USC's Columbia campus will remain closed on Monday, Feb. 2. All in-person classes and previously scheduled events on Monday are canceled. For more information, visit sc.edu/weather

Joseph F. Rice School of Law

2021 News Archive

Law student receives Skadden Fellowship

Glynnis Hagins '22 will use the prestigious public-service fellowship to help South Carolina families find housing security and stability.

New Faculty Spotlight: Etienne Toussaint

Etienne Toussaint was working with Engineers Without Borders when he saw how a legal career would let him help lift those living in extreme poverty in the U.S. and around the world.

Veterans Legal Clinic receives boost from Boeing

On Veterans Day, Boeing announced a $225,000 grant to the Veterans Legal Clinic that will allow it to continue helping SC veterans like Brooks Herring (left).

Claire Griffiths juggles law school and soccer

As if the first year of law school isn't difficult enough, Claire Griffiths is also continuing a rigorous SEC schedule as a midfielder for South Carolina's women's soccer.

Remembering Prof. John Freeman

John P. Freeman, a distinguished professor emeritus who taught at South Carolina Law from 1973 to 2008, died on Thursday, Oct. 21.

In case of emergency

Professor Thomas Crocker's book, Overcoming Necessity, explores the limits of presidential powers during times of national crisis.

A call to action on rule of law in the U.S.

Dean William Hubbard shares the critical role law schools play in reversing the deterioration of the rule of law in the U.S., as reported in the World Justice Project's 2021 Rule of Law Index.

Mock Trial wins national championship

South Carolina Law students take top prize at the 2021 King of the Hill Mock Trial Competition in October. Molly Sue Harmon and Will Dubose (left) also earn individual awards.

Top scholar in energy law

Associate Professor Shelley Welton is taking the field of Energy Law by storm, publishing five articles in top 15 law reviews in the last five years.

Transforming how child welfare advocates are trained

New Children's Law Training Center offers immersive learning simulations that better prepare child protection professionals for real-life situations.

Top scholars in our clinics

Our clinics are directed by faculty, including Prof. Josh Gupta-Kagan (left), whose scholarship can be found in the country's best law reviews.

South Carolina Law welcomes new faculty

Assistant professors Etienne Toussaint and Madalyn Wasilczuk join South Carolina Law as its newest faculty members.

Sulaiman Ahmad discusses voting rights with Vice President Harris

The second-year student was one of three South Carolinians to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris to address hurdles to voter registration and ways to strengthen election integrity.

How bans on mask mandates affect students with disabilities

Claire Raj, a professor of special education law, answers four questions parents of children with disabilities might have about mask mandate bans.

Tommy Preston Jr. named VP of ethics for Boeing

Just 10 years out of law school, the 2011 law graduate's legal career continues to reach new heights.

Snow named associate dean for faculty development

Professor Ned Snow was recently named associate dean for faculty development at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

South Carolina Law welcomes Class of 2024

The incoming students are the most academically accomplished in school history, and have once again improved the school's profile for the fifth straight year.

Crocker receives Palmer Book Prize

Professor Thomas Crocker was awarded the 2020 Chicago-Kent College of Law/Roy C. Palmer Civil Liberties Prize for his book, "Overcoming Necessity."

Breakthrough Star: Joel Samuels

Law professor, and now interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Joel Samuels works to preserve the underlying principle that holds societies together: the rule of law.

Stoughton named member of ALI

Seth Stoughton joins growing list of South Carolina Law faculty members to be elected members of the American Law Institute.

A place to call home

The Children’s Law Center, led by Michelle Dhunjishah, has opened its new training center, complete with mock courtroom and crime-scene apartment.

SC Law ranked #45 by ATL

Above the Law's 2021 rankings highlight South Carolina Law and the Class of 2020's impressive employment results.

Loan forgiveness fund applications accepted through June

South Carolina Law alumni who work in the public sector are encouraged to apply for public interest loan forgiveness funds through June 30.

