Congratulations to Jana Austad, who will join the bench in Walker, Minn. You can read about her appointment here.

Congratulations to Shawn Bartsch ’82, who was just appointed by Gov. Dayton as a judge in the Second Judicial District in Ramsey County. Bartsch joins 12 other Mitchell alumni on the Ramsey County Bench alone.  More information.

Bergerson is an attorney with Fredrikson & Byron. The ANA recognition is given by the College of Liberal Arts to alumni whose individual achievements, leadership and contributions have brought distinction to their professions, their communities and their college, as well as to honor the collective depth and breadth of their interests, talents, career paths and…

Adine is one of 167 attorneys nationwide to be selected for this national leadership development program designed to increase diversity in the legal profession. Read more about Adine here.  

More about the honorees and how they are selected.

Congratulations to Judge John P. Smith ’75, who was appointed by Governor Dayton to an at-large seat on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Judge Smith will be replacing The Honorable Wilhelmina M. Wright (former Mitchell Trustee), who was appointed earlier this year to the Minnesota Supreme Court. Read the full press release.

Congratulations to the nine Mitchell grads just named 2012 Attorneys of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer: Paul Cady ’88, Jonathan Schmidt ’03, Tara Reese Duginske ’08, James Behrenbrinker ’87, Carrie Daniel Russell ’02, James Fleming ’87, Robert A. McLeod ’92, Peter M. Reyes, Jr. ’97, and Andrew Sorensen ’89. And former Justice Helen Meyer ’83…

Congratulations to the four Mitchell graduates who have been named Finance & Commerce’s Top Women in Finance: Nancy Elias Anderson’91; Vicki L. Bailey ‘83; Michelle R. Jester ‘94; and Michele D. Vaillancourt ‘81. Both Jester and Vaillancourt were also named to the Circle of Excellence since this is the second time they have been honored.…

Hats off to the 329 Mitchell grads named as Super Lawyers and the 177 named as Rising Stars for 2012!  There are too many to list, so check out all the Mitchell grads who received this honor online here.  Most are right here in Minnesota, but we can boast of a few each in AZ,…

The American Bar Association Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence selected Loretta Frederick ’78 as the recipient of the 2012 Sharon L. Corbitt Award. Created in 2008, the award recognizes service by lawyers who demonstrate exemplary service to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or stalking, in the spirit of Sharon L. Corbitt, who made…

Minnesota Lawyer has announced the honorees for this year’s Up & Coming Attorneys, and the list includes the following Mitchell grads: Michael R. Carey ’07, an associate with Bowman and Brooke; Nancy A. Haas ’03, attorney with Messerli & Kramer; Jane Holzer ’08, supervising attorney at the Foreclosure Relief Law Project/Housing Preservation Project; and Bryan…

Politics in Minnesota and the Capitol Report announced that Holly Iverson ’07  has been named one of the 2012 Leaders in Public Policy in the Top Legislative Staffer category. Iverson is the Committee Administrator for the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee. Congratulations!

The two largest bar associations in Minnesota are welcoming new presidents, and for the second year in a row, both organizations are led by Mitchell grads.  At the Hennepin County Bar Association, outgoing president Jewelie Grape ’99 transferred leadership duties to Thomas Jensen ’78.  Across the river, Shawn Bartsch ’82 is handing the presidency of…

The American Public Human Services Association has selected Minnesota Department of Human Services Assistant Commissioner Erin Sullivan Sutton ’86 as the 2012 Outstanding Member Award winner for contributing to the transformation of human services and advancing the mission of the association.  Sullivan Sutton was selected for her work to improve child welfare practice in Minnesota…

Congratulations to Judge Carol Hooten ’78, who was appointed by Governor Dayton on Friday to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.  Judge Hooten has been serving on the First Judicial District bench since 2002, and joins fellow Mitchell alumni Matthew Johnson ’92 (Chief Judge), Heidi Schellhas ’80, Renee Worke ’83, Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks ’85, and Michelle…

