whole person. We strive to help each student develop the professional and ethical values that are vital to long-term success in the legal profession, enabling them to become lawyers who lead their communities by serving them.
First-year students complete courses in Civil Procedure, Contracts, Torts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Property. Lawyering Skills I and II provide intensive instruction in legal research, analysis and writing. The first-year curriculum also includes Foundations courses designed to help students discern and articulate the moral dimensions of law and lawyering and understand how to serve clients well.
Among the strengths of our program is a broad catalog of courses that can be tailored to fit each student’s professional aspirations. Students can explore business and corporate law, civil litigation and dispute resolution, criminal law, general practice, public interest and social justice, global and comparative law, intellectual property and many other areas.
St. Thomas Law’s practicum courses, legal clinics and externships provide opportunities for students to learn through experience, build their résumés and develop professional relationships. These intensive opportunities are a major reason St. Thomas Law is ranked No. 2 in the nation for practical training by National Jurist (2026).
A mentor in the profession for every law student.
We believe the law is about relationships. That is why a hallmark of St. Thomas Law since our founding has been our award-winning Mentor Externship Program. During each year of law school, students are matched with a legal professional in a practice area aligned with the curriculum or their career interests. Students gain experience, develop relationships and learn to navigate the legal field while earning academic credit. More than 1,700 lawyers and judges have served St. Thomas Law students as mentors.
Students may pursue concentrations in Organizational Ethics and Compliance, Immigration Law, or Law, Artificial Intelligence and Evolving Technologies while earning the J.D. The AI and Evolving Technologies concentration gives students an opportunity to study the rapidly changing intersection of law, technology, ethics and legal practice.
J.D. students also may pursue joint-degree programs in Business Administration (J.D./MBA), Social Work (J.D./MSW) and Catholic Studies (J.D./M.A.).
The Twin Cities Area
The Twin Cities are not only a great place to be a law student; they are a great place to live and build a career. St. Thomas Law is located in downtown Minneapolis, placing students close to courts, law firms, corporations, public-interest organizations and other professional opportunities throughout law school.
Minneapolis and neighboring St. Paul offer a blend of natural beauty and urban sophistication, with world-class museums, music venues and restaurants, professional sports, and abundant parks and trails. Minnesota is also home to 18 Fortune 500 companies, creating opportunities at the intersection of law, business, health care, finance, technology and other industries.
Recent rankings highlighted in the 2026–27 St. Thomas Law viewbook include Minnesota as the No. 3 best U.S. state (U.S. News & World Report, 2026), Minneapolis as the No. 2 city for Gen Zers (Reader’s Digest, 2025), Minneapolis as No. 3 in the U.S. for public parks (Trust for Public Land ParkScore®, 2026), and Minneapolis as the top city for work/life balance and mental health (CoworkingCafe, 2025).
Admission
St. Thomas School of Law seeks students who show the potential to succeed academically, contribute meaningfully to our community and develop into thoughtful, ethical professionals. Our admissions committee uses a holistic review process to understand the strengths, skills and unique perspectives of each applicant.
The committee considers quantitative criteria such as LSAT scores and undergraduate academic performance, along with qualitative factors including writing skills, leadership, motivation, service, life experience and demonstrated ability to contribute to the mission and community of St. Thomas Law. Personal statements, letters of recommendation and other application materials play an important role in helping the committee understand the whole applicant.
Faculty
At St. Thomas, students are taught, shaped and challenged by professors who are leaders in their fields and are consistently praised for accessibility and teaching. Faculty members influence students in the classroom, contribute to legal scholarship, engage in advocacy and policy work, and create opportunities for students to work side-by-side with them on research, writing and professional projects.
In 2024, St. Thomas Law ranked No. 23 among U.S. law schools for scholarly impact, placing its faculty among the top 25 nationally.
Enrollment / Student Body
St. Thomas Law is a full-time J.D. program with students who bring a wide range of academic, professional and life experiences to the classroom. Students come from undergraduate institutions across the country, and many enter law school with postgraduate education, professional experience, public service backgrounds or other experiences that enrich the collaborative learning community.
Library and Physical Facilities
St. Thomas School of Law occupies more than 150,000 square feet in downtown Minneapolis near the federal courthouse, major law firms and businesses. The building’s defining features include the four-story Schulze Grand Atrium, Frey Moot Courtroom and Chapel of St. Thomas More.
