An 18 year old from Mississippi graduated from law school in May, making him one of the youngest people ever to earn a law degree in the United States. Jimmy Chilimigras finished high school at age 12 and now holds a Juris Doctor. He is already pursuing a master of laws degree.
He wants to take on social media companies in court
Chilimigras says he wants to help reform U.S. tax law and also litigate against social media companies. He argues that these companies design their products to be addictive and therefore harmful to young people. He called their practices extremely predatory and harmful, adding that the companies send out harmful products without taking action to reduce the damage.
A path that started early and keeps going
Chilimigras graduated high school at 12, an age when most children are still in middle school. He went on to complete college and then law school before turning 19. He is now working on a master of laws degree, a specialized graduate program for people who already hold a law degree. He said he wants to find an area where he can do some good.
Local people in Mississippi have taken notice of his achievements. His story has drawn attention because of his age and his specific goals. He is not just a young graduate. He has a clear plan to use his legal training to challenge powerful technology companies over how their products affect teenagers and children.
Chilimigras has not filed any lawsuits yet. But his stated intention to go after social media companies over addiction and harm to youth puts him in a growing group of lawyers and lawmakers who are questioning the design of popular apps and platforms. His age gives him a personal connection to the issue. He belongs to the generation that grew up with these products.
His graduation and his plans show that one of the youngest lawyers in the country is aiming at one of the biggest legal questions of the moment: whether tech companies can be held liable for making their services deliberately addictive to minors. The outcome of that question will affect families, schools, and regulators far beyond Mississippi.
