Jackson State University<\/strong> students who want to attend the University of Mississippi School of Law <\/strong>will soon be able to accelerate their progress, thanks to a partnership signed this week between the institutions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Representatives of both universities met in Jackson on Thursday (June 27) to finalize the Pathway to Law School<\/strong> program, which will allow undergraduate students at\u00a0Jackson State University<\/a>\u00a0to begin taking law school courses as early as their senior year, trimming a year off the time required.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs the flagship <\/strong>university, we want to educate our Mississippi students at Ole Miss and hope they continue to give back to communities in Mississippi,\u201d said Joshua Tucker<\/strong>, the law school’s assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion. \u201cIt\u2019s our commitment to provide access to the legal profession.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is our responsibility to provide educational opportunities like this so individuals underrepresented in the legal profession can one day become legal advocates and champions of justice.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Redd Thompson<\/strong>, wife of JSU <\/strong>President Marcus Thompson<\/strong>, made the Pathway to Law School program her 2024 initiative, Tucker said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs a lawyer and proud alumna of the University of Mississippi School of Law, the partnership between Jackson State\u2019s pre-law program<\/strong> and my alma mater holds a special place in my heart,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cI am embracing this opportunity to help Jackson State students enter the legal field, which I am deeply passionate about, through the very institution that shaped my own career.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am grateful to President Thompson, Chancellor Glenn Boyce, and others for supporting this initiative, and I\u2019m optimistic about the positive impact this program will have on our students.\u201d Joshua Tucker said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n