Mississippi College School of Law (MCSOL) offers a variety of scholarships for entering students (1L) as well as for upper class students. Scholarship offers for entering students are made prior to matriculation, so a student can be certain of the amount of financial assistance that will be available before deciding to matriculate.

Some of the scholarships available for MCSOL students include:

Academic Scholarships for Entering Students:
These scholarships are based on academic potential as demonstrated primarily through undergraduate grades (GPA) and the score on the LSAT exam. The scholarships range in amount from $5,000 to full tuition scholarships (approximately $24,000). These scholarships may be renewed for the remaining two years of law school if specified academic standards are met and may be increased based on outstanding academic achievement during the first year. All applicants are considered for these scholarships with no separate application required. Applicants from all undergraduate schools are considered for these scholarships with some preference given to applicants from Mississippi.

Feeder School Scholarships:
Each year MCSOL awards at least one full tuition scholarship (approximately $24,000) plus a book stipend to the best applicant from each of eight schools with which we have enjoyed a historical association:

Jackson State University
Louisiana State University
Millsaps College
Mississippi College
Mississippi State University
Tougaloo College
University of Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi

The best applicant is determined using a “whole person” concept and considers factors such as leadership, service, and character as well as GPA and LSAT score. The scholarships are not limited to one applicant from each school, as additional scholarships of varying amounts may be awarded to other outstanding applicants from that school. Applicants from these schools are automatically considered for this scholarship with no separate application required. MCSOL reserves the right not to award a scholarship if there are no competitive applicants from a particular school in that year.

These scholarships may be renewed for the second and third years of law school based on maintaining a specified GPA.

Leadership Scholarship:
MCSOL seeks applicants who were leaders during their undergraduate schooling. We seek students who were active in student government associations, student judicial bodies, honor court groups, or service organizations.

Each year MCSOL will award a full tuition scholarship to the best applicant with a record of student leadership. Additional full or partial tuition scholarships may be awarded to applicants with leadership experience. The scholarship may be renewed for the second and third years of law school based on meeting specified academic standards. While not a condition of receiving this scholarship, the recipient is expected to play an active role in the co-curricular activities of MCSOL.

No separate application is required, but the applicant should note in their personal statement an interest in this scholarship and describe the activity in which leadership was demonstrated.

Debate/Mock Trial Scholarship:
MCSOL has an active program for competing in national moot court competitions. We have enjoyed considerable success in the last five years earning honors in both oral and written advocacy in these external competitions. We seek students who show promise for this type of activity by means of their success in debate or mock trial programs during the undergraduate years.

Each year MCSOL will award a full tuition scholarship to the best qualified applicant with debate or mock trial experience as an undergraduate. Additional full or partial tuition scholarships may be awarded. No separate application is required, but the applicant should note in their personal statement their interest in this scholarship and describe their debate or mock trial experience as an undergraduate.

While not a condition of receiving this scholarship, the recipient is expected to be an active participant in MCSOL’s Appellate Advocacy Program and to compete on one of MCSOL’s moot court teams.

Academic Scholarships for Returning Students:
Each year MCSOL awards a series of academic scholarships to students who have excelled in their academic work in the previous academic year. These scholarships include full tuition and partial tuition scholarships based on class standing. A number of students who came to MCSOL without scholarship assistance have earned full or partial tuition scholarships for their remaining years of law school.

No application is required for these scholarships as the top performing students are automatically considered. Notification of these scholarship awards is made in the summer after grades have been determined and class standing computed.

Hearin Fellow Scholarships:
Each year we designate students to be Hearin Fellows in accordance with the terms of a grant from the Hearin Support Foundation. No application is required and students are considered based on academic performance, leadership, and participation in law school activities. Preference is given to students with a Mississippi connection.

Miscellaneous Scholarships:
MCSOL awards a series of scholarships each year at its Law Day Awards Program in the spring. These scholarships are usually donated by law firms, groups, or individuals and carry their own award criteria. They may be based on academic performance, leadership, service, or other criteria.