The following 11 Mitchell alumni (spanning graduation years from ’65 to ’08) were named Attorneys of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer for their leadership in the profession, involvement in a major or newsworthy case, excellence in corporate or transaction services, and service to the profession or the judicial system:  Sam Hanson ’65, John Harper III ’77, Elizabeth…

Once again, the Mitchell turnout at Project Homeless Connect was impressive! At the Minneapolis event on Monday, Dec. 12, 11 Mitchell law students (more by far than from any other law school) and at least 15 Mitchell alumni were among the volunteer legal team who provided assistance in almost 400 cases.  The teams addressed civil,…

Results are going out today- if you’re being sworn in on Oct. 28 or want to support those who are, join us for a celebratory brunch before the ceremony. Watch for your invitation in the mail soon!

Minnesota Brigadoon will be aired on Twin Cities Public Television (TPT channel 2) at 7pm on Thursday, Sept. 1. Check out the trailer here.

This designation is given to only 2.5% of lawyers in Minnesota who are 40 or under or have been in practice for 10 years or less.  Check out the full listing here.

Not only were 558 Mitchell alumni named 2011 Super Lawyers in Minnesota, but 3 Mitchell grads made it into the Top 10 List:  Mark Briol ’81 (Briol & Associates), Mark Hallberg ’79 (Hallberg & McClain), and Martin Lueck ’84 (Robins Kaplan).  Congratulations to our super alumni!

Thanks to Judith Payne’97 (First Judicial District) and Marna Anderson ’94 (Tenth Judicial District) for being named winners of the 2011 Judicial District Pro Bono Awards for their many hours of pro bono service to their communities.  The awards are administered by the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Legal Assistance to the Disadvantaged Committee, and the…

Jewelie Grape ’99 assumes the presidency of the Hennepin County Bar Assocation on July 1, the latest Mitchell grad to take the helm of the largest county bar association in Minnesota. Outgoing president Courtney Ward-Reichard is also a Mitchell alum from ’92, and Thomas Jensen ’78 will become president-elect.

Capitol Report and Politics in Minnesota recognized Mitchell grad Ross Kremer ’74, founder and shareholder of the Saint Paul law firm Messerli and Kramer, for the key role he has played in several projects, ranging from the Twins ballpark efforts, the Mall of America development, the Hiawatha Corridor LRT line and the expansion of the…

Minnesota Lawyer just announced the winners of the Attorney of the Year award, made each year to honorees chosen for their leadership in the profession, involvement in major cases or other newsworthy events, excellence in corporate or transactional services, and public service. The following Mitchell grads were among those honored: Jim Behrenbrinker ’87; Allan Caplan…

Matthew Johnson ’92, will take over as chief of the 19-judge Court of Appeals next month when current Chief Judge Edward Toussaint steps down.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2010 Judicial District Pro Bono Awards, including the following Mitchell grads: 3rd Judicial District: Melanie J. Leth ’01 – Weber & Leth 5th Judicial District: Daniel L. Giles ’79 – Stoneberg Giles & Stroup 7th  Judicial District: Thomas J. Reif ’73 – Thornton Reif Dolan Dowen & Klecker 8th Judicial District:…

Courtney Ward-Reichard ’92 (of Nilan Johnson Lewis) recently stepped up to become president of the Hennepin County Bar Association, and Paul Godfrey ’84 (Votel, McEachron & Godfrey), just took over the presidency of the Ramsey County Bar Association from another Mitchell alum – Juan Hoyos ’92.

Terry Votel ’68, of Votel, McEachron & Godfrey, assumed the presidency of the MSBA on July 1.   Votel is a Division Attorney for the Midwest Division of the Claims Litigation Department of Los Angeles based Farmers Insurance Group of Companies.   As president, Votel will work closely with another Mitchell alum – Tim Groshens’ 80 –  who…

At the Commencement ceremony at RiverCentre this afternoon, 245 happy and relieved former 3Ls and 4Ls made the transition from Mitchell students to Mitchell graduates.  An impressive 62% had completed 50 or more hours of pro bono service either through the Minnesota Justice Foundation or through one of Mitchell’s many clinics, where they gained practical legal skills and…

Despite the rain, the mood was sunny at our swearing in brunch this morning as graduates, friends, and family celebrated the accomplishment of those who just passed the bar. We wish them great success with their legal careers and urge them to stay in touch!

