Jessica Simon

I started at the university for psychology. I realized that was an advocacy path that I enjoyed, but I would rather advocate through the legal realm. I came here, and when I passed by the law school, I turned to my mom and said, “This is where I will be one day.” I came here and did the Law Studies 3+3 program for undergrad, and now I am at the Robert C. Khayat School of Law.

The deciding factor was John Grisham, reading his books and learning what Ole Miss taught him about the law. That was how I chose to look at Ole Miss. When I came here, it fell into place. I talked to advisers and faculty in the School of Applied Sciences who told me about the 3+3 program—the accelerated law program. I figured out I could jump start my law career through attending an amazing undergraduate university that would prepare me for law school...then stay for an amazing law school.

Since high school I was interested in the legal realm. I really enjoyed learning how laws function in our society. So, I decided what when I came to OM I would major in legal studies to get a taste and see if it was really something I wanted to go to into. I learned it was something I was really passionate about, which is learning about laws and helping people through the legal system. 

My overall career goal is to advocate for people, to help them understand what the laws are, and to guide them through the parameters of our legal system through contracts or wills and estate—help people figure out what they can do to better themselves and prepare themselves. My end goal is to become a Law Studies professors to pay it forward for all my professors did for me.

I already knew professors who would teach me in law school because they taught me in 3+3 Law Studies, like Professor William Berry who taught me LA 491 (Advanced Studies in Law)—the class that teaches you how lawyers should think, how to answer LSAT questions, and how to get through the process of applying to law school. I learned legal research and writing under Melissa Jones (pictured across, bottom), who is just an incredible professor. She pulled me out of my shell and made me want to explore the profession more. She is very approachable and cares deeply about her students. At this point in my life, she is my greatest inspiration. I learned a plethora of rules from Professor Bill Luckett, who has been an incredible civil litigator for years; so may criminal law aspects from Professor Danny Hall; and wills and estates from Professor Robert Mongue, who is a great asset in elder law.

I love learning about laws and how laws interact with and shape our society. I realized that you can advocate for people and help people by learning the law and assisting them through their legal issues.