During 1L orientation, Dean William Hubbard (‘74 history, ‘77 law) welcomed 227 students from across the country to the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law. 

As part of his opening remarks, Dean Hubbard referenced Judge Learned Hand’s speech titled “The Spirit of Liberty,” reminding students that "when [liberty] dies, there is no constitution.” 

“Members of the Class of 2027, I urge you to take liberty into your hearts,” Dean Hubbard said before concluding. “This liberty that is deeper than one's own selfish desire for freedom without restraints. Nourish the liberty that looks out for your fellow classmates, your professors, and our staff.” 

The law school admitted just 29.4 percent of its applicants, making this the most selective admissions cycle in the law school’s history. 

The majority of the first-year class comes from in-state undergraduate institutions such as USC, Clemson University, and Wofford College. The top out-of-state feeder schools were University of Georgia, Florida State University and Virginia Tech.  

By the numbers 

• 17 members of the Class of 2027 are USC Honors College graduates. 

• The Class of 2027 boasts 11 Carolina Law Research Scholars, most of whom are first-generation law students. 

• Students graduated from 86 undergraduate institutions.   

• Over 50 percent of students are South Carolina residents. 

• The USC Rice School of Law is one of only 65 U.S. law schools with an increase of 10 percent or greater applications in 2024. 

Orientation concluded with a reception held at the National Advocacy Center (NAC), which is just two blocks from the law school.  

Operated by the United States Department of Justice, the NAC is the premiere federal training institution for teaching legal and leadership skills to DOJ personnel and the broader government community. It regularly partners with USC Rice School of Law, offering students opportunities that can’t be found at any other law school. This collaboration encourages students to network with and learn from nationally recognized experts in the field and enhances their familiarity with courtroom technology.