Your personal statement gives us an opportunity to get a sense of your voice, perspective, and experiences. You may elaborate on your significant life experiences; meaningful intellectual interests and extracurricular activities; your inspiration for pursuing a legal education or your particular career goals; significant hardships you have encountered and how you responded to them; your special talents or skills; or your educational path or employment history.

As you consider potential directions for your Personal Statement, please know that you do not have to tell us everything. You may develop a single theme with authentic and genuine information about yourself that will aid us in reaching a thoughtful decision. For example, you might explain your interest in the University of Mississippi School of Law and why we are a good fit for you culturally, academically, or professionally.

Alternately, you could describe a challenge, failure, or setback you have faced, explaining how you confronted that challenge and what you might have done differently. Importantly, this may include the manner in which you have overcome obstacles such as racial, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or other discrimination, socio-economic status, loss of a family member, and disability or illness.

Or you could write about how the place you come from has shaped who you are today. You may explain what has motivated you or inspired you to assume a leadership position or attain a particular goal. You may have been inspired or motivated by your identity, heritage or culture, a particular area of interest or past experience, including any struggles, successes, mistreatment or discrimination. You may describe how a mentor, role model, or former professor inspired or motivated you. Another possibility is for you to tell us how an acquaintance might describe you and whether their superficial description would be the truth.

If you feel your academic credentials do not reflect your potential for success, consider using the Personal Statement to explain your capabilities. Alternatively, you may submit an addendum addressing this issue as part of your application.

Each applicant will be considered based upon their unique qualities and experiences.

While we do not impose a page or word limit for the Personal Statement, we value clear and concise writing. Most Personal Statements range from two to four pages. For ease of reading, please double-space and use at least an 11-point font.

Please Select Either Topic A or B

While we do not impose a page or word limit for the Community Essay, we value clear and concise writing. For ease of reading, please double-space and use at least an 11-point font.

Topic A

All students at the University of Mississippi have the responsibility to uphold the Creed:

    *The Creed of The University of Mississippi*

   *The University of Mississippi is a community of learning dedicated to nurturing excellence in intellectual inquiry and personal character in an open*

   *and diverse environment. As a voluntary member of this community:*

   *I believe in respect for the dignity of each person.*

   *I believe in fairness and civility.*

   *I believe in personal and professional integrity.*

   *I believe in academic honesty.*

   *I believe in academic freedom.*

   *I believe in good stewardship of our resources.*

   *I pledge to uphold these values and encourage others to follow my example.*

Why do you want to join a community bound together by these commitments?

Topic B

The University of Mississippi School of Law is a community committed to creating an educational experience that values a multiplicity of viewpoints. Such a range of views is vital to the education of our students and to the role we play in shaping the legal profession. We embrace our obligation to promote a justice system that provides equal access to all people and eliminates bias, discrimination, and racism in the law. Our law school community is committed to creating and nurturing an academic environment where all people feel welcome, all voices are heard, and together we undertake the serious pursuit of knowledge and growth. Why do you want to join this community?

We require you to submit a current copy of your résumé. Any gaps on your résumé should be explained.

Because of the high ethical standards to which lawyers are held, the failure to disclose an act or event such as the ones described below is often more significant, and leads to more serious consequences, than the act or event itself. Failure to provide truthful answers, or failure to inform the Office of Admission of any changes to your answers, may result in revocation of admission or disciplinary action by the School of Law, or denial of permission to practice law by the state in which you seek admission to the bar. We strongly urge, if you are unsure as to whether to make a disclosure, you err on the side of disclosure. If the answer is "yes" to any of these questions listed below, give dates and complete details in a separate attachment.

Please note: it is your responsibility to update your application by notifying the University of Mississippi Office of Law Admission if any criminal charges are filed or expected to be filed between the date you submit this application and the date you enroll at The University of Mississippi School of Law.

1. Please check that you have read the above statement.

2. Have you ever been expelled, suspended, or dismissed from any college or university for any reason?

3. Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action for academic or other reasons in any of the colleges, universities, or professional schools you have attended, or by any licensing body or professional society?

