Law School Takes Faith-Based Approach

MINNEAPOLIS —  Courses have begun for 120 students at the new law school at the University of St. Thomas, a Roman Catholic institution that plans to take a faith-based approach to learning the legal system.

“While most places study the law based on reasoning, faith-based schools integrate a belief system with reasoning,” said the dean, David Link, formerly dean of the University of Notre Dame law school.

But Dean Ed Butterfoss of the law school at nearby Hamline University, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, questioned St. Thomas’ claim. “We don’t consider ourselves a faith-based law school, but ethics is at the forefront of our mission,” Butterfoss said.