University of St. Thomas Law Journal

Taking Advantage of Law School: Beyond the Classroom

*Grace Sawatzke

When students think of law school, they often think of cold calls, never-ending case readings, late nights in the library, and the stress of finals. What immediately doesn’t come to mind are the opportunities for law students beyond the classroom.  

In Minnesota, the average total cost of law school tuition is $54,084 per year.1 While a hefty price to pay for the hope of becoming a lawyer, it’s worth it when considering the skills, connections, and experiences gained along the way. Because law school coursework demands so much time, many students focus most—or even all—of their attention on their studies. However, beyond the required coursework and doctrinal classes, what else can students do to optimize their law school experience that doesn’t require spending more money? 

At some point all students will, inevitably, be told of the importance of networking by a professor, mentor, or practicing attorney. While networking takes many forms, it is often thought of in its classic sense as a simple coffee or lunch meeting. Yet, Minnesota law students have numerous additional networking and growth opportunities available to them, if they take a moment to look beyond the typical coffee or lunch meeting. These opportunities help students grow their knowledge beyond the black letter law and prepare them for a successful legal career filled with connections and practice area awareness.  

Best of all, these opportunities are often free for law students. Now is the perfect time for law students to take advantage of these wonderful opportunities before officially becoming a lawyer, when the cost shifts from free to expensive. 

Here are five free networking opportunities for law students that go beyond the classroom:2 

1.     Minnesota Continuing Legal Education (CLE)3

Minnesota CLE is a nonprofit established by the Minnesota State Bar Association that creates quality legal education for Minnesota attorneys.4 Minnesota CLE provides seminars, webinars, and written materials on the latest law changes and popular legal topics.5 Minnesota CLEs cover a vast array of practice areas such as real estate law, intellectual property law, labor and employment law, family law, government law, and health law.6 

In-person seminars, live webinars, and on-demand videos are free for Minnesota law students.7 There is no cap on how many CLEs a law student can attend while in school.8 Minnesota CLEs are a tremendous way for law students to learn more about different practice areas, meet new attorneys, and get ahead of the curve on new laws.  

2.     Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA)9

MSBA is a “professional association for attorneys and legal professionals . . . [that] promotes the highest standards of excellence and inclusion within the legal profession, provides valued resources to its members, and strives to improve the law and the equal administration of justice for all.”10 MSBA memberships are free for all law students.11 With an MSBA student membership, one is automatically enrolled in the New Lawyers section and also able to select three other sections to join for free.12 Sections enhance professional growth and provide section-specific events and activities.13 For example, the New Lawyers section hosts social events, section meetings, and “coffee & counsels”.14 Additionally, an MSBA membership grants access to both the Hennepin County Bar Association and Ramsey County Bar Association, providing even more opportunities for networking.15

The MSBA membership offers many exciting opportunities for law students to engage with the legal community in the Twin Cities. With a wide range of networking events available, every law student should take advantage of this membership. 

3.     Minnesota Women Lawyers (MWL)16 

MWL is a nonprofit “dedicated to advancing the success of women attorneys and striving for a just society.”17 MWL is a community open to all gender identities and expressions.18 MWL provides a free membership to all law students.19 Memberships provide access to signature events, networking, volunteering, and affinity groups.20 Signature Events, such as the Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture, are often not free, but are offered at a discounted rate for members.21 However, MWL encourages law students to volunteer for Signature Events, which includes a free entry into the event.22 Affinity groups can be a fun way for law students to network with attorneys in a small group setting. For example, Legal Athletes affinity group provides active networking opportunities such as rock climbing, yoga and running.23

In addition to MWL’s free student membership, MWL also offers a law student mentor program.24 Through this mentor program, law students are matched with an attorney mentor based on student interest and attorney practice area.25 This is a great way to connect with an attorney and attend MWL events together. Further, MWL awards scholarships annually to law students as part of their Foundation Scholarships and Social Justice Writing Award.26

4.     Bench & Bar27

The Bench & Bar, an official publication of MSBA, is a unique way to stay involved with what’s going on in the legal community. Members of MSBA get a free print subscription to the publication and will receive the publication monthly in the mail.28 Further, the Bench & Bar accepts publication submissions from law students.29 This is a fantastic opportunity for law students to practice their legal writing skills and submit a piece that all MSBA members will have access to.  

Social networking is not every student’s cup of tea, so for those who prefer writing, this may be a perfect alternative. 

5.     American Bar Association (ABA)30

The ABA “works to promote the best quality legal education, competence, ethical conduct and professionalism, and pro bono and public service work in the legal profession.”31 The ABA provides free memberships to law students.32 Memberships provide networking opportunities and career-building resources.33 Like the MSBA, the ABA provides members with opportunities to join sections or “member groups” and hone their focus on specific practice areas.34 The ABA allows student members to join five free member groups.35

The ABA gives law students the opportunity to network with attorneys nationally and become versed to the changes in the legal profession across states. For students not wishing to practice in Minnesota, or for those who are looking to practice at a national firm, this is a premier way to network now. 

