Mississippi College School Of Law

Mississippi College School of Law claims to be a law school rich in technology. I only wish they would better demonstrate that ability online. The library has the obligatory Facebook page, the school has a cheap blog and a stale, if information rich, website. But, then again, the web presence of MCSL is a lot better than many other law schools.

I do not really mean to pick too much because what MCSL has is a modern campus, it is located in a state capital, it has a reasonable acceptance rate, and a very good bar passage rate. And, to top it off, it is one of the best values in law school education around. What is not to recommend it?

I guess for once I would like a law school to WOW me to overcome its rankings. Instead many, including this one, rely on its history and staid statistics. Law schools all start blending together. They all say the same things, look the same, sound the same, and their web presence is basically the same. I guess what I am saying is that they lack originality. Tell me how the law school is really different, why rankings do not matter, what unusual vision there is for the law school, its students and its graduates.

This said, there are worse things in the world other than being focused on providing a legal education to students at a good value and with a good return, and for that MCSL can only be complimented.

MCSL is located in downtown Jackson, Mississippi.  The school has a rich history having started out in 1930 as Jackson School of Law. It was acquired by Mississippi College in 1975, whose main campus is in Clinton, Mississippi. In December, 2005 the law school completed the renovation and addition to its building. It has wonderful facilities. It is part of a Christian college.

The admission process at MCSL is not overly competitive. Each year it accepts a little over 50% of the applicants that apply. But, the law school is ABA approved, which means it provides a greater number of people an opportunity to study law anywhere in the country they would like.

It is a small law school with only about 90 entering students a year. However, this gives a better opportunity for personal attention.

Tuition is reasonable for a private law school at approximately $25,000.00 per year. And, the law school also provides scholarships.

Further, almost 90% of graduating students are employed within nine months of graduation at reasonable salaries.

MCSL's first time bar passage rate is often over 90%, and bar passage rates in general rarely get better than that.

It should also be pointed out that Jackson, Mississippi is both a warmer climate and the cost of living in Jackson is much less than in and around law schools in other parts of the country.

If you want to go to law school, need to find a good value where the opportunity of success is good, and maybe your LSAT is a little lower than what you might have liked, then serious consider MCSL. It is worth it.

Comments

[Elizabeth Durso Branch]

I graduated from MCSOL in 1990 as a single mom with two boys in elementary school. What made the school stand out from others for me? The faculty and the administration that truly cared about its students. I was one of several single moms in my class. I was one of several "older than average" students making a career change. I never felt like a number. The people of Jackson, Mississippi are also a part of the success of the school. As a Texas transplant without any family in Mississippi, the parents of my sons' classmates offered car pooling and sleep overs when I was in the middle of exams. I cannot imagine a better fit for law school for me when I combine what the school offered and the kindness of the people of Jackson. The Jackson law firms support the school and hire many for summer associate positions. By the way, I returned to Texas and I enjoy a successful law practice. Alumni outside of Mississippi do get good jobs and great jobs. All of my fellow Texas classmates and I passed the Texas Bar the first time--a 100% pass rate for MCSOL. If you want a wonderful school which will provide you with a wonderful, solid legal education while living in a city that offers a reasonable cost of living, friendship, culture and entertainment, apply to Mississippi College School of Law.

[Christopher]

I'm a 2010 MCSOL graduate and while I agree with pretty much everything above, I want to point out that my incoming class (in 2007) was just shy of 200.