![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|
John E. Montgomery, Dean Philip T. Lacy, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Janice S. Goings, Registrar John S. Benfield, Assistant Dean for Admissions Sharon C. Williams, Assistant Dean for Institutional Advancement Steven D. Hinckley, Associate Dean, Law Library Vance L. Cowden, Director of Clinical Education Professors Ladson Boyle, LL.M., New York University, 1975 Associate Professors Gregory B. Adams, J.S.D., Columbia University, 1986 Assistant Professors Ann M. Bartow, LL.M., Temple University, 1997 Professors Emeriti Richard E. Day, J.D., University of Michigan, 1957 OverviewThe School of Law offers a full-time day program leading to the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. To earn the J.D., a student must successfully complete 90 semester hours of course work. Normally, six semesters of resident study are required. In each of these semesters, students must register for a minimum of 12 credit hours. In addition, students must pass a minimum of 10 credit hours each semester. A student may graduate in two-and-one-half years if the student successfully completes at least six credit hours in two consecutive summer sessions. The School of Law, in cooperation with other graduate programs at the University, also offers dual degrees. Dual degrees may be obtained in: business administration (both M.B.A. and M.S. in business administration); international business (M.I.B.S.); public administration (M.P.A.); criminal justice (M.C.J.); human resources (M.H.R.); economics; accountancy; social work (M.S.W.); and earth and environmental resources management (M.E.E.R.M.). Dual degree programs may often be completed in four years. Students in dual degree programs may receive up to nine hours of law school credit for work successfully completed in their other field of study. Most students begin their program of study in the School of Law with the remaining years divided between both programs. Upon acceptance by both programs, students must complete a dual degree form. Students should request this form directly from the School of Law Office of Admissions. Dual degree candidates must apply to both programs and be accepted by both programs. Acceptance into one program does not affect the decision of the School of Law. The law school is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools and is a member of the Southeastern Conference of the Association of American Law Schools. Admission The number of well-qualified applicants to the School of Law far exceeds the number of seats available. The policy of the School of Law is to select the best-qualified applicants, with primary emphasis placed on two factors: the cumulative undergraduate GPA and performance on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). In order to be considered for admission, a candidate must have or expect to have an academic bachelors degree from a fully accredited college or university by the date of the anticipated enrollment in the School of Law. All applicants are required to take the LSAT and to register with the Law School Data Assembly Service. The LSAT is offered four times each year. The decision-making process begins in December of each year with the Faculty Committee on Admission reviewing completed files. Preference is given to residents of South Carolina. Nonresidents of the state are held to higher standards of admission. Traditionally, approximately 85 percent of the students in the entering class are legal residents of South Carolina. While the combination of GPA and LSAT are important in the admissions decision, members of the committee also consider factors such as the quality of the degree-granting institution, the quality of the courses an applicant has taken, and any graduate work. Work experience, military service, community involvement, significant extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation are also taken into consideration in reviewing an applicants file. Applications to the School of Law must be postmarked by February 15. Late applications are not accepted. Accepted applicants may request a one-year deferment, but this is granted only in extraordinary circumstances. For further information about the School of Law, interested applicants should contact the Office of Admissions, USC School of Law, Columbia, SC 29208, and request a copy of the School of Law Bulletin. Information about the School of Law may also be obtained by visiting our Web site at: www.law.sc.edu. Disabled Student Services The law school has a Disabled Student Services program to assist disabled law students in assessment of needs, class adaptation, course requirements, registration, examinations, and counseling.
[Bulletin Home Page] [Graduate Bulletin Contents] [Disclaimer] [The Graduate School] This web site updated September 2001 by Thom Harman, and copyright © 2001-2002 by the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina. All Rights Reserved.
|