4. Are there any disciplinary charges (academic or other) currently pending or expected to be brought against you by any college, university, or professional school, licensing body, or professional society?

5. Have you ever been admitted to practice law in any jurisdiction?
   If "yes," please detail the jurisdiction and date of admission in a separate attachment. If right to practice has been withdrawn, please explain.

6. Has your education in college, university, or professional school been interrupted for one term or more for any reason?

7. Have you ever been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a violation of any law? This includes minor traffic violations including speeding tickets, charges of driving under the influence, or any other drug- or alcohol-related offenses and any expunged offenses. You should also disclose offenses which resulted in purged, sealed, obliterated, dismissed or destroyed records, regardless of whether you have been told that you need not disclose any such event. These will also be requested by state bar authorities in many states.
   If "yes," please attach a statement explaining the circumstances of each incident, whether such incident is still pending, and if not, its resolution.

8. Have you ever been a party to any civil litigation?

If "yes," please attach a statement explaining the circumstances of each incident, whether such incident is still pending, and if not, its resolution.

APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR FALL 2026 ENTERING JD STUDENTS: May 1, 2026

CHECKLIST FOR APPLICANTS:

1. Complete The University of Mississippi School of Law application. Applications should be submitted through LSAC.org.
2. Application Fee?A $40 nonrefundable application fee should be submitted via credit card.
3. Admissions and Scholarships Essays---The University of Mississippi School of Law School believes that applicant essays provide valuable information in the holistic analysis of an applicant for both admission and scholarship purposes. The essays offer an extremely helpful tool for evaluating the applicant and the applicant?s potential contributions in law school and to the legal profession. Further, the essays detail the applicant?s perspective and experiences, showing how the applicant may add to a vibrant culture of comprehensive debate and discussion fueled by a multiplicity of viewpoints. We read these essays with the hope that you will offer us reasons for your inclusion in this community. Please note that for all essays, we expect that the work is the applicant?s own. The ideas must originate from the applicant. The applicant must write all drafts and the final product. The applicant may not use ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence tools as part of the drafting process. An applicant, however, may ask pre-law advisors, mentors, friends, or others for basic proofreading assistance, general feedback, and critiques**. Please submit two essays as part of your application: 1) Personal Statement and 2) Community Essay**
4. Academic Letters of Recommendation?A minimum of two academic letters of recommendation from professors who have taught you in class, or from professors who have direct experience with your academic ability and potential, are strongly preferred. If you have been out of school for a period of time, you may substitute letters from employers or others who are well-acquainted with your intellectual ability and academic ability. We strongly discourage recommendation letters from friends and family, and such letters do not substitute for academic letters of recommendation. Your letters of recommendation should be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service.
5. Résumé?We require you to submit your résumé. All gaps in your résumé must be explained.
6. Mississippi Residency Form IF establishing Mississippi residency
7. TOEFL (foreign applicants only, if applicable)
8. Register with Credential Assembly Service (CAS)?It is very important for applicants to become familiar with the LSAC website at LSAC.org so that you can monitor the activity of your application(s).
9. If you are applying to transfer/visit, DO NOT fill out this application. Please fill out the appropriate transfer/visitor application for the semester you are seeking to enroll.

You may monitor the status of your application to Ole Miss Law here: https://aces2.lsac.org/YourStatus/AppStatus/AppOnlineStatus.aspx

All correspondence to this law school should be sent to the following address:

The University of Mississippi School of Law
Office of Law Admissions
481 Chucky Mullins Drive
University, MS 38677
Telephone: 662.915.6910

FINANCIAL AID PRIORITY DEADLINE: May 1, 2026

Visit us on the web?www.law.olemiss.edu

The University complies with all applicable laws regarding affirmative action and equal opportunity in all its activities and programs and does not discriminate against anyone protected by law because of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender (including identity and expression), sexual orientation, or status as a veteran or disabled veteran.