MSU and MC Collaborate on Accelerated Law Degree Program

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Aspiring attorneys at Mississippi State University now have an expedited route into the legal field through a new collaboration with Mississippi College.

Mississippi State and MC’s School of Law recently inked a deal on Wednesday [Aug. 21], granting eligible MSU students access to MC’s Juris Doctor program before finishing a bachelor’s degree, shortening the total undergraduate and law school duration by a full year.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum and MC President Blake Thompson signed the agreement alongside MSU Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw, MSU Executive Vice Provost Peter Ryan, MC Provost and Executive Vice President Mike Highfield, and MC School of Law Dean John Anderson.

“The collaboration between Mississippi State and Mississippi College reflects shared values and a dedication to service, and we are thrilled to have teamed up with President Thompson and his administrative team to establish this rapid academic route,” Keenum stated. “It presents an exceptional chance for students, our institutions, and the state of Mississippi.”

MSU students who have finished 75% of the required bachelor’s degree coursework are eligible for MC admission. Upon successfully completing the first year of the J.D. program (30 hours), MSU will confer the appropriate bachelor’s degree. Subsequently, upon fulfilling the J.D. degree requirements, MC will grant the professional diploma. Applications to MC for fall semester admission, which starts each August, are open from Sept. 1 to March 31.

“This fresh partnership between MSU and MC Law is geared towards serving Mississippi better by aligning our state’s largest land-grant university with its sole capital city law school. The agreement offers substantial benefits to students from both institutions and aims to retain our brightest prospective lawyers in Mississippi,” stated Thompson.

Students enrolled in the accelerated program must separately apply to MC. Those seeking expedited admission should follow MC’s standard law school application procedure using the Law School Admission Test, LSAT, which is mandatory. While MC does not mandate recommendation letters, they can enhance the admissions application.

The MSU-MC accelerated program complies with American Bar Association standards.

Since 1930, MC’s School of Law in Jackson has been molding leaders for the legal arena, providing students practical experience through its proximity to the state Capitol, Mississippi Supreme Court, federal courts, and esteemed law firms, preparing them well for their future careers.

Find out more about Mississippi College and its School of Law at https://law.mc.edu/.