Lisa Needham

Lisa Needham is an Adjunct Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she teaches appellate advocacy courses. She previously held roles as Assistant Director, Assistant Professor, and Adjunct Professor in the Legal Writing program. Her career spans public sector law, education law, and legal technology writing.

• Education: B.A. in Philosophy and History from College of Saint Benedict; J.D., magna cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law.

Her research and professional focus areas include appellate advocacy, legal writing pedagogy, data practices, election law, charter school regulation, and technology law. She has written extensively on law practice management technology, diversity in the legal profession, and access to justice for underserved communities.

Her 2000 publication analyzing the RIAA v. Diamond Multimedia case demonstrates engagement with early digital music copyright issues, reflecting ongoing interests in technology law intersections.

Professor Needham's career blends practical legal experience with academic contributions, having clerked for Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz of the Minnesota Supreme Court and worked in both government and education sectors.