The University of Mississippi School of Law

Introduction

In 1854, recognizing the need for formal law instruction in the state of Mississippi, the legislature established the Department of Law at the University of Mississippi. In 2011, the School of Law moved into a $50-million, LEED-certified facility, the Robert C. Khayat Law Center.

Oxford, a small town of approximately 21,000 people, is located in northern Mississippi, just 75 miles southeast of Memphis, Tennessee, and 180 miles north of the state capital, Jackson.

The University of Mississippi is the fourth oldest state-supported law school in the nation. The School of Law is fully approved by the American Bar Association and is a long-standing member of the Association of American Law Schools.

At the University of Mississippi School of Law, our program allows students to find the perfect balance of traditional classroom courses and practical skills training. At Ole Miss Law, we strive to provide students with real-world experience. We offer a full spectrum of experiential and traditional learning options to fit their future legal career goals. We aim to ensure that every student cultivates the right path to achieve his or her individual vision of success.

Admission

The University of Mississippi School of Law requires that every applicant earn a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to matriculation. There are no prelaw requisites. Admission to Ole Miss Law is based on the applicant’s academic ability and aptitude for the study of law.

Every applicant must take the LSAT and register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service. An LSAT score obtained more than five years before application is not valid, and the applicant will be required to retake the test. Applications are available the September preceding admission, with the application completion deadline for both summer and fall enrollment being April 15. However, early application is encouraged. Applicants who file late risk being placed on a waiting list.

Although the LSAT and GPA are the most important factors in the admission process, other considerations are:

• Letters of recommendation
• Grade patterns and progression
• Social, personal, or economic background and circumstance
• Nonacademic achievements
• Difficulty of major field of study
• Job experience
• Diversity
• Residency

Entrance Dates

Students are given the option to enter in the summer or fall of each admission year. Because summer and fall enrollees are considered as one class, the same standards are applied in the decision-making process.

Curriculum

In addition to skills training, our academic programs are designed to give students opportunities for research and writing. Participation in small-group seminars and simulation experiences ensure our students are engaged and understand the development of law, legal institutions, and ethical issues. We offer a Juris Doctor, Juris Doctor/Master of Taxation, and Juris Doctor/Master of Accountancy, as well as certificate programs in business law; criminal law; and remote sensing, air and space law.

First-year students complete a set of curriculum focused on the development of analytical skills and a foundation of substantive knowledge. First-year curriculum includes:

• Focused first semester with only four courses
• Contracts and Legal Writing taught in small-section format
• Two-week skill session focused on drafting and negotiation
• Innovative spring elective connected to business law curriculum, civil litigation, or trial practice

Second- and third-year students select their own courses and area(s) of emphasis from a wide range of doctrinal and practical courses, including seminars, clinics, and skills courses focused on litigation, transactions, counseling, and public service. Additionally, our upper-level curriculum includes:

• A two-week skill session focused on professional skills training, courses taught by elite practitioners, and 20 electives covering fundamental and cutting-edge lawyering skills
• Abundant, advanced electives with minimal upper-level required courses, giving students freedom to focus on their desired path

Clinical and Experiential Programs

The University of Mississippi School of Law’s 12 different centers and clinics offer students an ideal combination of real-world experience and excellent doctrinal training in areas ranging from business law to services for the needy. These include:

