J.D. Program Admissions
The faculty annually sets the admissions standards for the Doctor of Jurisprudence program. These standards are primarily based on the undergraduate grade point average, the LSAT score, and personal and/or academic achievements.
An admissions file is acted upon after it is complete, and a candidate is notified shortly thereafter. Applications are received until July 1 or until the class is filled. Candidates are encouraged to complete admissions files as early as possible.
When an applicant is accepted, two deposits are required to secure a place in the class. Applicants will be notified in their acceptance letters of the amount of the deposits and the dates they are due. Upon enrollment, both nonrefundable deposits are credited to the applicant’s tuition. Students who apply for the early decision program or the two-year program may have earlier deposit due dates as well as students who begin their legal studies in the summer.
As a general rule, a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited, four-year college or university is a prerequisite for admission. However, a limited number of Mississippi College and University of Southern Mississippi undergraduates who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability may combine baccalaureate and law school studies to receive a bachelor’s degree and the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in six years. These students are permitted to spend the senior undergraduate year as full-time law students, accumulating credit toward the undergraduate and law degrees simultaneously. At the end of the first year of successful law study, the undergraduate degree may be awarded; after two additional years of full-time law study the law degree may be awarded. A student desiring such an arrangement with either Mississippi College or the University of Southern Mississippi should consult with the undergraduate catalogs at these respective institutions regarding each university’s program and requirements for participation.
MC Law has a part-time degree program for a limited number of entering students. Successful applicants ordinarily have achieved grade point averages and LSAT scores that both fall within the top twenty-five percent (25%) of the grade point averages and LSAT scores of all students in the entering class. Each part-time student must enter intending to earn the degree Doctor of Jurisprudence. The number of students participating in the part-time program in any fall or spring semester shall not exceed ten in any of the first, second, and third year classes. If more than ten applicants for admission in a given class apply for part-time status, those applicants who present the more compelling needs, as judged by the Admissions Committee, shall be admitted to part-time status. Except as otherwise stated in this paragraph, all other requirements with respect to the application process for the Executive Program are the same as for other applicants.
Joint J.D/M.B.A. Degree Program
Mississippi College offers a joint degree program for the Doctor of Jurisprudence and Master of Business Administration degrees. Students must be separately admitted to both the J.D and M.B.A. programs. For more information on the program consult the Degrees Offered section of the Law School Catalog and Joint J.D./M.B.A. section of the Graduate School Catalog.
Accelerated J.D. Program (2 years)
A limited number of highly qualified students may be selected for the accelerated two-year J.D. program. These students begin their legal studies in the summer and complete their J.D. requirements in their third summer.
Admission of International Students, J.D. Program
A prospective student who is not a citizen of the United States applying for admission to MC Law’s J.D. Program must make application at least six months prior to the desired date of entrance and submit all required materials three months prior to registration. These are to include a completed application with fee, certified and complete academic records from all secondary schools and universities attended, and documentary evidence showing that adequate financial resources are insured.
International students must otherwise comply with the admissions criteria of the law school. Special provisions related to payment of tuition and fees apply to international students and are contained in the Financial Information Section of this catalog.
Transfer Students
Students from ABA-approved law schools who have completed the first year of law school and are in good academic standing may be considered in any semester for admission with advanced standing. An application for admission with advanced standing should reach the Admissions Office at least six weeks prior to the registration date of the semester. Transfer applicants will need to obtain a letter of good standing and eligibility for readmission from the dean of the law school first attended. A transcript from the student’s law school must also be provided, as well as a copy of the LSDAS report.
Transfer of credits earned at another law school will be decided on a case by case basis and will depend upon the comparability of the curriculum of the law school from which the student is transferring to that of MC Law. Transfer credits will be accepted only from ABA-accredited law schools. A student transferring to MC Law from another law school may not receive more than 30 hours of credits. An applicant for transfer will be advised as to what transfer credits will be accepted for credit at MC Law. Transfers are permitted only if space is available. The dean may impose other restrictions in addition to those set forth above. Additional information regarding residency requirements for transfer students are contained in the Academic Information Section of this catalog. Transfer students are not officially ranked. However, transfer students may request an unofficial class rank from the Director of School Records at the end of each regular semester completed at MC Law.
MC Law does not have an established articulation agreement with any other law school.
Visiting Students
Students from ABA-accredited law schools are eligible to apply to study at Mississippi College School of Law during any semester beyond their first year of study. Visiting students must be in good academic standing and have permission from the dean of their law school to take courses at MC Law.
Admissions for the LL.M. Program for International Lawyers
Applicants must hold an academic degree in law from an educational institution in a country other than the United States and be eligible to become licensed to practice law in that country. However, students requiring additional English language preparation may arrive for the spring semester to attend the Intensive English Language Program (IEP) at Mississippi College. IEP will not grant credit toward the LL.M. degree, but will help ensure students have the requisite English language skills to be successful in the LL.M. program. The university degree in law must have been awarded by an accredited institution and must be earned prior to admission to Mississippi College School of Law. Documentation of all academic degrees and, where applicable, a law license is required.
Applicants for whom English is a second language must have a score of at least 600 on the paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), a score of at least 250 on the computer based TOEFL, a score of at least 100 on the iBT TOEFL (Internet-Based test), and a score of at least 6.5 on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Qualifying language scores must be less than two years old.
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Academic achievement, documented with official academic transcripts, diplomas and/or graduation certificates and three letters of academic reference
- Professional accomplishment, where applicable, documented with letters of professional reference
- English language competency as required by MC Law.
Applicants for the LL.M. Program must complete the application for admission which may be found at http://law.mc.edu/prospective-students/llm/.
LL.M. candidates who meet the academic standards for admission, but who do not, in the determination of the LL.M. Admissions Committee, have sufficient English language skills, may be conditionally accepted to the program. These students must complete the one-year Intensive English Program offered by Mississippi College on the Clinton campus prior to beginning the LL.M. program.
A deposit of $500.00 must be made by accepted LL.M. program applicants within 30 days of acceptance or by May 1, whichever occurs first. The deposit is nonrefundable and will be credited to the applicant’s tuition. |
