JACKSON,
Miss., June 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackson State University (JSU) and the University of Mississippi School of Law are
providing JSU students with an opportunity to expedite their path
to a law career while significantly reducing the financial burden
of continuing education.
Jackson State
is the first public institution to partner with the University of Mississippi's accelerated law
program.
Administrators from both institutions signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) launching the new 3+3 Accelerated Law Program
on Thursday, June 27, at the Jackson
State Student Center. For the first time, JSU students will be able
to complete both their undergraduate and law degrees in just six
years. The program is one of four initiatives that First Lady
LaToya Redd Thompson, Esq., is
dedicated to implementing at Jackson
State.
"As a lawyer and proud alumna of the University of Mississippi Law School, the
partnership between Jackson State's
pre-law program and my alma mater holds a special place in my
heart," said Redd Thompson. "I am
embracing this opportunity to help Jackson
State students enter the legal field, which I am deeply
passionate about, through the very institution that shaped my own
career. I am grateful to President Thompson, Chancellor Boyce, and
others for supporting this initiative, and I'm optimistic about the
positive impact this program will have on our students."
The streamlined "Pathway to Law School" program not only offers
a diverse and enriching academic experience but also gives JSU
undergraduate students the opportunity to shave a year off their
education by beginning law school courses in their senior year.
JSU President Marcus Thompson,
Ph.D., described the accelerated law program as more than an
initiative, calling it a pathway to success and a bridge to the
future. "It is a testament to the power of collaboration. Access to
the legal profession is crucial, especially for students from
historically black colleges and universities. Through programs like
this, we are breaking down barriers and providing a clear,
attainable path for our students to achieve their dreams," he
said.
Added benefits of the initiative include waiving the application
fee for program students applying to UM's law school and a lecture
series bringing UM professors to JSU. Additionally, a Historically
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Law Preview Day will offer
undergraduates an opportunity to meet UM's law school professors
and students.
"This historic partnership provides Jackson
State University students the opportunity to immerse
themselves in legal topics and the law school application process
through the lecture series we will offer. This preparation will
benefit the University of Mississippi
School of Law by ensuring our admitted students are equipped to
develop the critical thinking, legal reasoning, and creative
problem-solving skills necessary to be successful members of the
legal profession and provide access to justice for all," said
Fred Slabach, Dean of the
University of Mississippi Law
School.
Jackson State is the first public
institution to partner with the University of
Mississippi's accelerated law program, which Chancellor
Glen Boyce Ed.D., shared is the
leading force among the graduate and professional programs that
they offer.
"We're very, very proud of it. We have fantastic clinical
programs in a wide range of fields to get students real world
preparation where they pursue all their academic responsibilities.
We're consistently ranked as one of the best regional law schools
for African American students and a leader in access," he said.
Aside from their pre-law program, JSU offers the Bob Owens
Pre-Law Center, named for the noted attorney, JSU alumnus, and
former Mississippi State Institutions of Higher
Learning trustee, who attended the MOU signing. The Center's
premiere program is the Bob Owens Pre-Law Academy, which serves as
an accelerated and interdisciplinary boost to prepare students for
the LSAT exam and the complexities of law school.
JSU students can begin applying for the 3+3 Accelerated Law
Program in Fall 2024.
Redd Thompson's additional
initiatives include promoting campus voting, encouraging healthy
eating, and supporting students in financial need through the Mary
E. Peoples Scholarship Luncheon.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jackson-state-university-university-of-mississippi-school-of-law-launch-historic-law-program-partnership-302186017.html
SOURCE Jackson State University