Mississippi University for Women students who seek to become attorneys have an accelerated pathway into the legal profession thanks to a newly signed partnership with Mississippi College.
Mississippi University for Women and the Mississippi College School of Law signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreement on Nov. 21, allowing qualified W students to enter MC’s Juris Doctorate program before fully completing a bachelor’s degree from The W.
This accelerated pathway shortens the total length of undergraduate studies plus law school by one full year. MC President Blake Thompson and W President Nora Miller signed the Memorandum of Understanding together with W Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Scott Tollison, MC Provost and Executive Vice President Mike Highfield and MC Law Dean John Anderson.
“The W continues to forge affordable and impactful partnerships that benefit Mississippi. This
innovative collaboration between MC and The W offers students an efficient and cost-effective
pathway to pursue advanced legal education,” said W President Nora Miller.
Students at The W who have completed 75% of the coursework required for a bachelor’s
degree will be eligible for admission to MC Law. The partnership will initially feature developed
pathways in business administration, English, history, legal studies and political science. After
the student successfully completes the first 30 hours (one year) of the J.D. program, The W will
award the appropriate bachelor’s degree to the student. Then, after completing requirements
for the J.D. degree, MC Law will award the professional diploma.
MC Law will accept applications through March 31 for admission to the entering class for the
following fall semester, which begins each August.
“This new partnership between The W and MC Law allows us to better serve Mississippi
students attending The W with a pathway to a degree program at Mississippi’s only capital city
law school. This partnership helps to keep our brightest students and brightest future lawyers
in the state,” said Thompson.
Highfield added, “This agreement underscores MC’s dedication to academic innovation and
collaboration. By partnering with our peer institutions across Mississippi, MC is providing
students with a seamless transition from rigorous undergraduate studies to an advanced legal
education, saving both time and financial resources while preparing them for impactful careers
in the legal profession.”
Students enrolled in the 3+3 program must be admitted to MC Law. They will apply to the law
school program using the application process provided by the Law School Admissions Council
(LSAC). Letters of recommendations are not required but strongly recommended.
“MC Law is well underway with its multi-million-dollar renovation of the entire campus.
Mississippi University for Women students admitted through this new 3+3 program will be
welcomed to a beautiful new state-of-the-art law school campus that focuses on meeting the
needs of the 21st -century law student. And these new students will enjoy the opportunity to
study and learn from the nation’s top legal scholars, all in the heart of our state’s capital city",
said Anderson.
The accelerated program meets the requirements of the American Bar Association.
MC Law has been preparing leaders for the legal profession since 1930 in Jackson, 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.
Learn more about Mississippi College Law at https://law.mc.edu/
Learn more about The W at https://www.muw.edu/about/
