Mississippi State Auditor Shad White announced Tuesday the creation of the “Defend the ‘Sip Fellowship,” a program designed for law graduates awaiting training to join the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) corporation in the military.
The fellowship will allow graduates to gain hands-on legal experience with the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) in the time between completing law school and beginning their military service.
“As a service member myself, I’m excited about bringing these talented young people onto our team,” White said in a statement. “We will benefit from their energy and skill, and hopefully after they finish their military service, they will return to Mississippi and make our state’s future even brighter.”
The program is open to all Mississippi law graduates or upcoming graduates who have been accepted into the JAG Corps. It also joins the OSA’s existing “Stay in the ‘Sip Fellowship,” which pays for the final years of accounting school for students who commit to working at least two years with the office after graduation.
White said the fellowship addresses a gap for graduates preparing for military duty.
“It seemed like such a waste to have motivated, disciplined young lawyers sitting and waiting to be shipped off to their first duty station,” he said. “So, we created a program that will benefit both parties.”
The OSA is partnering for the program with Mississippi College School of Law, which has the highest percentage of graduates joining the JAG Corps among law schools in the state.
“This will help MC Law with meeting the needs our JAG graduates often encounter during the in-between time,” the law school said in a statement. “Having structured temporary placement opportunities such as this will no doubt be utilized and appreciated.”
