History

The University of North Dakota School of Law was founded in 1899, the first professional school to begin operation within the University.

Steeped in rich tradition, the School of Law is among the oldest degree-granting units of the University of North Dakota. Guy H. Corliss, a Grand Forks lawyer and the inaugural Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court, was selected as the first dean of the law school.

The only full-time instructor during the early years of the program, John E. Blair, a Harvard Law graduate, served as the secretary of the law school and directed the curriculum and operations. In 1904, when Andrew Bruce accepted the deanship, admission standards were lowered to require only two years of high school; nearly all students passed their courses and enrollment grew. Despite its meager resources, the law school grew quickly in popularity. The occupation had considerable prestige, and there was much demand for lawyers in the new state. 

In 1905, the School of Law graduated its first woman, Helen Hamilton. In honor of the trailblazing accomplishments of Hamilton and other female graduates of the School of Law, the annual Helen Hamilton Day event is hosted by the Law Women's Caucus student organization.

When Frank McVey became President of UND in 1909, incoming law students were required to possess a high school certificate and the program of legal education was lengthened to three years. The School of Law was granted membership in the Association of American Law Schools in 1911. The School of Law's first publication, the Law Bulletin, was introduced in 1914, and later evolved to become the North Dakota Law Review. By 1917, incoming students were required to have completed two years of collegiate study, and the School of Law instituted new program and degree options. 

The law school was located in downtown Grand Forks until it was moved to the UND campus during World War I. The building, constructed in 1922 and located in the heart of the main campus on the corner of University Avenue and Centennial Drive, was shared with the School of Commerce and other departments on occassion until the 1960's.

UND School of Law was approved by the American Bar Association's Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar in 1923. It has been continuously accredited since its initial approval. UND School of Law was inducted as a member of the Order of the Coif in 1925.

In 1973, the School of Law nearly doubled its space with the addition of a four-floor library annex, home to the Thormodsgard Law Library, named for Olaf H. Thormodsgard, Dean of the School of Law from 1931 to 1962. More than 40 years later, in the 2015 fall semester, the UND School of Law completed a $14.4 million renovation and building addition. 

At the UND School of Law, we are proud of the tradition of success of our graduates. As the state's only law school, UND School of Law produces well-rounded legal professionals witht the necessary skills to serve as effective, innovative, and ethical leaders in North Dakota, our region, and our nation.

Our alumni include a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, North Dakota Supreme Court justices, federal appellate and district court judges, including the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and nearly three quarters of the attorneys licensed to practice in North Dakota.

Our graduates are successful in a variety of professions and industries in the Midwest and on both coasts, including banking, aerospace, and real estate development, and as corporate attorneys, as well as those in private practice. Our alumni are influential in tribal government as well, and include the former treasurer for the National Indian Gaming Association, along with tribal prosecutors, tribal judges, and tribal business leaders. A sense of pride among our alumni creates a strong alumni network that spreads across the country and around the world.

The University of North Dakota is one of about 40 public universities with both a law school and medical school. Professional education plays an important role at UND. The School of Law offers our students an exceptional education at an affordable price within a personalized setting.