University of North Dakota School of Law

University of North Dakota School of Law
Name	University of North Dakota School of Law
Established	1899
Type	Public
Parent	University of North Dakota
City	Grand Forks
State	North Dakota
Country	United States
Dean	Susan L. Groves
Students	250 (approx.)
Faculty	30 (approx.)

University of North Dakota School of Law is the professional law school affiliated with the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Founded at the end of the 19th century, the school offers the Juris Doctor and advanced legal degrees while engaging with regional courts, tribal nations, and national legal organizations. It maintains ties with state institutions, federal agencies, and tribal agencies across the Northern Plains.

History

The school was established in 1899 during the Progressive Era and developed under leaders who interacted with institutions such as the North Dakota Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota. Early graduates served in legislatures like the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, held office in the United States House of Representatives, and participated in national debates shaped by events such as the Great Depression and the New Deal. During the 20th century, the law school expanded its curriculum amid influences from the American Bar Association, the Association of American Law Schools, and legal movements tied to the Civil Rights Movement. The institution adapted through periods marked by the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and later engaged with legal questions arising from energy development in the Bakken formation and decisions from the United States Supreme Court.

Academics and Programs

The curriculum centers on the Juris Doctor degree with courses reflecting jurisprudence encountered before tribunals such as the North Dakota Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and administrative bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency. Offerings include instruction in subjects historically shaped by cases like Marbury v. Madison, Brown v. Board of Education, and Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. through doctrinal and skills-based courses. Specialized tracks address practice areas relevant to the region and nation, including litigation influenced by precedents from the United States Supreme Court, oil and gas matters connected to the Bakken Formation, tribal law engaging with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, and natural resources law informed by rulings from the Eighth Circuit. The school supports graduate study in collaboration with programs such as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg-era jurisprudence seminars and partnerships resembling exchanges with institutions like the University of Minnesota Law School and the Harvard Law School for visiting scholars.

Admissions and Student Body

Applicants come from diverse backgrounds and jurisdictions, applying through systems modeled after the Law School Admission Council process and referencing standards influenced by the American Bar Association. Matriculants include veterans with ties to Minot Air Force Base and students from reservations associated with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. The student body participates in organizations connected to national associations such as the National Native American Bar Association, the American Bar Association Student Division, and the Federal Bar Association. Alumni networks extend to offices within the North Dakota Attorney General's office, federal agencies like the Department of Justice, and private firms operating in cities like Fargo, North Dakota and Bismarck, North Dakota.

Campus and Facilities

Located on the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks near the Red River of the North, the law school's facilities include moot courtrooms, classrooms, and a law library holding collections complementary to resources found at repositories like the Library of Congress and state archives such as the North Dakota State Archives. The building supports technology for audiovisual advocacy competitions modeled after events like the National Moot Court Competition and the National Native American Law Students Association tournaments. Campus life intersects with nearby cultural institutions such as the North Dakota Museum of Art and transportation nodes serving routes to cities like Minneapolis and Winnipeg.

Clinical and Experiential Programs

Practical training includes clinics and externships placing students with entities like the North Dakota Supreme Court's pro bono programs, federal public defender offices, tribal legal departments for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Spirit Lake Nation, and administrative placements with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior. Advocacy opportunities prepare students for litigation before courts such as the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and appellate advocacy referencing decisions of the Eighth Circuit. Transactional clinics engage with energy companies in the Bakken Formation region and municipal clients from governments like Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Alumni have served in prominent positions including seats on the North Dakota Supreme Court, the United States House of Representatives, and executive offices such as the North Dakota Attorney General. Graduates have worked with federal bodies such as the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and served as judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Faculty have included scholars and practitioners who interacted with landmark cases from the United States Supreme Court and participated in organizations like the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools. Notable figures in the school’s history have engaged with regional leaders and national policymakers associated with the Governorship of North Dakota and the United States Senate.

Category:Law schools in North Dakota