Jimmy Chilimigras, an 18-year-old from Mississippi, made history in May by becoming one of the youngest law school graduates ever. Now, he aims to reform US tax law and litigate against social media companies, accusing them of designing addictive products harmful to youth.
Early Signs of Genius
Growing up in Bay St Louis, Chilimigras showed exceptional intelligence early on. He spoke in full sentences at age two and was homeschooled through high school, completing courses at his own pace. By 12, he earned a high school diploma, and by 15, he had both a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting.
Record-Breaking Achievements
Chilimigras became the world's youngest certified public accountant (CPA) after passing the rigorous exam. He also scored 174 out of 180 on the LSAT before turning 16, allowing him to enroll at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.
In law school, he carpooled from home, where he lived with his parents and six younger siblings. Despite his youth, he ranked in the top 2% of his class and earned the highest grade in 40% of his courses. He graduated with highest honors on May 10.
Unique Experiences
Chilimigras often stood out among older peers. At law school functions, he ordered milk or cranberry juice while classmates drank alcohol. He recalled a professor joking about his age during a lecture on marijuana odor. Nonetheless, he felt treated like any other student.
Future Plans
After a Caribbean cruise to celebrate, Chilimigras is studying for the bar exam and pursuing a master of laws (LLM) in taxation at Northwestern University. He wants to litigate over jury trials in tax disputes and exceptions to IRS deadlines. He also plans to hold social media companies accountable for youth addiction, inspired by his siblings' screen time.
“What they’re creating is extremely predatory and harmful,” Chilimigras said. “You have a duty to protect people from harm.”
