Two Minnesota inmates have reached a rare milestone. They earned law degrees in prison from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
Jeffery Young and Maureen Onyelobi graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in June. The Minnesota Department of Corrections says they are the first people in the U.S. to earn J.D. degrees from an ABA-accredited law school while still in prison.
Their journey is not over.
Young and Onyelobi hope to take the Minnesota bar exam in February. After that, they must complete the state’s steps to become licensed lawyers.
Key Takeaways
- Jeffery Young and Maureen Onyelobi earned J.D. degrees in prison.
- Both graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
- They are the first incarcerated people in the U.S. to earn J.D. degrees from an ABA-accredited law school while in prison.
- Both took part in the Prison to Law Pipeline.
- They hope to take the Minnesota bar exam in February.
- Passing the exam would not give them a law license.
- Their criminal records may affect their applications.
- The program could shape future prison education programs.
How Inmates Earned Law Degrees in Prison
The Prison to Law Pipeline began in 2022.
The program gave people in Minnesota prisons a chance to apply to law school. Young learned about the program and decided to apply.
Mitchell Hamline accepted him. Onyelobi also joined the program.
Both students spent about four years earning their law degrees.
They studied online while serving their prison sentences. However, prison rules made their work harder.
Lockdowns sometimes stopped classes. Security rules also limited access to some online tools.
Law Students Faced Unique Challenges
The program was not a simple mail-based course.
Young and Onyelobi attended live classes through Zoom. They also completed remote externships.
Mitchell Hamline received permission from the ABA to change some class rules for the students.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections and The Legal Revolution also helped run the program.
Despite these barriers, both students earned high grades.
Onyelobi graduated cum laude. Young graduated summa cum laude.
Their results show that they completed a demanding law program under difficult conditions.
Minnesota Bar Exam Is the Next Hurdle
A law degree does not give someone the right to practice law.
Young and Onyelobi must first take the Minnesota bar exam. The Legal Revolution is working with the Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners on the next steps.
The two-day test will require special planning. Both graduates are still in prison.
They hope to take the exam in February.
Passing it, however, will not end the process.
Passing the Bar Is Only One Step
Minnesota has other requirements for new lawyers.
Law graduates must complete the attorney admission process. This includes a character and fitness review.
That review can examine an applicant’s past.
Officials may also consider other facts about the person’s life and conduct.
Young and Onyelobi therefore face two major tests.
First, they must pass the Minnesota bar exam. Then, they must meet the state’s rules for admission.
Can a Convicted Person Become a Lawyer?
A felony does not automatically stop someone from becoming a lawyer in Minnesota.
However, a criminal record can affect the application.
Aaron Sampsel advises law graduates about Minnesota’s rules. He said the facts of Young and Onyelobi’s crimes could create serious problems.
Proof of change may also matter.
The review is important because a law degree alone does not show that someone is ready to practice law.
Criminal Records Could Affect Licensing
Young has been in prison since 2004 after a murder conviction.
Onyelobi is serving a life sentence for aiding and abetting a 2014 murder.
Their convictions are likely to be part of the licensing review.
Anoka County Attorney Brad Johnson said he would not support Young becoming a lawyer. His father oversaw Young’s prosecution.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handled Onyelobi’s case. It did not comment on her effort to become a lawyer.
Supporters, meanwhile, say their education and efforts to change should also matter.
Why the Prison Law Pipeline Matters
Minnesota’s program offers a different path to prison education.
Prisons have offered education programs for many years. Some also provide law libraries.
The Prison to Law Pipeline goes further.
It lets selected inmates work toward a law degree at an ABA-accredited school.
That option could give incarcerated students new career choices.
An ABA-accredited degree can also help graduates qualify for a bar exam. By contrast, an unaccredited law program may limit where a graduate can seek admission.
The program raises an important question:
Can legal education help people prepare for work after prison?
Incarcerated Students Studied With Peers
Young and Onyelobi did not learn only from recorded classes.
They joined live classes with other Mitchell Hamline students. As a result, they had direct contact with classmates outside prison.
They also completed the same type of school work as other law students.
Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell supported the program.
He said legal education could help inmates learn new skills. It could also help law students better understand people in prison.
For Young and Onyelobi, the program offered a real law school experience.
Legal Community Weighs Their Future
The graduates’ success has started a debate among legal professionals.
Some critics question whether people convicted of serious crimes should become lawyers.
Others say a criminal record should not block someone forever.
James Binnall supports the second view.
Binnall is a lawyer and criminal justice professor at California State University, Long Beach. He served time in prison before going to law school.
He later became a law professor and legal scholar.
Binnall has helped more than 200 formerly incarcerated people with lawyer licensing in California and other states.
He says the legal profession may lose valuable views when it shuts out people because of their past.
The Legal Profession Faces a Difficult Question
The debate is about more than finishing law school.
The larger issue is whether a person can change after a serious crime.
That person must also meet the rules for legal practice.
Young and Onyelobi now face both issues.
Their cases could also teach other states about prison education and lawyer licensing.
What If They Cannot Get Licensed?
Their law degrees could still help them.
The Legal Revolution has discussed possible work for the graduates after they leave prison.
They could potentially work with the group’s law firm. Their roles would depend on whether they receive law licenses.
Some legal jobs do not require a law license.
For example, they could help prepare clemency requests.
Their education could therefore lead to work even if they do not become lawyers.
Could Minnesota’s Program Lead the Way?
Other law schools may study Minnesota’s program.
Correctional agencies could also review its results.
The first graduates have shown that inmates can complete a J.D. program.
Still, other programs would face challenges.
Schools would need to address technology and prison security. They would also need clear rules for accreditation and bar exams.
Lawyer licensing would be another key issue.
Minnesota’s experience could help other states plan similar programs.
Beyond the Bar Exam
Young and Onyelobi have already achieved something rare.
They finished law school while serving prison sentences.
Their next challenge is the Minnesota bar exam.
A passing score would be a major step. Yet they would still need to complete the state’s admission process.
Their character and fitness reviews could be especially important.
Young is eligible for parole in 2027. Onyelobi is not eligible for parole until 2041.
Their law degrees could affect their futures long before they leave prison.
The cases also raise a larger question for the legal profession:
Can someone who committed a serious crime later meet the rules needed to become a lawyer?
Minnesota may soon help answer that question.
FAQs
Can you earn a law degree while in prison?
Yes.
Young and Onyelobi earned J.D. degrees from Mitchell Hamline School of Law while incarcerated.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections says they are the first incarcerated people in the U.S. to earn J.D. degrees from an ABA-accredited law school while still in prison.
What is the Prison to Law Pipeline?
The Prison to Law Pipeline gives selected inmates a chance to study law.
In Minnesota, students attended Mitchell Hamline School of Law online. They then completed the work needed for a J.D. degree.
Can someone with a felony become a lawyer in Minnesota?
Yes. A felony does not automatically prevent someone from becoming a lawyer in Minnesota.
However, applicants must meet the state’s rules.
Their criminal history may be reviewed during the character and fitness process. Officials may also consider evidence of change and rehabilitation.
Do Young and Onyelobi have law licenses?
No.
The two have law degrees, but they are not automatically licensed lawyers.
Both still need to take the Minnesota bar exam. They must also complete the attorney admission process.
When will they take the Minnesota bar exam?
Young and Onyelobi hope to take the Minnesota bar exam in February.
Because they remain in prison, special plans are needed for the two-day test.
Why does ABA accreditation matter?
ABA accreditation can provide a recognized path toward bar eligibility.
Young and Onyelobi earned their degrees from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, an ABA-accredited school.
That makes their achievement unusual among prison-based legal education programs.
Could other states create similar programs?
Yes.
Other states could create programs that give inmates access to law school.
However, each state has its own rules for bar admission and lawyer licensing.
Future programs would need to address school accreditation, prison access, technology, and bar rules.
What happens after someone passes the bar exam?
Passing the bar exam is only one part of becoming a lawyer.
Applicants may have other requirements to meet. These can include a character and fitness review.
Once the applicant meets all requirements, the state can decide whether to grant a law license.
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