Mississippi College - School of Law

At Mississippi College, a “positive learning environment” and friendly staff offset the inevitable challenges of a legal education. Rather than promoting cutthroat competition or scary Socratic questioning, “the faculty and staff at MC Law are a unique bunch filled with kindness and enthusiasm.” Students praise their school’s moderate size, saying it allows for a more rewarding academic experience. While one may have a few large lecture courses, many “smaller classrooms allow for more collaboration because students sit around round tables.” Plus, the academic intimacy really pays off at MC, where students can find “MS State Supreme Court justices teaching seminars, Federal District Court judges leading lectures, and practicing attorneys from the city of Jackson and surrounding areas leading our legal writing program.” Despite their all-star credentials, “the professors make a wonderful effort to ensure that you understand the concepts, whether you ask in class or out of class.” That extra help can really pay off, as “the low GPA curve creates a more competitive environment than most people like to admit.”
There is a “very strong emphasis on writing” throughout the MC curriculum, as well as an “exceptional legal research staff” in the library. For those with a specific legal interest, the school also offers several special centers, like the Bioethics and Health Law Center and the Public Service Law Center, which operate both academic and extracurricular programs, as well as the opportunity to earn special certificates at graduation. Nonetheless, a handful of students worry that “some of the professors are too theoretical” in their approach to the course work, while others say, “The school should require more research classes.” Fortunately, Mississippi College augments traditional classroom instruction with numerous hands-on learning tools, which “allow everyone an opportunity to see how law is practiced in a variety of fields while taking classroom courses.” For example, “the training provided by the Moot Court program provides law students with the practical skills needed to make the transition into effective young attorneys.” In addition to moot court, students are eager to point out that “there are other exceptional programs here such as the Adoption Clinic, the Externship Program, and the Pro Bono Certificate program that are rarely discussed.” In addition, there is the newly added Small Law and Solo Practice Certificate Program. One area in which the school has improved in recent years is bar passage rate with an 85 percent pass rate for first time test takes in July 2013.
Yet, when it comes to the real world, “being in the state's capital is definitely a huge plus to attending school” at Mississippi College. “As the only law school in the capital city, MC Law students receive a unique opportunity to [receive] practical experience through many clerkships, externships, and internships.” Through these practical programs, students make professional connections and have “contact with state and federal bench, bar, and state legislators on a regular basis.” Back on campus, “the school strives to keep the classroom technologically updated and recently added a new mock courtroom and several classrooms.” These amenities are certainly nice, but they also come at a price. As a private institution, “tuition and books costs are very high” at Mississippi College. The good news is that students feel their investment is respected at MC, where everyone is “incredibly accommodating” and “willing to help you any way they possibly can.” From financial aid to registrars, the “administration at MC is extremely friendly,” including the school’s new dean who is very approachable even scheduling student town meetings and monthly Days with the Dean. Believe it or not, one may even “see the dean weeding the landscaping or picking up trash in the parking lot.”

MC Law “provides a comfortable environment conducive to learning,” and most students say cooperation trumps competition in the classroom and in the courtroom. At Mississippi College, “everyone is friendly and works together towards the one single goal of graduation and passing the bar…The school is small enough that you know most of the people in your classes, and can recognize everyone in the halls.” A student shares, “I think that in any academic setting there will be factions and competition on some level. However, my experience was that most students were cordial, helpful, and conducted themselves as if they were part of one really big team moving toward one common goal—graduation.”
Although some would love to see “more campus activities” specifically planned for law students, they say there is a great social atmosphere at Mississippi College. There are parties and other activities organized by the Student Bar Association, as well as student-run clubs and associations. Overall, “the number of student run social events is pretty high, and it does allow for students to branch out and meet others.” Nevertheless, one’s level of involvement is individualized. “MC Law has a wonderful social base which is just right if you choose to be social, but is not overly pressured.” Unfortunately, students note a “lack of quality social events” in surrounding Jackson.