• Child Advocacy Clinic: By investigating cases and appearing in court, students serve as lead legal representatives for children suffering from alleged abuse and neglect.
• Criminal Appeals Clinic: Students represent indigent clients during criminal appeals, briefing and arguing cases before the Mississippi Supreme Court and Mississippi Court of Appeals.
• Elder Law Clinic: Students counsel elderly clients by drafting wills, preparing health care directives and powers of attorney, and advising clients on nursing home and Medicaid regulations.
• Low-Income Housing Clinic: By bringing and defending cases, negotiating settlements, drafting motions and pleadings, and participating in court proceedings, students assist individuals and families facing conflicts with their landlords, eviction, and foreclosure. The clinic also takes on legislative initiatives and projects to eliminate housing discrimination and promote affordable, safe, and decent housing.
• Street Law Clinic: Students take on clients at a local food pantry and provide advice and representation regarding public benefits, housing, family law, consumer law, property, wills, and other legal matters arising out of daily life.
• Transactional Law Clinic: Students assist low-income entrepreneurs in business formation, contract drafting, financing, leasing, and intellectual property matters.
• MacArthur Justice Clinic: Students work on complex, impactful litigation relating to civil rights and criminal justice.
• Mediation Practicum: Students are trained to conduct mediations and hearings for students through the university’s conflict resolution system. Practicum participants learn about the mediation process, conflict management, negotiating difficult conversations and situations, and laws pertaining to mediation, with focus on mediation in a school setting.
• Mississippi Innocence Project: Students litigate wrongful conviction claims on behalf of state prisoners. Cases entail examination of forensic and DNA evidence, witness interviews, and in-depth investigation into claims of actual innocence. Students also work on criminal justice reform efforts, such as DNA-testing legislation.
• Volunteer Income Tax Clinic: Students assist local residents with tax returns and help secure tax refunds. In conjunction with coursework, students are required to be certified through the Advanced level of VITA training. Students may receive additional certification levels for assisting clients with more complex returns, including Cancellation of Debt, Health Savings Accounts, Military, International, and Foreign Student Certification.
• Clinical Externship Program: Students are placed with exceptional attorneys and obtain classroom instructional support. Programs include the Public Service Externship, Prosecution Externship, Judicial Externship, and Business Regulatory Externship.
• Pro Bono Initiative (PBI): Students volunteer to provide legal services in family law, housing, taxation, and will and estates. PBI focuses on building servant leadership in the legal profession and training the participants in particular legal skills. Recent projects include guardianship, child-support modification, child custody, and the development of a tax assistance program.

Student Activities

With over 20 organizations like the Law School Student Body Association, American Constitution Society, Black Law Students Association, and the Environmental Law Society, Ole Miss Law aims to give students a balance of academic, social, and service opportunities, helping to develop leadership skills that will aid students in their legal profession.

The Mississippi Law Journal, serving the Mississippi Bar since 1982, operates as the primary law review of the University of Mississippi School of Law. Its scholarly publication includes general-interest articles authored by students, faculty, scholars, and practitioners and focuses on both regional and national issues.

The Mississippi Sports Law Review is a student-run, scholarly, biannual journal that addresses current legal issues that arise in collegiate and professional sports. It is currently the only sports law journal in the SEC.

The Journal of Space Law is a faculty directed, student-edited law review. This law review is devoted to space law and the legal problems arising out of human activities in outer space. It publishes two issues per year and has been published since 1973.

Advocacy Programs

The Moot Court Board focuses on appellate advocacy and attends interscholastic competitions around the country. Led by back-to-back national championships in the National Environment Law Moot Court Competition, the Moot Court Board has achieved national status each of the past four years.

The Trial Advocacy Board specializes in mock trial—competing in intercollegiate events nationally and hosting internal competitions for the student body.

Similarly, the Negotiation Board hosts competitions and travels to events across the country.

All three programs offer opportunities for first-year law students to engage in advocacy—and both the Moot Court and Negotiations Boards extend membership invitations to a very select number of first-year students. In 2014, our negotiation team won a national championship.

Summer-Abroad Programs

The University of Mississippi School of Law offers a study-abroad opportunity in Cambridge for students wishing to further their legal education in a unique and rewarding environment.

Cambridge Study Abroad

A fully ABA-accredited program, Cambridge Study Abroad is a great opportunity for professional advancement and learning at one of the most important—and beautiful—academic institutions in the world. Our curricular offerings focus mostly in International Law and Comparative Law.

Career Services

Our mission in the Ole Miss Law Career Services Office is to teach students how to identify and research employment opportunities that coincide with their interests, skills, and values so that ultimately they can find fulfilling work as an attorney or use their legal skills in other personally satisfying ways. We facilitate exploration of legal and nontraditional career paths while linking students with alumni, practitioners, and the community. Statistics show that the first job out of law school will likely not be a graduate’s last. Therefore, our CSO provides students with the tools and skills necessary to successfully conduct a job search now and in the future.