In addition to institutional scholarships, other available scholarship funds include the following:

U. S.  Magistrate Judge John Richard Countiss III ’56 Memorial Award:

Magistrate Judge John Richard Countiss III had a true love for the law.  He believed that professionalism and practicality were essential characteristics that lawyers must possess in order to be effective advocates in the legal system. 

Judge Countiss’ judicial career began as a United States Commissioner, the precursor to the magistrate position.  Judge Countiss retired from the bench in 1993, after having served as a Judge for almost thirty years.  At the time of his death, in 2006, he was the longest serving U.S. Magistrate Judge in the country.

To honor Judge Countiss, the United States Magistrate Judge John Richard Countiss III Award is presented to a student who has not only excelled academically, but also has exhibited a love for the law, and who personifies professionalism among his or her peers. 

Criteria for the Judge Countiss Award:
Presented to a 2L student in the top 20% of his/her class and who has earned the respect of both the faculty and his peers through a commitment to professionalism in the practice.
Recipient shall be a student who the faculty agrees will be an asset and contributor to the Bar.
Recipient shall be a student who is a member of Moot Court and/or Law Review.

The Robert M. Hearin-Leon Hess Scholarship Fund was established in 1982 by the late Robert M. Hearin, former President and Chairman of the Board of Trustmark Bank of Jackson, Mississippi, and Leon Hess, Chairman of the Board, Amerada Hess Corporation, New York. The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarships for Mississippi students of outstanding academic
achievement who have demonstrated a high aptitude for the study of law.

The Victor and Gayle Mavar Scholarship Fund was established in 1988 to provide assistance for academically worthy and financially needy students. The scholarship provides that special consideration be given to Mississippi Gulf Coast residents.

The Marble Grant is an annual scholarship awarded to a second- or third-year student in the top 1/3 of the class. The selection is based on potential for outstanding service to the legal profession.

Dr. Jody Hindman Deramus has established the Frank Ming Deramus Memorial Scholarship for a second-year law student who is committed through service to the development of the law school and who has demonstrated potential for service through the practice of law and to the community.

The Jackson law firm Dossett, Goode, Barnes and Broom presents the J. Kearney Dossett Scholarship on an annual basis to the second-year law student who shows the greatest promise for the practice of law and who plans to pursue a Masters of Law upon graduation from law school.

The Mississippi Chapter of the Federal Bar Association presents the annual Robert E. Hauberg Award to a Mississippi student who has the highest grade in Federal Courts.

The Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference presents an annual award to the student with the highest average in Debtor-Creditor Law.

The Mississippi Association of County Board Attorneys presents an award to a second-year student based on academic achievement.

The Jackson firm of Ott, Purdy & Scott, Ltd. offers an annual award to the student with the highest overall grade point average at the end of the first year of study.

The Mississippi College Law Alumni Association presents an annual award to a second-year law student on the basis of scholarship, leadership and potential as a member of the legal profession.

The Mississippi Bar Foundation presents an annual award to the second-year law student who, in the opinion of the faculty, best exemplifies the attributes of a successful attorney.

The Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association offers an annual award to a second-year law student who possesses strong motivation for civil defense trial practice.

The Trust Department, Trustmark National Bank, Jackson, presents an annual award to the student attaining the highest grade in Wills and Estates.

The Hinds County Lawyers' Wives Association presents a bi-annual award to a deserving law student selected by the faculty.

The Fellows of the Young Lawyers of the Mississippi Bar presents an award to a second-year law student who shows promise of service to the community and bar upon graduation.

The Mississippi Women Lawyers Association presents an award to a member of the organization that has demonstrated academic achievement.