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Joseph F. Rice School of Law

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The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, also known as South Carolina Law School, is a professional school within the University of South Carolina. Founded in 1867, it is the only public and non-profit law school in South Carolina.[5] It has been accredited by the American Bar Association since 1925 and a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1924.[6]

University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
Parent schoolUniversity of South Carolina
Established1867; 157 years ago (1867)
School typePublic law school
Endowment$80.4 million[1]
Parent endowment$425.2 million[2]
DeanWilliam C. Hubbard
LocationColumbia, SC, US
Enrollment601 (2023)[3]
Faculty136 (2023)[3]
USNWR ranking66th (tie) (2024)[4]
Websitelaw.sc.edu
ABA profileSC Law Profile

First-year law students in 2022 consisted of 206 students from 29 states. Fifty-five percent of the students were from South Carolina, and minority students made up twenty percent of the class. Fifty-three percent of incoming students were female, while forty-seven percent were male.[7]

On November 10, 2023, the school was renamed as the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law after alumnus plaintiffs attorney Joe Rice of Motley Rice LLC.[8]

History

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The discussion on starting a law program began as early as 1810 when President Jonathan Maxcy recommended to the board of trustees of South Carolina College that the school establish a professorship of law. A resolution of the statehouse in 1823 requested the college to consider "the propriety and advantage of establishing a Professorship of Law in that institution, and to report to this house, at the next session, the manner in which such a Professorship may be established, so as to be most advantageous to the community, and least expensive to the State." The trustees replied that a professor should be hired, but that the courses should be offered only to graduates.

When the University of South Carolina was formed from South Carolina College in December 1865, the act doing so also authorized the trustees to hire one or more persons to form classes to instruct on law under such terms as the trustees should decide. In 1866, the act was amended to require the trustees to do so on the quickest possible terms.

In January 1867, the trustees offered Chancellor J.A. Inglis the position, but he declined. In 1868, the offer was next made to Col. A.C. Haskell who accepted and held the post until August 1868. The course of study included the various branches of common law and equity, commercial, international, and constitutional law. Although the program was meant to cover two years, many students completed it in one. A moot court was also overseen by the professor to train students in the details of actual practice. Four students started in the program, and two graduated in June 1868.

The program lapsed during the 1868–1869 academic year, but resumed the following term under the direction of the Hon. C.D. Melton. The program continued until it was shut following the death of a subsequent professor, Chief Justice Franklin J. Moses, in 1877.

During the Reconstruction Era (1868-1876), the law school graduated thirty-nine students. Eleven of these graduates were African-American.[9]

The school resumed in 1884 under Col. Joseph Daniel Pope with a two-year program that again was often completed in one. Professor Pope was given a small salary and the fees generated from tuition. Special provision was made for the teaching of short courses by leading members of the bar. The school also added minimum entrance standards at that time: An applicant had to be at least nineteen years old, have a good English education, and known enough Latin to readily understand legal terms and maxims. Juniors were instructed in the following subjects: "Organization and Jurisdiction of Courts of United States (Supreme, Circuit, and District Courts) and South Carolina (Supreme, Common Pleas, Sessions, Probate, and Trial Justice Courts); Sources of Municipal Law; Domestic Relations; Personal Property, and title to same; Administration, Wills, Contracts, Bailments, Bills and Notes, Principal and Agent, Corporations; Criminal Law, and herein of Torts and nuisances; Public and Private Law, Law of Evidence." Seniors were instructed in the following: "Pleadings and Practice; Law of Real Property; Equity Jurisprudence; Law of Conveyancing; Trial of Title to Land; Maritime Law and Law of Nations; State of Law of the State on subjects not read with the text and lectures of the course; Deeds, Recording, Habeas Corpus, etc." In addition, the juniors were required to write essays, while seniors were trained in court details in a moot court.

In 1918, Claudia James Sullivan became the first female graduate of the law school.[9] During the 1920s, the school continued to modernize under the American Bar Association's guidelines for law schools. In 1964, the school of law was Integrated and in 1967 Jasper Cureton became the first African-American graduate of the law school since Reconstruction.[9]

Facilities

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From its opening in 1867 until 1875, the law school held classes in what now are the South Caroliniana Library and DeSaussure College. In 1891, the Law Department was moved to Legare College. From 1919 to 1950, the law school was located in Petigru College (in 1950, renamed to Currell College). From 1950 to 1974, the law school was located in the new Petigru College. From 1974 to 2017, the law school was located in the University of South Carolina Law Center at 701 Main Street.[10]

