University of Mississippi School of Law
Encyclopedia
The University of Mississippi School of Law, also known as Ole Miss Law, is an ABA
-accredited law school located on the campus of the University of Mississippi
in Oxford
, Mississippi
. The School of Law opened in 1854 and is the fourth-oldest state-supported law school
in the country. In 2009, National Jurist Magazine rated the University of Mississippi School of Law among the top five "best value law schools" in the United States.
Richard Gershon is the current dean. The law school is home to five auxiliary law programs: the National Center for Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law, the National Center for Justice and the Rule of Law, the Mississippi Innocence Project, the Mississippi Law Research Institute, and the Mississippi Judicial College. In Fall 2010, the University of Mississippi School of Law enrolled an entering class of 199 students from an applicant pool of 1,150. The median LSAT score for the entering class was 156 and the median GPA was 3.51. Ethnically, 16% of the entering students were minorities. The first-year class consisted of 107 men and 92 women. The School of Law has a faculty of 34 full-time and adjunct professors with expertise in various areas of practice. The student-faculty ratio is 18.2:1. The School of Law moved into a newly constructed building (the Robert C. Khayat Law Center) in January 2011.
The School of Law offers the only dedicated aerospace law
curriculum in the nation from an ABA-accredited school. Michael Dodge became the first person to receive a certificate in Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2008.
after recognizing a need for formal law instruction in the state of Mississippi. The "Department of Law," as it was then referred to, consisted of seven students and one professor. The School of Law has had seven homes over the course of its history. Classes were originally held in the Lyceum
, the oldest building on the University of Mississippi campus. Shortly before the Civil War
, the then-Department of Law was relocated to a building close to Oxford Square. The University agreed to lease the building in order to prevent the owner from filing from bankruptcy. This agreement lasted until the start of the Civil War in 1861 when most of the law school's students volunteered to serve in the Confederate military
. When the school reopened in 1866, it was again relocated to a building that occupied the current site of Peabody Hall. The law school closed a second time in 1876, as there were no law students during the latter years of Reconstruction. In 1911, classes were moved to Ventress Hall, which was then known as Lamar Hall, named after famed Mississippian L.Q.C. Lamar. The "Department of Law" officially became the "School of Law" in 1921. Ten years later, the law school moved to the building now known as Farley Hall. It remained here until 1978 when it was moved to Lamar Law Center. In January 2011, the School of Law moved a sixth time to the newly constructed Robert C. Khayat Law Center.
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
-accredited law school located on the campus of the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
in Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. The School of Law opened in 1854 and is the fourth-oldest state-supported law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
in the country. In 2009, National Jurist Magazine rated the University of Mississippi School of Law among the top five "best value law schools" in the United States.
Richard Gershon is the current dean. The law school is home to five auxiliary law programs: the National Center for Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law, the National Center for Justice and the Rule of Law, the Mississippi Innocence Project, the Mississippi Law Research Institute, and the Mississippi Judicial College. In Fall 2010, the University of Mississippi School of Law enrolled an entering class of 199 students from an applicant pool of 1,150. The median LSAT score for the entering class was 156 and the median GPA was 3.51. Ethnically, 16% of the entering students were minorities. The first-year class consisted of 107 men and 92 women. The School of Law has a faculty of 34 full-time and adjunct professors with expertise in various areas of practice. The student-faculty ratio is 18.2:1. The School of Law moved into a newly constructed building (the Robert C. Khayat Law Center) in January 2011.
The School of Law offers the only dedicated aerospace law
Space law
Space law is an area of the law that encompasses national and international law governing activities in outer space. International lawyers have been unable to agree on a uniform definition of the term "outer space," although most lawyers agree that outer space generally begins at the lowest...
curriculum in the nation from an ABA-accredited school. Michael Dodge became the first person to receive a certificate in Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2008.
History
The University of Mississippi School of Law was founded in 1854 by the state legislatureMississippi Legislature
The Mississippi Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The bicameral Legislature is composed of the lower Mississippi House of Representatives, with 122 members, and the upper Mississippi Senate, with 52 members. Both Representatives and Senators serve four-year...
after recognizing a need for formal law instruction in the state of Mississippi. The "Department of Law," as it was then referred to, consisted of seven students and one professor. The School of Law has had seven homes over the course of its history. Classes were originally held in the Lyceum
Lyceum-The Circle Historic District
The Lyceum-The Circle Historic District is a historic district in Oxford, Mississippi that includes eight buildings and several monuments lining University Circle which surrounds "The Circle" on the campus of the University of Mississippi...
