MinnLawyer Blog

There’s been a lot of back and forth on this blog as to whether or not there are too many lawyers in this legal market. Here’s one additional little tidbit for that discussion — two local law schools no longer charge prospective students an application fee. There’s no fee to toss your hat in for a seat in the 2011 first-year classes at either William Mitchell College of Law and the University of St. Thomas School of Law. (St. Thomas’ application is technically is only free if you submit the application online, but the admission’s office said it liberally grants waivers of its $50 paper application fee to pretty much anyone who requests it.)  Both William Mitchell and St. Thomas jettisoned their fees last year. A St. Thomas official said in that school’s case it was encourage paperless applications and also in recognition of the economy.

Hamline University School of Law has a $35 application fee, but is also very flexible about waiving the fee upon request, according to admission officials. Hamline only accepts online applications.

Meanwhile, the University of Minnesota Law School has remained steadfast in its fee policy, requiring a $75 fee, the highest in the area, from applicants. The U does allow waivers in cases of financial need, but applicants seeking such a waiver must fill out and submit a separate form making the need-based request and, where possible, have a financial aid officer verify their need.

So perhaps there is  a silver-lining in a dark economy for prospective law schools — their upfront costs have declined. Of course, a legal education is something most students buy on the installment plan …