Tag Archives: MC Law

General Legal, Opinion

MC Law Hits a Homerun! Hires Randy Pierce as Dean of Advancement

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MC Law has been making waves in the professional community lately. They announced a facelift coming to the Law School, new logos and marketing efforts, a new permanent Dean and now made a hire for Assistant Dean of Advancement that has turned the Mississippi legal community on its ear.

Randy Pierce, former Supreme Court Justice, Chancellor, executive director of the Mississippi Judicial College, and acclaimed author, has accepted the position of Assistant Dean of Advancement at MC Law.

Justice Pierce is no stranger to MC Law having taught hundreds of students as an Adjunct Professor.

Justice Pierce likely knows every lawyer in the state of Mississippi and will now put those relationships to work.

Justice Pierce will be in charge of strategic advancement efforts, promoting the great things happening at MC Law, responsible for engagement of public relations and spearhead fundraising campaigns; advancing the brand of the law school.

Justice Pierce’s reputation in the professional and legal community precedes him and is beyond reproach. He is mutually respected by peers, colleagues, the judiciary, the public, politicos from all sides of the aisle and even fans from all Universities in the State!

MC Law has hit a homerun with hires of late and great things are happening.

Matthew Thompson is the unabashed cheerleader for all things MC Law, a 2005 graduate, current Law Alumni president, adjunct professor and even has a brick with his name on it at the law school.

General Legal, Opinion

MC Law announces permanent Dean of Law School

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Dr. John P. Anderson

MC Law Alumni,

The Board of Trustees has approved the appointment of Dr. John Anderson as permanent dean of the law school, effective immediately.

Mississippi College President, Dr. Blake Thompson, announced the great news. “MC Law has enjoyed a productive year under Dean Anderson’s leadership as interim dean. He has continued the school’s pursuit of academic excellence, managed the administrative duties inherent in running an academic organization, recruited several important additions to the law school team, and made significant plans for the future of MC Law. Dean Anderson’s character and values match those of our institution, and his energy is infectious.”

Dr. Blake Thompson continued, “I am confident that the great progress of MC Law will continue under his leadership. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Anderson on his well-earned appointment, and continue to keep MC Law in your prayers.”

On a personal note and as MC Law Alumni President, I am very excited about Dean Anderson and the direction the law school is heading. I am excited about the relationship between the law school and main campus. From my limited view, this relationship is stronger now than ever and both institutions are moving in very positive directions.

MC Law has a lot to offer potential and current students. Not only from a location in the very epicenter of Mississippi’s legal community, but also to a qualified, caring faculty and a family environment for students.

  • Matthew Thompson is a 2005 graduate of MC Law, adjunct Professor of Law and Alumni President in addition to managing a private law practice and employing a number of MC Law grads.

Mississippi College School of Law
151 E. Griffith Street, Jackson, MS 39201
601.925.7100

General Legal, Opinion

Jeffrey Jackson; Professor, Mentor and MC Law Icon

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Professor Jeffrey Jackson has passed away.

jeffrey-jackson

Professor Jackson, famed and feared for his instruction on Civil Procedure and Ethics at Mississippi College School of Law, author of multiple treatises, law review articles, books and an encyclopedia on Mississippi law, died on Tuesday April 26, 2016.

Professor Jackson was the quintessential law school professor. The Socratic method employed, he used his unequivocal understanding and knowledge of the law to challenge would-be lawyers who may well have been trying to “fake it until you make it.” His goal, to dispel those faking it.

While fear may have been instilled in his first year classes it was for the enviable goal to prepare the legal minds matriculating from MC Law School. Professor Jackson was listed in  the National Jurist’s 23 Law Professors to Take before you Die.

I expect many memories and tributes about Professor Jackson to be shared. This posting can not do justice to what he has done for MC, the law students, the Mississippi legal community and for me.

Personally, Professor Jackson played a significant role in my legal career. I had him as a Professor, but it was after lawschool when our relationship changed. Prof Jackson helped me to become and continue to this day as an Adjunct Professor of Law at MC.  MC offered the requisite Adjunct Orientation, but it was Prof. Jackson that helped me set the structure for my class, how to prepare an exam, and how to make sure that it was fair. He cautioned me to not smile the first two weeks of school at the students (for fear of being thought of as too easy) and that if I ever met their parents or significant other to make sure they knew that so-and-so was my best student, ever.

Professor Jackson was instrumental in me becoming an author. I have taken over the book writing responsibilities for retired Professor Shelton Hand, based on Prof. Jackson’s recommendations to the Publisher.

Interestingly, just this past Friday night MC Law celebrated the 40th anniversary of the law school. Professor Jackson was honored for his many years of dedicated service.  He was great. He gave an impassioned acceptance speech and shared his irascible wit. MC formally announced the Professor Jeffrey Jackson Scholarship Fund, with monies earmarked for deserving students with financial need.

Friday night was also the first time that my wife and Prof. Jackson met.  We visited for several minutes and as we were parting he told her that I was his “best student, ever, bar none.”

