University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce (front, left) and University of Southern Mississippi President Joe Paul ink the schools' new Accelerated Law School Pathway partnership agreement. They are accompanied by (back, from left) UM Provost Noel Wilkin; Luke Habeeb, executive liaison of the Ole Miss Associated Student Body; UM Associated Student Body President Hannah Watts; USM Student Government Association President Braxton Ruddock; and USM Provost Lance Nail. Photo by Nicole Ruhnke/USM
New pathway lets USM students transition to Ole Miss law school after three years of undergraduate study
The University of Mississippi School of Law and the University of Southern Mississippi have forged a new partnership that allows USM undergraduate students to earn a law degree in less time through the schools’ new Accelerated Law School Pathway.
Officials signed and formalized the partnership agreement Thursday, March 20, 2025 in Jackson following the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning board meeting.
“This partnership exemplifies our commitment to making legal education more accessible and efficient for dedicated students,” said Frederick G. Slabach, dean of the School of Law. “By streamlining the path to a law degree, we are not only reducing barriers but also empowering future attorneys to enter the profession sooner, ready to serve their communities, provide access to justice and contribute meaningfully to the legal field.”
This Accelerated Law School Pathway provides a plan for undergraduate students in certain USM degree programs to trim a year off the time needed to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree.
This plan allows high-ability undergraduate students to earn both degrees in just six years rather than seven.
“This program represents an extraordinary opportunity for our students to achieve their academic and professional goals more efficiently,” said USM President Joe Paul. “By creating a clear and accelerated route to earning both a bachelor’s degree and a Juris Doctor in just six years, we are preparing our students to begin their legal careers earlier while maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence.”
The USM academic degree programs participating in the partnership include criminal justice, legal studies and political science. After completing three-fourths of the courses in one of these degree programs and meeting other competitive law school admissions requirements, students may then enroll at the law school.
During their fourth year of school, students will take required first-year law school courses. They will be awarded their bachelor’s degree from USM upon satisfactory completion of the first-year law curriculum. Following two more years of successful legal studies, they will have earned a Juris Doctor.
“We hope that his partnership with USM will continue to create opportunities for USM students to embark on their legal education journey,” said Joshua Tucker, assistant dean for enrollment management, access, opportunity and community engagement for the law school.
Part of its 3+3 Accelerated Law Program, this is the university’s fourth accelerated law program partnership with a Mississippi institution of higher learning. Earlier agreements launched partnerships with Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, and Mississippi State University.
This makes the ninth overall partnership that also includes Ole Miss degree programs from its School of Engineering, School of Journalism and New Media, College of Liberal Arts, School of Business Administration, and Department of Legal Studies.
“It is the law school’s strategic goal to develop and strengthen partnerships with all members of Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning,” Tucker said.
Students may enroll beginning this fall.
By Marisa C. Atkinson
