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Law, J.D.

Joseph F. Rice School of Law

Become a leader serving your community. Our graduates transition seamlessly into successful careers in business, government and private practice around the country.

You'll be prepared to serve your community through rigorous legal studies, hands-on experiential learning and comprehensive professional identity formation. Find your unique skills and strengths, take a deep dive into the subjects you are most passionate about and set yourself up for a successful career.

Program Highlights

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    High Employability

    Find a job quickly. Within 10 months of graduation, 95 percent of our Class of 2021 was employed.

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    Top Faculty

    Learn from top faculty scholars in an environment that emphasizes community.

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    Location, Location, Location

    Study in a state-of-the-art building close to the S.C. State House, S.C. Supreme Court and multiple private law firms.

What You’ll Study

The J.D. degree is a full-time, three-year program. You must earn 90 credit hours to graduate. First-year courses cover basic legal principles and prepare you for the more specialized courses you'll take your second and third year. Upper-level courses allow you to pursue specific interests and prepare for your career.

Program WebsiteDegree DetailsAdmissions Info

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

  • Legal Writing

    Creating clear, concise and persuasive legal documents, such as contracts, briefs or pleadings

    Critical Thinking

    Analyzing and evaluating information to make informed decisions or judgments

    Analytical Reasoning

    Breaking down complex problems or situations to identify patterns, connections and solutions

  • Communication

    Exchanging information and ideas through speaking, writing or other means of expression

    Legal Knowledge

    Interpreting and applying laws and regulations to specific situations or issues

    Advocacy

    Promoting or defending a cause or issue often using awareness, education and policy change

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Potential Careers

  • Lawyer
  • Government Agent
  • Politician
  • Public Service Director
  • Judge
  • Legal Analyst

Workplace Settings

  • Government/Public Service
  • Law
  • Politics

Advanced Degrees

Advance your career or options with post-graduate education.

Some law schools have stories about students not working together, being extremely competitive and being unwilling to help their classmates. That is the complete opposite of my experience at the School of Law.

Jonathan Abrams
Portrait of Jonathan Abrams

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Is USC Right For You?

There are many reasons we could be your ideal university. There's the award-winning academics, the globally modeled student life, and abundance of study abroad and experiential learning options. Take a closer look at what USC could mean for you.

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Degree content is provided for informational purposes only. The Academic Bulletin is the source of record for all degree information.
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