On July 27, 2011, the law school officially announced plans for a new building, to be located on a block between Senate, Gervais, Bull and Pickens streets in downtown Columbia.[11] In February 2013, the university's board of trustees voted to pay more than half of the $80 million cost of the 187,500 square foot building with bonds backed by students' tuition payments.[12] The new building opened in June 2017, with space to accommodate over 660 students with instructional spaces including 17 classrooms ranging from 20 to 95 seats, a ceremonial courtroom, and law library. It also houses faculty areas, legal clinics, and student journals and organization spaces. Featuring the Karen J. Williams Courtroom, named for a late USC law school alumna who became the first female chief judge at the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the 300-seat ceremonial courtroom periodically hosts U.S. Court of Appeals sessions and also serve as an auditorium as well as large classroom.[13] The school's law library houses over 500,000 volumes or volume equivalents, making it the largest law library in the state.[14]

Centers and Programs

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Centers and programs help to advance the academic, research, and service mission of the Joseph F. Rice School of Law.[15]

Clinics

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Clinics allow second-semester second-year students and third-year students at South Carolina Law to learn the law and the standards of the legal profession by representing actual clients.[16]

  • Carolina Health Advocacy Medicolegal Partnership (CHAMPS) Clinic
  • Criminal Practice Clinic
  • Domestic Violence Clinic
  • Educational Rights Clinic
  • Nonprofit Organizations Clinic
  • Veterans Legal Clinic
  • Youth Defender Clinic

Law Journals

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The Joseph F. Rice School of Law houses four student-edited law journals.[17] The oldest, the South Carolina Law Review was founded in 1937, but traces its roots to the 1831 Carolina Bar Journal.

Employment

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According to USC School of Law ABA-required disclosures, 89.94% of the Class of 2022 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required or JD advantage employment 10 months after graduation.[18]

Costs

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Tuition for the 2023-2024 academic year for a non-resident is $41,500 and for a resident is $23,722.[19]

Notable alumni

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Political

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Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President
 
Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator
 
Henry McMaster, Governor of South Carolina

Judicial

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J. Michelle Childs, Judge for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
 
William Byrd Traxler Jr., Judge for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Individuals

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Bakari Sellers, CNN Commentator

Admissions

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1996 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013[20] 2014 2015[21] 2016[22]
Applications N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 1612 1609 2082 1975 2191 1972 1771 1445 1248 1245 1272
Accepted N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 478 (30%) 500 (31%) 729 (35%) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 713 (57.3%) N/A
Enrolled 250 218 225 N/A 225 240 225 229 240 240 213 213 208 215 213 209
75% LSAT/GPA N/A 158/3.56 159/3.55 159/3.58 159/3.55 N/A 161/3.70 160/3.7 160/3.70 161/3.64 160/3.63 159/3.58 158/3.54 157/3.54 157/3.54 157/3.63
Median LSAT/GPA 157/3.2 155/3.22 156/3.28 156/3.28 156/3.28 158/3.5 159/3.40 159/3.4 158/3.46 159/3.39 158/3.35 157/3.32 155/3.27 155/3.23 155/3.23 154/3.47
25% LSAT/GPA N/A 151/2.90 152/3.01 154/3.02 152/3.01 N/A 156/3.10 156/3.05 156/3.14 156/3.04 155/3.07 154/3.01 153/3.05 152/2.95 152/2.95 151/3.17

South Carolina bar exam passage

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In South Carolina, the bar exam is administered twice a year—in July and February. July is the primary testing date for those who graduate in May. A much smaller group, generally out-of-state applicants, repeat takers, and December graduates, take the February exam. The South Carolina Supreme Court did not release the pass rate for specific schools' alumni until the July 2007 exam when the court separately listed the pass rate for the University of South Carolina and the Charleston School of Law.

Feb. July
2007 N/A 91.5%*
2008 64.7% 86.4%
2009 76.3%[23] 84.8%[24]
2010 66.7%[25] 83.8%[26]
2011 69.6%[27] 79.75%[28]
2012 57.8%[29] 76.2%[30]
2013 75.0%[31] 82.5%[32]
2014 62.2%[33] 79.7%[34]
2015 58.3%[35] 80.5%[36]
2016 49.0%[37] 75.6%[38]
2017 47.9%[39] 76.2%[40]
2018 41.9%[41] 76.3%[42]
2019 71.4%[43] 78.0%[44]
2020 46.9%[45] 82.5%[46]
2021 57.1%[47] 81.7%[48]
2022 46.2%[49] 71.2%[50]
2023 33.3%[51] NA

* The July 2007 results were revised upwards after the South Carolina Supreme Court threw out a section of the exam because of an error by a bar examiner.[52]

