Mississippi teen, 18, graduates law school after becoming CPA at 15

The Story in Brief

An 18-year-old from Mississippi, James 'Jimmy' Chilimigras, has earned a Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, graduating with highest honours in the top two per cent of his class. He finished high school at 12, completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting by 15, and became the world’s youngest Certified Public Accountant. He scored 174 out of 180 on the LSAT before starting law school at age 15.

During three years at Loyola, Chilimigras served on the law review, coached moot court, and represented clients in immigration cases through the university’s law clinic. He earned five certificates of concentration, a combination the school says is unmatched in its 111-year history. He now plans to pursue a Master of Laws in taxation at Northwestern University, his first time living outside Mississippi.