Modern technology supports classrooms, the library, group-study areas and the moot courtroom. The law library offers spaces for individual and collaborative study, including group study rooms and hundreds of individual study seats, along with electronic resources available both on and off campus.
Special Programs
Legal Clinics
With nine legal clinics to choose from, St. Thomas Law students can make an immediate impact while developing practical legal skills. Students work alongside faculty experts and motivated classmates on critical legal issues, applying what they learn while serving clients and communities.
- Appellate Clinic
- Criminal and Juvenile Defense Clinic
- Federal Commutations Clinic
- Immigration Law Practice Group
- Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic
- Religious Liberty Appellate Clinic
- Small Business & Transactional Law Clinic
- Special Education Clinic
- Trademark Clinic
The St. Thomas Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services, which houses five of our legal services clinics, provides clients with a holistic approach to addressing unmet needs. Under faculty guidance, law students may work side-by-side with students from social work and graduate psychology, developing interdisciplinary skills and a broader understanding of client service.
Centers, Institutes and Initiatives
The Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership in the Professions provides innovative interdisciplinary research, curriculum development and programs focused on the professional formation of law students and practicing professionals. The center is at the forefront of a national movement encouraging greater intentionality in helping future lawyers develop professional identities grounded in ethical leadership and service to others.
The Terrence J. Murphy Institute for Catholic Thought, Law, and Business is a collaboration between the St. Thomas Center for Catholic Studies and the School of Law. The institute explores interactions between law and Catholic thought and offers fellowship opportunities for law students and graduates.
The International Dispute Resolution Research Network is a global community of experts, stakeholders and academics dedicated to sharing knowledge and solutions in dispute prevention and resolution.
The Initiative on Restorative Justice and Healing educates law students and the broader legal community about restorative practices and their potential to facilitate healing, build bridges and promote a more just and inclusive society.
Student Life
Student Activities
St. Thomas Law has 35+ active student organizations open to students with a wide range of identities, interests, faith traditions and professional goals. Student government and student organizations contribute to a collaborative community by hosting programs, service opportunities, social events and professional-development activities throughout the year.
Students can also sharpen their advocacy, research and writing skills through moot court, trial advocacy and negotiation competitions, as well as the University of St. Thomas Law Journal and the University of St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy.
All J.D. students complete 50 hours of public service before graduation, including pro bono legal work and hands-on volunteer projects. This requirement reflects the school’s commitment to helping students explore how their legal skills and talents can serve the public.
St. Thomas Law also works intentionally to foster student well-being. The school provides resources, programming and support designed to help students develop healthy habits and make wellness a professional priority.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Learn more about career placement at University of St. Thomas School of Law
Learn more about bar passage at University of St. Thomas School of Law
Tuition and Aid
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition |
$52,910.00
|
| Fees |
$685.00
|
St. Thomas Law is committed to making a high-quality legal education available by offering generous scholarships to all admitted students. Scholarships are guaranteed for all three years of enrollment, which helps foster our collaborative learning community because students know they are not competing with one another to retain their awards.
A small number of truly exceptional students who demonstrate a compelling fit with the mission of the law school receive a President’s Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship awarded on behalf of the president of the University of St. Thomas. All other admitted students receive a Dean’s Scholarship in varying amounts to recognize academic performance, leadership, service commitment, mission fit and distinctive backgrounds and experiences.
Student loans and other forms of financial aid may also be available to help meet tuition, fees and living expenses. Applicants should review current financial-aid information and borrowing terms carefully when planning for law school.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
Every application receives a thorough, holistic review. We want to understand the strengths, skills and unique potential each applicant would bring to the St. Thomas Law community. Although LSAT scores and undergraduate grades are important, no applicant is admitted or denied based solely on those measures.
St. Thomas Law considers six core criteria in its personalized review process:
- LSAT score
- Undergraduate grades
- Writing skills
- Leadership potential
- Motivation
- Demonstrated ability to contribute to the mission and community of St. Thomas Law
The admissions committee also considers activities, professional and life experiences, letters of recommendation and the personal statement. We encourage applicants to be thorough and straightforward so that we can assess both their potential for success and their fit with St. Thomas Law.
The J.D. application cycle begins in early September and continues through August 1. Applications are submitted through the Law School Admission Council, and St. Thomas Law does not charge an application fee.
Admitted Applicant Profile