References

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  1. ^ Law School Almanac - 2008 Endowments Archived 2020-04-17 at the Wayback Machine, lawschoolalmanac.blogspot.com, retrieved on 6-6-2009.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2010-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ a b "University of South Carolina School of Law - 2023 Standard 509 Information Report" (PDF). sc.edu. University of South Carolina. December 18, 2023. p. 2. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "University of South Carolina". U.S. News & World Report – Best Law Schools. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  5. ^ "History - School of Law | University of South Carolina". www.sc.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  6. ^ AALS memberschools Archived 2012-07-17 at the Wayback Machine, aals.org, retrieved on 2-3-2010
  7. ^ "Entering Class Profile - School of Law | University of South Carolina". www.sc.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  8. ^ "USC School of Law named the Joseph F. Rice School of Law". University of South Carolina. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "History - School of Law | University of South Carolina". sc.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  10. ^ "Library History" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
  11. ^ USC chooses new site for law school The State July 27, 2011 [dead link‍]
  12. ^ University of SC moves ahead with law school thestate.com February 28, 2013 Archived 2013-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "University of South Carolina New Law School". Archived from the original on 2016-09-05. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  14. ^ About the Law Library Archived 2015-02-07 at the Wayback Machine, University of South Carolina School of Law.
  15. ^ "Centers - School of Law | University of South Carolina". www.sc.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  16. ^ "Clinics - School of Law | University of South Carolina". www.sc.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  17. ^ "Journals - School of Law | University of South Carolina". www.sc.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-07-18. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  18. ^ "Standard 509 Disclosure". www.abarequireddisclosures.org. Archived from the original on 2019-11-25. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
  19. ^ "Tuition and Fees - School of Law | University of South Carolina". www.sc.edu. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
  20. ^ "Fall 2013 Entering Class Profile". Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved Mar 24, 2014.
  21. ^ "University of South Carolina - 2014 Standard 509 Information Report" (PDF). University of South Carolina School of Law. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  22. ^ "University of South Carolina -" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  23. ^ "SC Judicial Department". Archived from the original on 2009-04-21. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
  24. ^ "Applicants Passing July 2009 Bar Examination". www.judicial.state.sc.us. Archived from the original on 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  25. ^ "SC Judicial Department". Archived from the original on 2010-04-27. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
  26. ^ "SC Judicial Department". Archived from the original on 2010-11-17. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
  27. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-05-06. Retrieved 2011-04-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE JULY 2011 BAR EXAMINATION". Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  29. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE FEBRUARY 2012 BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 6, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  30. ^ "Applicants Passing the July 2012 Bar Examination" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  31. ^ "South Carolina February 2013 Bar Examination Results" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  32. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE JULY 2013 BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved Oct 24, 2013.
  33. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE FEBRUARY 2014 BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  34. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE JULY 2014 BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  35. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE FEBRUARY 2015 BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. May 1, 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  36. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE JULY 2015 BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  37. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE FEBRUARY 2016 BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. April 22, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  38. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE JULY 2016 BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. April 22, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  39. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE FEBRUARY 2017 BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  40. ^ "APPLICANTS PASSING THE JULY 2017 BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  41. ^ "APPLICANTS RECEIVING SCALED SCORE OF 266 OR HIGHER ON THE FEBRUARY 2018 UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-08-08. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  42. ^ "APPLICANTS RECEIVING SCALED SCORE OF 266 OR HIGHER ON THE JULY 2018 UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  43. ^ "APPLICANTS RECEIVING SCALED SCORE OF 266 OR HIGHER ON THE FEBRUARY 2019 UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  44. ^ "APPLICANTS RECEIVING SCALED SCORE OF 266 OR HIGHER ON THE JULY 2019 UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  45. ^ "APPLICANTS RECEIVING SCALED SCORE OF 266 OR HIGHER ON THE FEBRUARY 2020 UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  46. ^ "APPLICANTS RECEIVING SCALED SCORE OF 266 OR HIGHER ON THE JULY 2020 UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  47. ^ "APPLICANTS RECEIVING SCALED SCORE OF 266 OR HIGHER ON THE FEBRUARY 2021 UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-04-23.
  48. ^ "APPLICANTS RECEIVING SCALED SCORE OF 266 OR HIGHER ON THE FEBRUARY 2021 UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  49. ^ "APPLICANTS RECEIVING SCALED SCORE OF 266 OR HIGHER ON THE FEBRUARY 2022 UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  50. ^ "Bar exam results" (PDF). South Carolina Supreme Court. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  51. ^ "APPLICANTS RECEIVING SCALED SCORE OF 266 OR HIGHER ON THE FEBRUARY 2023 UNIFORM BAR EXAMINATION" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  52. ^ Knich, Diane (November 7, 2007). "State high court drops portion of bar exam". The Post and Courier. Retrieved June 5, 2009.

Sources

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  • Edwin L. Green, A History of the University of South Carolina 236-40 (1916) (on the history of the law school).
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34°00′10″N 81°01′40″W / 34.00280°N 81.0278°W / 34.00280; -81.0278

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