Jimmy Chilimigras finished high school at home at age 12, earned a master’s degree at age 14 and passed the four-part CPA exam at age 15.
NEW ORLEANS — A teen from the Mississippi Gulf Coast is making history. While most teenagers his age are preparing for high school graduation, one Bay St. Louis kid has graduated multiple times with an advanced degree.
Jimmy Chilimigras finished high school at home at the age of 12. At age 14, he earned a college degree and a master’s degree in accounting from Western Governors University. Then, at 15, he became the youngest person in the United States to pass the four-part CPA exam. That same year, he entered Loyola Law School.
The dean remembers his first law school event, which was held in a restaurant.
“Students were ordering drinks at the bar, and Jimmy walked up and ordered a glass of milk, which made everyone like turn their heads and look at him and remember that he was only 15 years old,” said Madeleine Landrieu, dean of Loyola Law School.
Over the weekend, 18-year-old Chilimigras graduated with honors with a law degree, the highest academic honor.
“It’s really about putting in the work,” he said. “I think with enough hard work and perseverance you can accomplish almost anything.”
The colorful cord hanging around Chilimigraz’s neck at graduation represents a first in Loyola Law School’s 112-year history – he earned five professional certificates in the areas of taxation, immigration, social justice, technology and international law.
In other words, it’s like graduating with a quintuple major. This monumental achievement required additional courses, legal documentation and hours of pro bono work. In addition to this, Chilimigras participated in many extracurricular activities and received many honors, including placing in the top eight in the National Moot Court Competition.
“He was a once-in-a-lifetime talent and an extraordinary human being. Despite his extraordinary intellect and brilliance, what really struck me was his character,” said Blaine LeCesne, professor of law and associate dean for mission and identity, who has taught law for 36 years.
Professors described him as brilliant, loving, kind, generous, compassionate, humble, happy, resilient and determined, a down-to-earth young man with endless curiosity and respect for human dignity.
“He was a gift to humanity,” Lesena said. “I don’t know if any tax lawyer has ever won a Nobel Prize, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Jimmy was the first.”
He helped a classmate co-found and manage the Law and Technology Association and always had time to help classmates.
“He was a great study partner. He actually helped me develop study strategies. He helped me through all of my law school classes and prepare for my bar exam,” said Cameron Johnson, 25, president of the Society for Law and Technology and a recent Loyola Law graduate.
This fall, Chilimigras will head to Northwestern University in Chicago to earn an advanced tax law degree, but first, this summer, he will take the common bar exam. Even this top-achieving student was not allowed to take the bar exam from Mississippi because he was not yet 21 years old.
“I think the impact of this law is really huge,” Chilimigras said. “Law touches all aspects of society, from wider governance (such as our legal system) to simple matters (such as marriage law, family law and immigration law).”
Whatever Chilimigra ends up doing, it will be a meaningful contribution to humanity, his professor said.
Chilimigras said he plans to return to the New Orleans area to practice law and possibly teach courses at Loyola University.