Class of 2021 celebrates commencement on the Horseshoe

On May 7, commencement exercises were held on the historic Horseshoe for the 196 members of the School of Law's Class of 2021. View highlights from the ceremony.

Celebrating 2021 award winners

The School of Law recognizes students, faculty and staff who have made outstanding achievements in the 2020-2021 academic year.

Breakthrough Star: Shelley Welton

Assoc. Prof. Shelley Welton has been recognized as 2021 Breakthrough Star for taking on the challenge of climate change from energy policy perspective.

Remembering Prof. Howard Stravitz

Howard B. Stravitz, an associate professor who began teaching at South Carolina Law in 1983, died on Friday, April 30. He was 73 years old.

Class of 2020 posts impressive employment outcomes

Despite obstacles, the Class of 2020 beat the odds--and national employment averages--with an overall employment rate of 92 percent.

Career & Professional Development staff to present at NALP conference

Elisabeth Beal (left) and Elizabeth Crane share employment and professional development strategies with national audience.

Million-dollar gift advances public justice

Alumnus Mitchell Willoughby's $1 million donation creates a distinguished professorship that will strengthen programmatic and scholarly activities at South Carolina Law.

MLB's decision to drop Atlanta highlights companies' economic power

Prof. Benjamin Means writes about how corporations like Major League Baseball can leverage their economic power to get what they want from lawmakers.

Stoughton testifies in Chauvin trial

Prof. Seth Stoughton recently testified as an expert on national police use-of-force standards in the trial of Derek Chauvin, accused of the murder of George Floyd.

Why sexual harassment claims rarely reach the courtroom

Prof. Joseph Seiner writes in The Conversation about the unfortunate reality that engaging in this conduct results in no real consequences.

Raj named co-chair of AALS clinical section

Associate Prof. Claire Raj has been named co-chair elect of the executive committee for the AALS Section on Clinical Legal Education.

Palmetto LEADER hits the road

On February 23, the Palmetto LEADER made its first trip into the community to fulfill its mission of helping South Carolinians get the legal services they desperately need.

UofSC Law welcomes visiting professors

South Carolina Law welcomes two visiting professors this semester, Milan Markovic from Texas A&M and Susan Provenzano of Northwestern.

Faculty-published book topics at the center of public debate

Long before 2020, four UofSC Law professors began writing books on topics that would come to dominate the year's national conversations.

Motivating Factors: David Beasley discusses hunger, the World Food Programme and the Nobel Prize

In an interview excerpt, Beasley '83 shares how growing up in South Carolina prepared him to tackle global issues.

Children's Law Center to open new training facility

The Children's Law Center will soon have a first-class teaching and training space that will improve its efforts to protect South Carolina's children.

Ready to roll

The Palmetto LEADER, the law school's new mobile law office, will soon be crisscrossing the state to help those in need.

Chambliss named member of ALI

Elizabeth Chambliss becomes the latest South Carolina Law professor to be elected as a member of the American Law Institute.

Law professors receive Breakthrough awards

Professors Joel Samuels (left) and Shelley Welton recently received 2021 Breakthrough Faculty Awards in recognition of their outstanding research.

5 ways Biden can help rural America thrive

Prof. Ann Eisenberg co-authors an article in The Conversation outlining five federal initiatives that could bridge the urban/rural divide.

Pro Bono Program to offer tax assistance

For the 28th year volunteer law students will provide free tax assistance to low income and elderly residents from February 13 - March 27.

Jan Baker named associate dean

Jan Baker has been named the new Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at South Carolina Law.

Pam Robinson receives Drinan Award

Pamela D. Robinson, director of the Pro Bono Program, was awarded the 2021 Father Robert Drinan Award from the Association of American Law Schools.

Lisa Martin named 2021-22 Bellow Scholar

Professor Lisa Martin was named a 2021-22 Bellow Scholar by the Association of American Law Schools for her project that examines issues of access to justice and domestic violence in South Carolina.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.