Areas of Study
If you want to pursue a career as a prosecutor or public defender, an attorney in a state or federal agency, or a private defense attorney you need a strong foundation in criminal law and procedure. And, now more than ever, you need to understand the systemic issues facing the criminal justice system, such as mass incarceration, sentencing, policing, drug policy and implicit bias.
St. Thomas Law will prepare you for these challenges and give you an opportunity to start making an impact while you are in law school.
Experiential learning opportunities, such as an externship or legal clinic, will help you expand your abilities and apply what you are learning in the classroom. Co-curricular activities like our moot court or trial advocacy competition teams will enhance your written and oral advocacy skills.
Our mentor program will pair you with a judge, prosecutor or defense attorney to help you gain experience and develop relationships in this area of the law.
A highlight of our program is our location. St. Thomas School of Law is located in downtown Minneapolis near county and federal courts and major law firms.
Below are examples of some of the courses offered at St. Thomas Law for students interested in pursuing a career in criminal law.
Experiential Learning
Accelerate your professional development and substantive understanding of criminal law and procedure in a legal externship.
Judicial Externship
Study the judicial process, learn about the role of judges and law clerks and see the impact lawyers have on the administration of justice.
Misdemeanor Defense Externship
Gain hands-on experience representing clients in the justice system and an understanding of the challenges faced by all the participants in that system.
Represent clients or engage in research-based advocacy working in one of our legal clinics.
Represent both children and adults accused of crimes in Hennepin County and the greater Twin Cities area.
Engage in intensive research into practical solutions to longstanding challenges in our communities.
Explore issues of commutation and assist individuals seeking a commutation of sentence.
We Pair Each Student With A Mentor
Each law student is matched with a mentor, who complements their interests and professional goals—such as a career as a prosecutor, public defender or private defense attorney. Our mentors allow students to engage in legal work, professional networking and meaningful reflection.
Lawyer Search is St. Thomas Law’s online directory of alumni. It is available to those with legal needs, for attorney networking and referrals and so current and prospective law students can meet attorneys working in their area of interest—like criminal law. Click below to connect with one of our alums!