Law School Grows Statewide Network With New 3+3 Partnerships
Ole Miss, Millsaps College and William Carey University create a streamlined route to a Juris Doctor
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi School of Law has joined forces with Millsaps College and William Carey University to allow undergraduates from those schools to earn law degrees in less time through the schools' new Accelerated Law School Pathway.
Officials signed and formalized the partnership agreements in Hattiesburg and Jackson on Wednesday (Nov. 19) and Thursday (Nov. 20), respectively.
This Accelerated Law School Pathway provides a plan for undergraduate students in certain Millsaps and William Carey degree programs to shorten the time required to earn both a bachelor's degree and a law degree by one year.
Ben Burnett (left), president of William Carey University, and Fred Slabach, dean of the UM School of Law, formalize the schools’ new Accelerated Law Pathway partnership. Submitted photo
"The University of MississippiSchool of Law is pleased to collaborate with William Carey University and Millsaps College on these innovative 3+3 programs," said Fred Slabach, dean and professor of law.
"It exemplifies all three universities' commitment to academic excellence and student opportunity, allowing high-achieving undergraduates to earn both degrees in six years rather than seven. The programs reflect our shared commitment to preparing outstanding servant-leaders for Mississippi and beyond."
It is anticipated that most Millsaps College academic degree programs will participate in the partnership. It is expected, but not finalized, that the criminal justice and forensic science programs at William Carey will participate.
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 degrees from Millsaps or William Carey after completing the first-year law curriculum.
Fred Slabach (center), dean of the UM School of Law, and Frank Neville (right), Millsaps College president, formally sign the schools’ Accelerated Law Pathway partnership. Submitted photo
Following two more years of successful legal studies, students will earn a Juris Doctor.
"This agreement represents a dynamic partnership to give students an accelerated pathway to serving their communities through the practice of law," said Noal Cochran, William Carey University vice president for academic affairs and provost.
"We are honored to join with the University of Mississippi School of Law to give William Carey University students an opportunity to begin their legal career with the knowledge they have received the highest level of preparation."
Officials from Millsaps College concurred.
"Many Millsaps graduates have gone on to attend Ole Miss law school and our new partnership formalizes this pathway in a way that benefits students," said Frank Neville, president of Millsaps College. "We are thrilled to partner with Ole Miss to train the next generation of legal professionals."
The partnership benefits the entire state, said Joshua Tucker, the law school's assistant dean for enrollment management, access, opportunity and community engagement.
"Our collaboration with Millsaps College and William Carey University is rooted in a shared commitment to Mississippi," Tucker said.
Part of the university's 3+3 Accelerated Law Program, these agreements mark the fifth and sixth accelerated law program partnerships with other Mississippi institutions of higher learning. Earlier agreements launched partnerships with Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi.
This makes the school's 11th overall partnership, which 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.
"We are opening new doors to legal education, supporting students from the moment they begin to consider law as a career and equipping them to become the advocates and leaders our state needs," Tucker said.
Students can enroll beginning in fall 2026.
Top: The School of Law has partnered with Millsaps College and William Carey University to create Accelerated Law School Pathway programs at both institutions. The program allows undergraduate students in certain academic programs to earn both a bachelor's degree and a law degree in a shorter time than normally required. Photo by Hunt Mercier/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services