, the oldest building on the University of Mississippi campus. Shortly before the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the then-Department of Law was relocated to a building close to Oxford Square. The University agreed to lease the building in order to prevent the owner from filing from bankruptcy. This agreement lasted until the start of the Civil War in 1861 when most of the law school's students volunteered to serve in the Confederate military
Military of the Confederate States of America
The Military of the Confederate States of America comprised three branches:* Confederate States Army - The Confederate States Army the land-based military operations...
. When the school reopened in 1866, it was again relocated to a building that occupied the current site of Peabody Hall. The law school closed a second time in 1876, as there were no law students during the latter years of Reconstruction. In 1911, classes were moved to Ventress Hall, which was then known as Lamar Hall, named after famed Mississippian L.Q.C. Lamar. The "Department of Law" officially became the "School of Law" in 1921. Ten years later, the law school moved to the building now known as Farley Hall. It remained here until 1978 when it was moved to Lamar Law Center. In January 2011, the School of Law moved a sixth time to the newly constructed Robert C. Khayat Law Center.
Degree and certificate programs
- J.D.Juris DoctorJuris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
- Dual-Degree Programs
- J.D./MBA
- J.D./M.S. (Tax.)Master of Science in TaxationThe Master of Science in Taxation is a professional graduate degree specifically designed for individuals that desire to become tax specialists. An alternate degree title is "Master of Taxation" or "Master Business Taxation" . A student taking a MST program studies tax law and its application...
- J.D./M.S. (Accy.)
- Certificate Programs
- Criminal Law Certificate
- Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law Certificate
Publications
- Mississippi Law JournalMississippi Law JournalThe Mississippi Law Journal is a law review published at the University of Mississippi School of Law. It was established in 1928 by the Mississippi Bar Association and is the state's longest running law review...
- Journal of Space Law
Notable alumni
- Author John GrishamJohn GrishamJohn Ray Grisham, Jr. is an American lawyer and author, best known for his popular legal thrillers.John Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University before attending the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981 and practiced criminal law for about a decade...
(JD '81) - U.S. Senator for Mississippi Thad CochranThad CochranWilliam Thad Cochran is the senior United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1978, he is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and was its chairman and 2005 to 2007.-Early life:He was born in Pontotoc,...
(JD '65) - U.S. Senator for Mississippi Roger WickerRoger WickerRoger Frederick Wicker is the junior U.S. Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party. In December 2007 he was appointed by Governor Haley Barbour to fill the seat vacated by Trent Lott. He subsequently won the 2008 special election for the remainder of the term. Wicker served...
(JD '75) - Former U.S. Senator for Mississippi Trent LottTrent LottChester Trent Lott, Sr. , is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and has served in numerous leadership positions in the House of Representatives and the Senate....
(JD '67) - Former U.S. Senator for Mississippi James O. Eastland (JD '25)
- U.S. Representative for Mississippi Gregg HarperGregg HarperGregory "Gregg" Harper is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes the wealthier portions of the state capital, Jackson, along with most of that city's suburbs. Other cities in the district include Meridian and Natchez.-...
(JD '81) - Former U.S. Representative for Missouri Kenny HulshofKenny HulshofKenneth C. "Kenny" Hulshof is a politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, and represented in the United States House of Representatives. He was the unsuccessful nominee of the Republican Party for Governor of Missouri in the 2008 election.- Biography :...
(JD '83) - Governor of Mississippi Haley BarbourHaley BarbourHaley Reeves Barbour is an American Republican politician currently serving as the 63rd Governor of Mississippi. He gained a national spotlight in August 2005 after Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Barbour won re-election as Governor in 2007...
(JD '73) - Former Governor of Mississippi Ronnie MusgroveRonnie MusgroveDavid Ronald "Ronnie" Musgrove is an American politician who was the 29th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi from January 16, 1996 to January 11, 2000 and the 62nd Governor of Mississippi from January 11, 2000 to January 13, 2004 of the U.S. state of Mississippi. He was recently defeated by...
(JD '81) - Former Governor of Mississippi William A. Allain (LLB '50)
- Former Governor of Mississippi William WinterWilliam Winter (politician)William Forrest Winter is an American politician from Mississippi. He served as the 58th Governor of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984 as a Democrat. He is known for his strong support of public education, racial reconciliation, and historic preservation. Winter is best remembered for the passage of...
