Law and Business Certificate

Students pursuing the Center for Law and Business (C-LAB) Certificate must complete a combination of coursework and practical experiences designed to align with their professional goals. The certificate requires nine credits in foundational courses (including Business Organizations, a transactions-focused course, and either Commercial Law Survey or Income Tax), plus twelve credits of electives.

Elective credits can be selected from a wide range of business-related courses, including offerings through other Mitchell Hamline centers including the Intellectual Property Institute, the Health Law Institute, and the Dispute Resolution Institute. Up to four of the required elective credits may be satisfied through approved practical experiences, such as clinics, externships, or other hands-on opportunities that integrate law and business skills.

Students may organize their electives around suggested career pathways, including:

• General Business and Small Practice
• Compliance
• Data Management and Technology
• Real Estate Development and Land Use
• Tax
• International Economic Development
• Sport and Entertainment Law
• Community Development Finance

Following a pathway is optional—students have full flexibility to design a course plan that best fits their specific career interests, whether traditional or interdisciplinary.

In addition to completing coursework and practical experience, students must engage in at least four business-related student activities during law school. Students must also complete the Advanced Research and Writing (ARW) requirement on an approved business law topic. If the ARW paper satisfies the academic expectations of another certificate program as well, a single paper may be used to fulfill the writing requirement for both certificates, provided the topic meets the substantive criteria of each.

To receive the C-LAB certificate, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA across all certificate coursework.

A full description of eligible courses, pathways, practical experiences, and engagement activities is available in the Certificate Planning Worksheet.

The Law and Business Certificate is open to all J.D. students at Mitchell Hamline. By starting the process early in your law school career, you’ll receive personalized advising tailored to your interests, strengths, and professional goals. The process unfolds in several key steps:

Phase 1: Learn and Apply

Complete the Application Form: If the certificate aligns with your goals, fill out and submit the application form linked here.

Schedule Your Intake Meeting: Once you’ve submitted the form, schedule an intake appointment with the Center Director using this Bookings link: Book time with Vu-Dinh, Kim: CLAB Student appointment Please select a date that is at least one week from the time you book, to allow time for review and preparation.

Phase 2: Advising and Mentorship

Faculty Advisor Match: After your intake meeting, the Center Director will introduce you via email to a faculty advisor aligned with your interests.

Mentor Match: You will also be introduced to a professional mentor—either a Mitchell Hamline alum or a practitioner in your field of interest—who can support your professional development.

Bring Your Worksheet: You should bring your completed (or in-progress) Certificate Planning Worksheet to meetings with both your advisor and mentor, as it will guide the conversation and help ensure your plan supports your career goals.

Ongoing Check-ins: The frequency and format of future meetings will be decided between you and your advisor/mentor based on your needs and their availability.

Phase 3: Completion and Submission

Track Your Progress: Continue using the Certificate Planning Worksheet to record your coursework, practical experience, writing requirement, and student engagement activities.

Submit the Notice of Completion: Once you’ve met all certificate requirements and graduated, submit the Notice of Completion form found here, along with your final transcript.

Fall graduates must submit by January 15

Spring graduates must submit by June 15

Select 12 credits from the course list below.

Select 4 Credits or the equivalent from the list below.

Any practical experience courses taken in addition to this requirement may count as an elective.

Not-for-credit practical experience with a substantial foundation in law and business may meet the Practical Experience requirement subject to the approval of the Center Director. The not-for-credit practical experience must be approved by the Center Director before work begins, and must fulfill the equivalent of 4 law school credits. The Center Director may require documentation and/or reflective writings describing the time worked.

Students must engage in at least 4 events in their law school tenure from the following list:

• Mitchell Hamline Business Law Society (student organization) membership
• Participation in business-related student competitions
• Events hosted by the Bar Association or other professional organization
• Business-related CLE and other event attendance
• C-LAB Field Trips
• Other activities, upon approval by Director

To obtain the Law and Business Certificate, the ARW (long paper) requirement must be in a topic that is approved by the Center Director. A student may complete the ARW requirement in the context of an Elective Course. For example, some of the following options have fulfilled this requirement for the CLB Certificate when long papers (or the equivalent) have been incorporated as required deliverables:

To obtain the Law and Business Certificate, a student must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 calculated at the time of graduation in the courses taken to satisfy the Law and Business Certificate requirements.