License: Licensed Attorney

The Mississippi Bar external site

P.O. Box 2168

Jackson, MS 39225-2168

(601) 948-4471

Job Description: Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May practice in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law. Upon meeting all other requirements, lawyers must be sworn in by the Chancery Court and apply to become a member of the Bar. Active Membership in Good Standing of the MS Bar is required by Law to practice as a lawyer. (73-3-119) Applicants who have successfully passed the bar examination, which is administered by the Board of Bar Admissions, must be sworn in to a Chancery Court. The Mississippi Bar is a three-day test consisting of essay examinations and the Multistate Bar Exam. Once sworn in to a Chancery Court, applicants must register with The Mississippi Bar and pay annual enrollment fees. Enrollment fee invoices are mailed in August each year. The Bar's fiscal year is August 1 through July 31. Once an attorney is licensed in the state of Mississippi, they have to complete a new lawyer program within the first Continuing Legal Education (CLE) reporting two years of enrollment with the Mississippi Bar. After the initial two year period, they are required to earn 12 hours of CLE credit including one hour of ethics each year. There is no lawyer specialization in Mississippi, so the type of law that they practice is their choice, and the type of CLE programs the attorneys attend is up to them as well, as long as the program is approved by the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education. There are specific requirements for certain youth court positions. Juvenile defenders, youth court prosecutors and Guardians Ad Litem are required to get 6 hours per year of specific training for these positions. This training is counted as part of the 12 hours required yearly. Other requirements: Education: Bachelor's degree and a J.D. Degree from an American Bar Association approved law school. Character: Approved by the Committee on Character and Fitness of the Board of Bar Admissions Sworn in by Chancery Court Must pass the Mississippi Bar Exam and be certified as Eligible by the Mississippi Board of Bar Admissions, which is a separate entity from the Mississippi Bar.