Two Mitchell alumni were among the 38 honorees named by Finance and Commerce as Minnesotans on the Move. Goodno ’99, is a shareholder with Fredrikson & Byron; Kremer ’02, is a shareholder with Leonard Street & Deinard. From a quick scan of the list, it appears only three attorneys were included among the honorees, which…

One of only a few lawyers honored by the Mpls/St. Paul Business Journal as having become successful and established leaders in the Twin Cities before turning 40, Tammera Diehm ’03, a Shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine, was recognized for her service on the Columbia Heights City Council, her law degree (from Mitchell, summa cum laude,…

Congratulations to the 11 Mitchell alumni named as 2010 Up & Coming Attorneys by Minnesota Lawyer for their achievements in the legal profession within 10 years of passing the bar: Elizabeth Sorenson Brotten ’06 (Foley & Mansfield); Charlie Delbridge ’06 (Christensen & Laue); Samuel Edmunds ’07 (Campbell Knutson); Matthew Gollinger ’03 (Zelle Hofmann); Anh Le…

Jeff Anderson’ 75, longtime crusader for victims of sexual abuse by priests, is back in the news.  A New York Times article titled “Vatican Declined to Defrock U.S. Priest Who Abused Boys” reported that it made use of interal church documents provided by Anderson.   Another story appears in the Star Tribune:  “Priest abuse scandal spreads“.

Mitchell grads Hennepin County Judge Fred Karasov ’83 and Assistant Hennepin County Attorney (and alumni board member) Jennifer Beck-Brown ’03 are thankfully back home safely from their service as JAG officers in Iraq. Read more here (password protected) or in Monday’s edition of Minnesota Lawyer.

Russ Doty ’74, now the CEO/General Counsel of New World WindPower LLC in Billings, Montana, writes in the Billings Gazette about his experience with medical malpractice litigation and argues that such lawsuits have little to do with the cost of health care.

Lawyer, business owner, volunteer, actress, and mother of three Stacey Thunder ’98 was honored by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, with a Native American 40 Under 40 Award for her role in helping to shape the future of Indian country.  Read about her accomplishments here.

The Star Tribune recently featured a commentary written by Todd Guerrero ’93 in which he argues that cap and trade is the wrong way to manage/reduce carbon emissions.

After 14 years with the trade group representing the debt collection industry - ACA International – Rozanne Andersen ’83 was recently appointed its CEO.  Read her interview about the state of the industry and challenges faced by likely increased regulation and a down economy in the Star Tribune here.

Alum and adjunct professor Brad Colbert ’85 was profiled in the Southwest Journal about the changes (for the worse) he’s seen in the Minnesota prison system and our perception of criminals and inmates since he started practicing 25 years ago and why he felt compelled to fight for his clients’ right not to be charged for…

As another semester and year come to a close, I’d like to take just a minute to say a huge “thank you” to the 120 or so alumni who give back to the school by sharing their expertise with students as adjunct professors.  Alumni make up about one-half of Mitchell’s amazing adjunct faculty, and the school…

Read about how Alan Carlson ’71 has “Fun with patent law. No . . . really” in this Dick Youngblood column in the StarTribune.

Read the story here.

Read Jen Eichten’s story in the Oct. 2009 Bench & Bar about the pro bono work undertaken by alumni board member John Degnan and others on behalf of a Vietnam veteran.

Time to celebrate!  For 2009 grads, watch the mail for your invitation to the Swearing In Brunch before the ceremony . . .we hope you can join us.  And for everyone who took the bar in other states and is still waiting for results, keep the faith!

Read more here.  Congratulations to the latest in a long line of Mitchell grads who are serving as judges in Minnesota.