Conclusion 

Minnesota law students should embrace the free networking opportunities that extend beyond the classroom to make the most out of their law school experience. By tapping into these resources now, students can lay a solid foundation for their future careers, setting themselves up for success in the legal field. With the costs of networking and professional development likely to rise after graduation, it’s crucial for students to seize these opportunities while they’re still accessible and free. 

*Grace Sawatzke, J.D. Candidate, University of St. Thomas School of Law Class of 2026 (Senior Editor).

  1. College Tuition Compare, 3 ABA-accredited Law Schools in Minnesota, https://www.collegetuitioncompare.com/law-schools/minnesota/ (last visited Sept. 16, 2025).  ↩︎
  2. This is not an exhaustive list of free networking opportunities available to Minnesota law students. See Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Law Students’ Guide to Bar Associations, https://mitchellhamline.edu/culture-and-inclusion/law-students-guide-to-opportunities-with-bar-associations/#:~:text=Minnesota%20State%20Bar%20Association%20(MSBA)&text=To%20support%20you%20in%20your,studying%20for%20the%20bar%20exam (last visited Sept. 16, 2025) for additional opportunities.   ↩︎
  3. Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, https://www.minncle.org/ (last visited Sept. 16, 2025).  ↩︎
  4. Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Our Mission, https://www.minncle.org/our-mission (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  5. Id. ↩︎
  6. Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Seminars, https://www.minncle.org/seminars (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  7. E-mail from Katie Ward, Minnesota CLE Office Operations Manager, Jan. 8, 2025 at 2:50 PM CT (on file with author). ↩︎
  8. Id.  ↩︎
  9. Minnesota State Bar Association, https://mnbars.org/ (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  10. Minnesota State Bar Association, About Us, https://mnbars.org/?pg=about-msba (last visited Sept. 16, 2025).  ↩︎
  11. Minnesota State Bar Association, Welcome Minnesota Law Students!, https://mnbar.wufoo.com/forms/welcome-minnesota-law-students/ (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  12. Id. ↩︎
  13. Minnesota State Bar Association, Sections, https://mnbars.org/?pg=sections (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  14. Minnesota State Bar Association, CLE & Events, https://mnbars.org/?pg=events&evAction=listAll (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  15. Minnesota State Bar Association, supra note 11.  ↩︎
  16. Minnesota Women Lawyers, https://mwlawyers.org/ (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  17. Minnesota Women Lawyers, About MWL, https://mwlawyers.org/page/AboutMWL (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  18.  Id.  ↩︎
  19. Minnesota Women Lawyers, Law Student Hub, https://mwlawyers.org/page/LawStudentHub (last visited Sept. 16, 2025).  ↩︎
  20. Minnesota Women Lawyers, Member Benefits, https://mwlawyers.org/page/MemberBenefits (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  21. Minnesota Women Lawyers, 31st Annual Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture, https://mwlawyers.org/page/31stWahlLecture (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  22. Minnesota Women Lawyers, supra note 20. ↩︎
  23. Minnesota Women Lawyers, Affinity Groups, https://mwlawyers.org/page/AffinityGroups (last visited Sept. 16, 2025) (see the Legal Athletes Affinity Group). ↩︎
  24. Minnesota Women Lawyers, supra note 20. ↩︎
  25. Minnesota Women Lawyers, supra note 20. ↩︎
  26. Minnesota Women Lawyers, supra note 20. ↩︎
  27. Minnesota State Bar Association, Bench & Bar of Minnesota, https://mnbars.org/?pg=BenchBarofMinnesota (last visited Sept. 16, 2025).  ↩︎
  28. Minnesota State Bar Association, Bench & Bar of Minnesota Print Subscription, https://mnbars.org/?pg=store&sa=viewDetails&itemID=18611 (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  29. E-mail from Steve Perry, MSBA Director of Communications, Aug. 12, 2025 at 11:10 AM CT (on file with author). ↩︎
  30. American Bar Association, https://www.americanbar.org/ (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  31. American Bar Association, About the ABA, https://www.americanbar.org/about_the_aba/ (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  32. American Bar Association, ABA Membership, https://www.americanbar.org/membership/ (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  33. American Bar Association, Membership, https://www.americanbar.org/membership/ (last visited Sept. 16, 2025). ↩︎
  34. American Bar Association, supra note 32. ↩︎
  35. American Bar Association, supra note 32. ↩︎

Taking Advantage of Law School: Beyond the Classroom 

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