Grateful Gopher Week: Celebrating the Power of Philanthropy at Minnesota Law

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.

Student Impact

Our students are thankful for the doors of opportunity donor support has opened, empowering them to pursue a career in law with purpose. Donor support doesn't just fund their education; it fuels their aspirations, transforming dreams into tangible achievements. In the spirit of Grateful Gopher Week, our students extend their heartfelt thanks for the paths donors have paved and the futures they have helped shape.

Loren Olson 1L shares, “Scholarship support was key to my decision to attend Minnesota Law. Without financial support, I would not have attended school here. I’m most grateful for the people I have met and the programs I have access to through the law school. Minnesota Law is truly made unique by the people who choose to be affiliated with it; the culture of support and connections is integral to the community. I was motivated to undertake a career in the legal profession to help provide service and knowledge to people who might not otherwise know their legal options. After graduation, I plan to work as a law librarian to provide services that support those priorities in my career. Donor support allows me to access the resources and education to be an effective resource in my future community, and I am extremely grateful to be able to pursue this path!” 

Academic Impact

Our faculty are thankful for donor support, which allows them to innovate, expand research, and cultivate an environment where curiosity flourishes. Donor contributions enable the recruitment and retention of top-notch faculty members, allowing Minnesota Law to have the intellectual capital necessary for cutting-edge legal education. 

Exceptional faculty members, fueled by donor support, create a profound impact on students and the legal community. These distinguished educators not only impart knowledge but also inspire students to think critically and engage with the complexities of the legal world. The ripple effect extends beyond the classroom, as the research produced by these faculty members contributes to legal scholarship, shaping policies and practices. Our faculty are consistently impacting the legal world, garnering recognition for their expertise and contributing to critical discussions in the media. These accomplished scholars are frequently featured in news outlets, showcasing their insights on diverse legal issues. For example, Professor Jill Hasday recently testified before the Minnesota Legislature on requiring employers to include pay ranges on job postings. Another example is Professor Kristin Hickman was quoted in Bloomberg Law talking about the invalidation of a National Labor Relations Board regulation. 

Community Impact

Our greater Minnesota Law community is thankful for 97,000 hours of free legal services for marginalized persons and communities through our law clinics last year. That is nearly equivalent to the number of hours billed by one attorney over their entire career. The impact is wide as our nationally ranked clinics focus on everything from Environment & Energy Law to Family Law, Tax Law, Racial Justice, Criminal Defense, Immigration, Human Rights, and Consumer Protection. In addition, when students participate in these legal clinics, they gain unparalleled hands-on, real-world experience that can help jump-start their careers.

Assistant Dean for Clinical Education Steve Meili expresses, “None of this work would be possible without the continued philanthropy of our alumni. That philanthropy has enabled the creation of the Ronald M. Mankoff Tax Clinic, which in 2022 reduced taxpayer liabilities by more than one million dollars, and the establishment of the James H. Binger Center for New Americans, which for the past decade has provided critical pro bono legal services in our immigrant refugee communities through the Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic, the Detainee Rights Clinic, the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, and the Rural Immigrant Access Clinic. I have been a clinical teacher for over 30 years, and I have never been as proud of a clinical program as I am of the U of M program right now. Thank you for your support in making that happen.”