Why University of Mississippi?
The University of Mississippi School of Law offers a practical, experiential legal education, notably featuring a nationally recognized Air and Space Law program and being one of the most affordable law schools in the SEC.
University of Mississippi is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 41.1%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.68 GPA and 157 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.44–3.87 GPA and 153–160 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 176 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Mississippi, Florida, and Tennessee — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Mississippi admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class. 3 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #124
- Median GPA
- 3.68
- 25th–75th: 3.44–3.87
- Median LSAT
- 157
- 25th–75th: 153–160
- Acceptance rate
- 41.1%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 176
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 2
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of Mississippi admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
3 1Ls transferred out of University of Mississippi in the same cycle — context for how portable University of Mississippi's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Mississippi
- 2Florida
- 3Tennessee
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define University of Mississippi's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Mississippi" essay where they align with your interests.
- Child Advocacy ClinicStudents represent children in cases involving alleged neglect and abuse, acting as Guardians ad Litem.
- George C. Cochran Innocence ProjectStudents work to identify, investigate, and litigate claims of actual innocence by Mississippi prisoners and advocate for criminal justice reform.
- MacArthur Justice ClinicStudents engage in impact litigation addressing criminal justice and civil rights issues in Mississippi, and assist with policy and legislative initiatives.
- Housing ClinicProvides free legal services to low-income Mississippians facing dangerous housing conditions.
- Transactional Law ClinicStudents gain experience in business law by assisting entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Mississippi Law Journal— The primary law review, publishing scholarly articles on regional and national issues, and an annual Fourth Amendment symposium issue.
- Mississippi Sports Law Review— A student-run journal addressing current legal issues in collegiate and professional sports, and the only sports law journal in the SEC.
- Journal of Space Law— The world's oldest journal devoted to space law, exploring legal problems arising from human activities in outer space.
- Journal of Drone Law and Policy— Focuses on law and regulations governing the operation and use of uncrewed aircraft in civilian and military capacities.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Frederick G. SlabachConstitutional Law, Campaign Finance, Legal Ethics, Legislative Process, Voting Rights Act.
- William W. BerryEighth Amendment, Entertainment Law, Criminal Sentencing, Capital Punishment, Sports Law, State Constitutional Law.
- Mercer BullardSecurities Law, Corporate Finance, Investment Management.
- Tucker CarringtonCriminal Defense, Wrongful Convictions, Criminal Justice Reform, Legal Ethics.
- David W. CaseProperty, Contracts, Civil Procedure, Administrative Law, Environmental Law.
- Michelle L.D. HanlonSpace Law, Aviation Law, Drone Law, International Law, Business Law.
- Antonia L. EliasonInternational Law, International Economic Law, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, International Trade Law, International Investment Law.
- Ronald J. RychlakLegal Scholarship, Government, Constitutional Law, Catholic Social Thought.
- Benjamin P. CooperLegal Ethics, Law Governing Lawyers, Legal Profession, Civil Procedure.
What makes University of Mississippi distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Home to the nation's leading and only ABA-accredited law school offering a concentration in Air and Space Law.
- ·Offers a 3+3 Accelerated Law Program allowing students to earn both a bachelor's and a law degree in six years.
- ·Houses the Robert C. Khayat Law Center, a LEED-certified facility.
- ·Provides various joint degree programs including JD/Master of Accountancy, JD/Master of Taxation, JD/Master of Business Administration, and JD/Master of Higher Education/Student Personnel.
- ·Features a Pro Bono Initiative where students design and implement 'mini-clinics' offering legal services in areas like family law and expungements.
Using this for your "Why University of Mississippi" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about University of Mississippi
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Mississippi?▾
University of Mississippi's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.68 and a median LSAT of 157. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.44–3.87 GPA and 153–160 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Mississippi's acceptance rate?▾
University of Mississippi's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 41.1%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Mississippi offer?▾
University of Mississippi's notable clinical programs include: Child Advocacy Clinic, George C. Cochran Innocence Project, MacArthur Justice Clinic, Housing Clinic, Transactional Law Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Mississippi publish?▾
University of Mississippi's notable student-edited journals include: Mississippi Law Journal, Mississippi Sports Law Review, Journal of Space Law, Journal of Drone Law and Policy.
Where do University of Mississippi graduates work?▾
University of Mississippi graduates concentrate employment in Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of Mississippi admit?▾
University of Mississippi admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of Mississippi
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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