Ů�źϼ�S, Mitchell Hamline partner to offer faster, lower-cost pathways to a law degree

July 10, 2026

The University of Alaska Southeast and Mitchell Hamline School of Law have signed two partnership agreements, enabling Ů�źϼ�S students and alumni to earn a law degree with tuition and time savings without moving out of state.

A direct admissions agreement guarantees acceptance at Mitchell Hamline for qualified Ů�źϼ�S students and alumni based on factors such as GPA and LSAT scores. Applicants who qualify will receive a tuition scholarship of at least 50% at the law school.

A second agreement, for a 3+3 program, allows current undergraduate students to earn their bachelor's and law degrees in a total of six years instead of seven. Full-time Ů�źϼ�S students admitted to Mitchell Hamline in their third undergraduate year can now complete their final year at Ů�źϼ�S as first-year law students.

There are no law schools in Alaska, so students have historically had to move out of state to earn a law degree. Mitchell Hamline offers a that combines online coursework with short, intensive on-campus classes in St. Paul, Minn. By participating in the nation's first and largest hybrid pathway at an ABA-approved law school, law students can remain in their home communities while pursuing their degree.

“As a political scientist, I know how hard it is to get a law degree without leaving Alaska, so I am excited to help open up this access,” said Alison Staudinger, associate dean of the Ů�źϼ�S School of Arts & Sciences. “We need people who understand our communities to stay in them, learning the legal tools to advocate for us right from home.”

Mitchell Hamline is home to the , which offers a certificate for law students who want to specialize in this area. The institute also advises the school’s Native American Law Student Association chapter and promotes academic accessibility and success for Native students.

“This collaboration represents a transformative opportunity for Alaska’s students,” said Camille Davidson, president and dean of Mitchell Hamline. “By staying in Alaska through the 3+3 pathway, students can achieve their educational goals faster and more affordably. We’re excited to open doors to legal education and strengthen the state of Alaska’s future legal community.”

The application deadline for the direct admission program is May 1 of the academic year before the applicant intends to begin legal studies. The deadline to apply for the 3+3 program is July 15, following a student’s third undergraduate year.

Since 2020, Ů�źϼ�S has maintained a direct admissions partnership and undergraduate scholarship with the in Salem, Ore., which offers a traditional, in-person pathway to a law degree.

, Ů�źϼ�S political science professor, serves as the point of contact for students or alumni interested in these programs.

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