News

This week, we are celebrating Grateful Gopher Week, a week dedicated to expressing gratitude to the generous donors who have played a pivotal role in shaping the future of Minnesota Law. As we celebrate, we reflect on the transformative power of philanthropy.

Fellow alumni,

I am honored to send this letter asking that you join me, if you are in place to do so, in giving back to Minnesota Law.  

Minnesota Law’s Environmental and Energy Law Clinic provides students with hands-on, real-world experience representing clients in legal cases, at the legislature, and in regulatory proceedings. The students work on a wide range of legal issues addressing climate change, clean water, clean air, and the health of Minnesota’s communities. In a partnership with the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA), supervising attorneys provide oversight and lead the Clinic’s work. 

Dear Alumni and Friends of Minnesota Law:

Warm greetings from Mondale Hall! While I have been a professor at Minnesota Law for 17 years, I began serving as the interim dean this summer. I’ve already gotten to know many of our alumni and friends over the years and truly love this great community. If I haven’t met you yet, I look forward to the opportunity!

Incoming 1L Alejandra Arboleda ’26 was born and raised in New Jersey, but her family is from Ecuador. She attended Rutgers University where she received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and minored in politics, philosophy, and economics. Prior to law school, Alejandra dedicated her time to multiple organizations that championed human, minority, and immigrant rights, and co-founded an organization, Esperanza, which allocates vital resources to support undocumented immigrants and their families within the tri-state area. 

Incoming 1L Sarah Chaoui ’26 is from Charlotte, North Carolina. Her family is originally from Morocco. She received her undergraduate degree from Duke University where she majored in public policy and minored in visual media studies. Before law school, Sarah worked as a direct services professional, providing respite and community living support services for people with disabilities for two years. 

Welcome to Minnesota Law! Can you tell us why you chose the University of Minnesota Law School? 

Incoming 1L Noah Miller ’26 is from Pine City, Minnesota. He is a graduate of Bethel University in St. Paul. Prior to coming to law school, he held positions in court administration and at the Minnesota Appellate Defender’s Office.

Welcome to Minnesota Law! Can you tell us why you chose the University of Minnesota Law School? 

As part of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week hosted last week at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin—Faculty Director of Minnesota Law’s Human Rights Center and United Nations Special Rapporteur—presented her Global Study on the Impact of Counter-Terrorism on Civil Societ

Growing up, Earl Lin, 2L always felt driven to serve the public and work towards a more equitable society. With this drive, Lin worked as a paralegal in Washington, D.C. for six years after graduating from college, where he had the opportunity to be involved in several meaningful cases, many of which involved issues of police accountability. Lin found this work to be immensely rewarding, especially as he learned more about the issue of qualified immunity.

Minnesota Law is known for having one of the best public interest law programs in the country. We implement innovative models and opportunities to provide students with valuable legal training and a pipeline to employment, while providing organizations with much-needed legal assistance. Each summer, our students find summer positions in the public interest field in direct legal services or advocacy organizations in Minnesota and throughout the nation.