Alumnus Mitchell Willoughby '75, a partner at the Columbia, South Carolina, firm Willoughby and Hoefer, has made a gift of $1 million to the University of South Carolina School of Law.

This gift establishes The Mitchell Willoughby Distinguished Professorship of Advocacy and Public Justice Fund, which will build on existing areas of expertise and elevate the School of Law's national reputation through a multi-pronged approach:

• The Mitchell Willoughby Distinguished Professorship will attract or retain a renowned legal scholar who will bolster South Carolina Law's reputation as a leader in procedural justice, legal transparency, and the protection of the public interest in decision-making processes. The as-yet-to-be-named professor will explore the concepts of public justice through a wide array of lenses and will bring together the scholarship and teaching of faculty with expanded classroom and clinical experiences for students.
• The Mitchell Willoughby Fellows Program will attract visiting scholars to teach short courses at the School of Law and give talks to benefit the greater community. These scholars will also return to their institutions and communities with a greater appreciation for South Carolina Law's strengths.
• The Mitchell Willoughby Symposium on Advocacy and Public Justice will become a premier event that highlights the School of Law's leadership in preserving the public interest and a place where both practicing lawyers and legal scholars will engage in scholarly and impact-oriented discussions.

An additional goal of The Mitchell Willoughby Distinguished Professorship is to strengthen the collaborative relationship between South Carolina Law and the adjacent United States Department of Justice National Advocacy Center, further increasing the school's resources and recognition.