Hon. Laura Thomas

  • Clinical Professor of Law

Degrees

  • University of St. Thomas, B.A.
  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D.

Expertise

  • Civil Litigation
  • Clinical Legal Education
  • Family Law

Professor Laura Thomas was appointed by Governor Walz in July 2020 as a District Court Judge in Minnesota's Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County. While at Minnesota Law, she served as Clinical Law Faculty, using her experience as a practitioner of family law and general civil litigation. Ms. Thomas received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of St. Thomas magna cum laude and her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1996.

Ms. Thomas served as a law clerk to former Minnesota District Court Judges Thomas Stringer and Harlan Nelson. After completing her clerkship, she began working for Hanson, Marek, Bolkcom and Greene, Ltd., a Minneapolis products liability defense firm with a national practice. In 1999, Ms. Thomas joined the Rider, Bennett law firm where her practice areas grew to include general civil litigation, insurance defense, and family law. In 2002, Ms. Thomas founded a solo practice allowing her to focus on family law.

Ms. Thomas is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Hennepin County Bar Association. She also donates her time through the Volunteer Lawyers Network.

Trial Practice


Books

Law in Practice (West Academic Publishing, 2014; 2d ed., 2018)