Professor Jeffrey Jackson Scholarships Fund

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law litigation attorney in Mississippi and is grateful for having known and been under the tutelage of Prof. Jeffrey Jackson and is a better lawyer for it. You may honor Prof. Jackson’s memory by making a contribution at the above link. 

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.

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Bow Tie, General Legal, Opinion

Thompson named Adjunct Professor at Mississippi College School of Law.

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Matthew Thompson, founder of Thompson Law Firm, pllc, has  accepted a position as an Adjunct Professor at Mississippi College School of Law.  He will be teaching Domestic Relations, a  3-hour course, to rising 2L and 3L law students.  Thompson has been in the private practice of law for the past 8 years, with an emphasis on Domestic Relations.

“I was honored to be asked by the law school and am excited to be teaching the family law class.” – Matthew Thompson

Thompson will continue to operate Thompson Law Firm, pllc.

Matthew currently serves on the Board of Directors for Mississippi Legal Services Corporation and the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project.  Matthew is President of the Madison County Bar Association, Chairman of the Legal Committee in his neighborhood owner’s association, U5/6 Soccer Commissioner with the South Madison County Soccer Organization, Coach of the Thompson Law Firm FireAnts and BlueBirds soccer and t-ball teams, and serves on the Madison County Community Advisory Group.

You may contact Matthew at (601)850-8000 or Matthew@BowTieLawyer.ms

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.

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Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Red Flag Representation

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This blog topic was requested by a colleague.  This posting is geared toward attorneys on spotting warning signs and/or red flags  of potential difficult clients.  This can also apply to a variety of  business owners to be on the lookout for potential difficult customers.

Difficult clients and difficult cases come with the territory of being a lawyer.  The following are some red flags to be aware of, however, these are not necessarily cases or clients to avoid.  I have read many other attorney and business guru’s opinions on avoiding certain types of clients/customers.  They are time stealers, energy wasters and headaches in the making.  In my practice, however, “clients to avoid” have been some of the more gratifying cases for a variety of reasons.  Nonetheless, it is always best to know what you are getting into.

  • Calling/Hiring at the Last Minute.  We have all had the call.  “I need an attorney for tomorrow!”  There’s a trial setting that has been ignored and the client wants you to work miracles.  When the trial is tomorrow – red flag.
  • Multiple Past Attorneys.  This client has been through 2 or 3 or more attorneys.  This is a huge red flag.  The former attorneys either “did not know what he was doing” or “was on the take” or both.  (Sometimes there is a former attorney “no longer willing to do anything” because the potential client owes them a lot of money.)
  • 5 Boxes on the First Visit.  It takes 3 trips to get everything upstairs from car.  Every possible shred of paper has been kept, not necessarily in an organized manner, but…”I know it’s in there somewhere.”
  • No Call/No Show for an Appointment.  After accommodating someone’s work schedule, staying late to meet them and they do not show, did not call, and did not answer when you tried to call them, it could be a sign of the future.
  • When it’s Just Too Hard.  You know the client.  Having to convince them you are honest and on the up and up, having to justify every minute spent speaking to them and/or working on their case.  I charge a fee for my initial assessments with clients. I do this because I provide valuable information, answer questions, provide them with a specific plan of action and it creates a “future conflict” upon the meeting taking place.  When I have to go to great lengths to justify a fee because so and so will see them for free for a “consultation,” I tell them to go see so and so.
  • When There is Animosity at the Outset.  Along the lines of being Just Too Hard, is when you just don’t click.  Sometimes we have to give hard advice.  Sometimes we tell people what they do not want to hear.  Sometimes they attack the messenger.
  • Interviewing Multiple Attorneys.  This one is seemingly innocuous.  It differs from the multiple past attorneys above because the potential client never actually hired the interviewees.  This is the classic “Conflict the Attorney Out,” scheme.  People do it.  Be aware.
  • Super Emotional.  Family law is always difficult and is always emotional.  However, sometimes the hurt and emotional pain of a case are too much for the client to deal with AND litigation and all of the rigors that requires at the same time.  Recognize this to better serve your clients.
  • No Pay or Slow Pay.  The check is in the mail, can you hold the check until ___?, or the check bounced.  As Professor Jeffrey Jackson* at Mississippi College School of Law is known to say, “I can worry about your case or the money you owe me, but not both.”  It is fair to ask the potential client about their income, available resources and intentions to pay the necessary fees. *(As an aside,  Professor Jackson was named to National Jurist’s 23 Law Professors to Take Before you Die.)

These are just a few red flags that a potential client could be difficult, but in my opinion any one of these can occur due to the circumstances of a particular situation and should not disqualify representation.  If all signs are present in your next new client consultation, tell them to go hire so and so.

Matthew is a family law attorney and is not scared to take on a red flag representation, well, except the ones that don’t pay.  

Follow the blog: BowTieLawyer    Visit the website: Thompson Law Firm

You may also contact Matthew with your family law case, question or concern at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms.