#2
For practical training, 2026
Who We Are
Law School Overview
Learn about the School of Law
In our first two decades, St. Thomas Law has outpaced expectations, garnering national attention for our commitment to the student experience and community impact. Our mission-driven law school is perfectly poised to take a dramatic step forward in our national visibility and global impact.
St. Thomas prepares lawyers to lead through faith and reason through service to their communities, to create a more just and equitable society and to defend swiftly against emerging threats to the rule of law. The power to change lives starts with St. Thomas Law.
St. Thomas prepares lawyers to lead through faith and reason through service to their communities, to create a more just and equitable society and to defend swiftly against emerging threats to the rule of law. The power to change lives starts with St. Thomas Law.
School of Law Overview
Get more than a career. Get a mission.
St. Thomas gives students opportunities to start making an impact from day one. They work side-by-side with their professors, while lawyers and judges mentor them through our award-winning Mentor Externship Program. Turns out, when bright, caring people put their energy toward advancing the common good, everyone wins.
A Distinctive Legal Education
Our Mission, Vision and Values
Our law school is inspired by justice, guided by faith, grounded in reason, committed to excellence and devoted to advancing the common good.
A Caring Community
Committed to Belonging
St. Thomas School of Law has a unique mission founded on the precepts of community and inclusion. We are intentional about building a law school that cultivates a strong sense of belonging and support within our school and promotes justice in our world.
#6
Best Value Private Law School, 2024
91%
Gold-standard employment, 2025
A National Leader in Practical Training
St. Thomas Law’s experiential courses, legal clinics and externships provide opportunities for students to represent clients, develop key competencies and expand professional relationships. The school has been a national leader for practical training since its founding and was ranked #2 in the nation for practical training in 2026.
Inspiring New Lawyers
A Mentor for Every Law Student
St. Thomas Law’s award-winning Mentor Externship Program pairs students, each year of law school, with a lawyer or judge working in their area of interest who will help them gain work experience, develop relationships and navigate the legal field.
Centers and Institutes
The University of St. Thomas School of Law is home to centers and institutes that focus on research, programming and scholarship. The centers and institutes support innovation, facilitate legal reform, advance social justice, strengthen the connection between faith and the law, improve legal education and more.
School of Law News
Professor Jorge Barrera-Rojas Elected to U.N. Human Rights Advisory Committee
University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Jorge Barrera-Rojas was elected to the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee by the United Nations Human Rights Council. He will serve on the advisory committee until 2029 as a representative from Chile for the Latin American and Caribbean States region. “This election is an honor I receive… The post Professor Jorge Barrera-Rojas Elected to U.N. Human Rights Advisory Committee appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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Summer Law Extern: Joseph Hillman, Norwest Equity Partners
Like all first-year law students, now 2L Joseph Hillman took a Contracts course during his first semester of law school at the University of St. Thomas. He learned the principles behind how contracts are formed and interpreted. This summer, after his first year of law school, an internship with Norwest Equity Partners gave him the… The post Summer Law Extern: Joseph Hillman, Norwest Equity Partners appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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Summer Law Extern: Kayla Abrams-Mahoney, Ramsey County Public Defender’s Office
Even though it scared her, speaking in a courtroom in front of a judge was something Kayla Abrams-Mahoney '28 J.D. knew she would have to do at some point in law school as she pursued a career in criminal defense. This summer, she got her chance during her externship with the Ramsey County Public Defender’s… The post Summer Law Extern: Kayla Abrams-Mahoney, Ramsey County Public Defender’s Office appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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Summer Law Extern: Haakon Lien, IP Law
Before his externship this summer, 2L Haakon Lien hadn't explored intellectual property (IP) law as a possible career path, but he was open to the idea. "I did not really have an area of law in mind that I was considering when I started law school," Lien said. "I wanted to—and still do—explore every option… The post Summer Law Extern: Haakon Lien, IP Law appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
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St. Thomas Law: 25 Years Forward
When the University of St. Thomas School of Law opened its doors in 2001, the founders had "high aspirations and a deep mission." What they didn't have was any idea what would happen, not even knowing how many students would show up for the first day of class. Turns out 120 students came, and the… The post St. Thomas Law: 25 Years Forward appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.