UAS, Mitchell Hamline partner to offer faster, lower-cost pathways to a law degree
Students can fast-track to juris doctor while hybrid learning from Alaska.
Juneau, Alaska
Date of Press Release: June 29, 2026
A direct admissions agreement guarantees acceptance at Mitchell Hamline for qualified UAS 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 UAS students admitted to Mitchell Hamline in their third undergraduate year can now complete their final year at UAS 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 blended-learning option 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 UAS 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 Native American Law and Sovereignty Institute, 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, UAS has maintained a direct admissions partnership and undergraduate scholarship with the Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Ore., which offers a traditional, in-person pathway to a law degree.
Glenn Wright, UAS political science professor, serves as the point of contact for students or alumni interested in these programs.
Additional Resources
Links
- Advising on UAS pre-law and law program partnerships
- UAS website on Mitchell Hamline 3+3 and direct admission programs
- Mitchell Hamline website on 3+3 and direct admission programs
- Direct admission agreement between UAS and Mitchell Hamline School of Law
- 3+3 program agreement between UAS and Mitchell Hamline School of Law