
School of Law Faculty and Staff
Faculty
The faculty members at the University of St. Thomas School of Law are leaders in their fields academically, but also receive consistent praise for accessibility and teaching. Our professors influence students through the classroom, other scholars through writing in scholarly journals and books, and the law through work in the courts.
In addition to our full-time faculty, St. Thomas School of Law regularly welcomes adjunct professors from throughout the Twin Cities legal community. Our adjuncts include some of the most respected judges and lawyers in the Twin Cities who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the classroom.
Staff
The staff at St. Thomas Law is a group of professionals dedicated to student success. Many hold advanced degrees, including several at the director level who hold J.D. degrees and have practiced law.
Find a School of Law Faculty Member

School of Law News

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Law Students Argue Appeal for Prisoner’s Good Time Credits
Third-year students in the University of St. Thomas School of Law Appellate Clinic argued a constitutional case involving a prisoner’s “good time” or good behavior credits earned toward parole before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco, California, on April 18. The case, Keshone Owens v. James Dzurenda, et al.,… The post Law Students Argue Appeal for Prisoner’s Good Time Credits appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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Law School Reports High Employment Outcomes, Record U.S. News Ranking
Another class of St. Thomas Law graduates was in high demand last year. The law school recently reported that 90% of 2022 graduates were working in “gold-standard” positions within 10 months of graduation. A “gold-standard” position is a full-time, long-term position that either requires a law license, or for which having a J.D. provides a… The post Law School Reports High Employment Outcomes, Record U.S. News Ranking appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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Law School Thanks Outgoing Alumni Board; Welcomes New Members for 2023-24
A special thank-you to the outgoing St. Thomas School of Law Alumni Board members for their years of dedicated service, including Joe Johnson ’07 J.D./MBA, past president, and the following directors: Megan Mejia Lange ’17 J.D., Jeff Storms ’06 J.D., Alli Yttreness ’11 J.D., '15 LL.M. and Riki Rodriguez ’18 J.D. Congratulations to the incoming… The post Law School Thanks Outgoing Alumni Board; Welcomes New Members for 2023-24 appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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Law Professor Benjamin Carpenter Discusses Latest Paper at Yale Law School
Law Professor Benjamin Carpenter was invited to speak at Yale Law School on March 30 to share his most recent paper, “Sperm is Still Cheap: Reconsidering the Law’s Male-Centric Approach to Embryo Disputes after Thirty Years of Jurisprudence.” The article was published in Volume 34.1 of the (2023) Yale Journal of Law and Feminism. The post Law Professor Benjamin Carpenter Discusses Latest Paper at Yale Law School appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
Media Directory
Our faculty members are often asked to share their knowledge about the law and provide their legal perspective by members of the local and national media. We’ve created an online directory to help journalists easily find our faculty member’s areas of expertise and connect with them.
Faculty Highlights

Law Professor Benjamin Carpenter Discusses Latest Paper at Yale Law School
Read More about Law Professor Benjamin Carpenter Discusses Latest Paper at Yale Law School
Mark Osler Receives Distinguished Leadership Award
Read More about Mark Osler Receives Distinguished Leadership Award
Julie Craven Named Ombudsperson for Archdiocese
Read More about Julie Craven Named Ombudsperson for Archdiocese
Interim Dean
Joel A. Nichols
The University of St. Thomas School of Law is led by Interim Dean Joel A. Nichols. He received his Juris Doctor, with high honors, from Emory Law School, and a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Nichols earned a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from Abilene Christian University.