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Students at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) aiming to pursue a career as an attorney now have access to an accelerated law school pathway, made possible through a newly established partnership with Mississippi College (MC).
A Memorandum of Understanding between The University of Southern Mississippi and the Mississippi College School of Law signed January 13 allows qualified Southern Miss students to earn both their bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctorate (JD) in six years of study–decreasing the total length of undergraduate studies plus law school by one full year.
“We are deeply appreciative of this connection with the Mississippi College School of Law and are thrilled to be able to offer this new degree pathway for our students seeking to attend law school,” said Dr. Chris Winstead, Southern Miss College of Arts and Sciences dean.
“Through this connection with MC Law, our students have the opportunity to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctorate in six years rather than the usual seven. By having courses from the first year of law school count toward graduation requirements for their bachelor’s degree, students save an entire year as they progress toward their legal career,” Winstead added.
“Mississippi College is proud to partner with The University of Southern Mississippi to offer motivated and talented students a streamlined path to earning their Juris Doctorate. At MC Law, students will join a dynamic community of outstanding faculty, supportive staff and accomplished peers, all committed to preparing future legal professionals who will make a meaningful impact in their communities,” said MC Provost and Executive Vice President Mike Highfield.
Students who have completed three-fourths of the coursework required for a bachelor’s degree from USM will be eligible for admission to law school. After the student successfully completes the first year of the JD program with a grade of C or higher in each course, USM will assign academic credit based on the transfer equivalencies set forth in the participating USM degree program and award the appropriate bachelor’s degree. Then, after the student completes all law school requirements, MC will award the JD degree.
Southern Miss President Dr. Joe Paul stated that the university is committed to rigorously marketing this opportunity to our current and future students.
“I am fully confident they will receive top shelf legal education and training at Mississippi College,” said Paul. “Our students have Southern Miss grit; they set audacious goals and pursue them with uncommon passion and relentless persistence. This will serve them well in the study of law.”
Mississippi College President Blake Thompson highlighted how the partnership underscores the goal to retain talent in Mississippi.
“This new partnership between USM and MC Law allows us to better serve Mississippi by pairing Southern Miss with Mississippi’s only capital city law school,” said Thompson. “This arrangement benefits both USM and MC and establishes a clear pathway to help keep the best and brightest future lawyers in our state.”
Students participating in the accelerated degree program must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and earn a competitive score no later than December of their third year of full-time enrollment at Southern Miss. Participating students must also apply to law school no later than February of the third year of undergraduate study using the standard process and criteria for law school admission.
MC Law Dean John Anderson emphasized the history and partnership between the two schools.
“USM has always been one of MC Law’s top feeder schools, and some of our most successful alums are Golden Eagles! I am confident that the cost savings and convenience of this 3+3 partnership will only enhance the strong relationship between the two schools to the advantage of many future Mississippi lawyers,” said Anderson.
The accelerated law school pathway meets the requirements of the American Bar Association.
MC Law started educating future attorneys in 1930 as the Jackson School of Law in Jackson, Miss., where the State Capitol, Mississippi Supreme Court, federal courts and many of Mississippi’s most respected law firms are nearby, giving students practical experience in the field before graduation.
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