(LLB '49) - Former Governor of Mississippi Cliff FinchCliff FinchCharles Clifton "Cliff" Finch was an American politician who was 56th Governor of the U.S. state of Mississippi from 1976 to 1980.-Life and career:...
(LLB '58) - Former Governor of Mississippi William WallerBill WallerWilliam Lowe "Bill" Waller, Sr. was an American politician. A Democrat, he served as Governor of Mississippi from 1972 to 1976. As a local prosecutor, he unsuccessfully prosecuted Byron De La Beckwith in the murder of civil rights advocate Medgar Evers. Both trials ended in hung juries...
(LLB '50) - Former Governor of Mississippi Paul B. Johnson, Jr.Paul B. Johnson, Jr.Paul Burney Johnson, Jr. was a United States Democratic Mississippi politician and son of former Mississippi Governor Paul B. Johnson, Sr.....
(LLB '40) - Former Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi Evelyn GandyEvelyn GandyEdythe Evelyn Gandy was an American politician who was the first female elected to a statewide office in Mississippi– that of Treasurer for the State of Mississippi...
(LLB '43) - Former Mississippi Speaker of the House Tim Ford (JD '77)
- United States Federal Judge Michael P. MillsMichael P. MillsMichael Paul Mills is a United States federal judge.Mills was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He received an A.A. from Itawamba Community College in 1976; a B.A. from the University of Mississippi in 1978; a J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1980; and an LL.M. from the...
(JD '80) - United States Federal Judge Keith StarrettKeith StarrettMelvin Keith Starrett is a United States federal judge.Born in McComb, Mississippi, Starrett received a B.S. from Mississippi State University in 1972 and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1974. He was in private practice in Mississippi from 1975 to 1992...
(JD '74) - United States Federal Court of Appeals Judge E. Grady JollyE. Grady JollyE. Grady Jolly is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His chambers are in Jackson, Mississippi....
(LL.B '62) - United States Federal Court of Appeals Judge Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale (JD '72)
- Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court William L. Waller, Jr. (JD '77)
- Presiding Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court George C. Carlson, Jr. (JD '72)
- Associate Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court Jess H. DickinsonJess H. DickinsonThe Hon. Jess Hays Dickinson is a Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi. He represents District 2 Place 1.Dickinson was born in Charleston, Mississippi. His mother was Laura Augusta Hays...
(JD '82) - Associate Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court Michael K. RandolphMichael K. RandolphThe Hon. Michael K. Randolph is an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of Mississippi. He represents District 2 Place 3.-Early years:Randolph is the son of a construction worker who had a third-grade education....
(JD '74) - Associate Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court Ann Hannaford LamarAnn Hannaford LamarThe Hon. Ann Hannaford Lamar of Senatobia, Mississippi is Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi. She represents District 3, Place 1. Justice Lamar is the third woman to serve on the Mississippi Supreme Court.-Early years:...
(JD '82) - Associate Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court James W. Kitchens (JD '67)
- First female Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Lenore Prather (JD '55)
- First African-American Mississippi Supreme Court Justice and former Mississippi Bar President Reuben Anderson (JD '67)
- State's Attorney for Baltimore City Patricia JessamyPatricia JessamyPatricia Coats Jessamy is a former chief prosecutor for the City of Baltimore, Maryland She was appointed to head the Office of the State's Attorney in 1995 and won reelection three times.- Background :...
(JD '74) - Famed trial lawyer Richard ScruggsRichard ScruggsRichard F. "Dickie" Scruggs is an American former A6A naval aviator, a prominent trial lawyer, one of the richest men in Mississippi, and the brother-in-law of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. Scruggs first came to the public eye after successfully suing the asbestos industry on...
(JD '76) - Attorney, talk radio host, and Mississippi Senator Christopher McDanielChris McDanielChristopher McDaniel , is an attorney, conservative commentator and a Republican politician in the Mississippi Senate who has represented the 42nd District, which encompasses part of South Mississippi, since 2008...
(JD '97) - American war veteran, attorney, politician, and actor Boyce HollemanBoyce HollemanJesse Boyce Holleman was an American war veteran, attorney, politician, and actor.Boyce Holleman was born in Fruitland Park, MS, to a family that made their living in timber and construction. As a Naval Aviator in World War II, he was shot down while making a bomb run during the invasion of Saipan...
(JD '50)