Anderson Cook in a recent article listed the names and specialization of South Carolina’s new faculty.
The addition of these set of new intellectuals to the law schools in South Carolina will boost the image of law schools in the state.
South Carolina is home to some of the best law schools across the United States. Schools in this state are known for their hands on experiential learning that prepares students for practice.
Selecting the best law school in South Carolina for you should not be a herculean task. You should concentrate your research on schools that are ABA approved and have the best of faculties. Also, being certain of your law school need can also narrow your search.
To make light your research, we have compiled a list of the best law schools in Carolina. You will also read the requirements, cost and application procedure. So, read this piece to the end.
Quick Navigation:
Are there law schools in South Carolina?
There are 2 law schools in South Carolina. However, there are other schools that offer legal courses and they include;
- The University of South Carolina Law School
- Charleston School of Law
- Claflin University
- Coker University
- Charleston Southern University
- Newberry College
- Greenville Technical College
- Trident Technical College
- Midlands Technical College
- Horry-Georgetown Technical College
- Anderson University, South Carolina
- Bob Jones University
- York Technical College
- Limestone University
- Florence-Darlington Technical College
What are the requirements for law schools in South Carolina?
A person needs years of intensive instruction and study to be able to successfully become a lawyer in South Carolina.
Getting accepted into Law schools is quite difficult and requires as much guidance as possible. You should make sure everything required of you is provided even before you start applying to increase your chances of getting accepted.
The requirements include:
Complete a bachelor’s degree.
These are degrees you are awarded after graduating from the university. It usually takes about 4 to 5 years to get this degree. It is a requirement to get accepted into law schools as much as some law schools do not attach too much to it, some schools do.
Pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
The LSAT is a kind of test that all applicants to the law take as a matter of necessity. It’s an exam that an applicant doesn’t just need to write, he/she will have to pass with a very high score. Having a high score allows an applicant to have an option to choose from big-shot schools.
Request your official transcripts.
These transcripts come bearing details of a student’s academic performance. To get this from your grad school, you must be certain that you owe no fee and if you still owe any fee at all, you should clear it.
Write a personal statement.
Personal statements are written by applicants. It is an opportunity given to them to try to convince admission officers to accept them into the schools they have chosen. Here the applicant is expected to state his abilities, goals, and experiences that could get him/her acceptance. A minimum of one statement is required.
Get letters of recommendation.
Letters of recommendation speak for you. As the word goes, recommend you to the admissions board telling them how you can go through a law school. It should be written a person who knows so well preferably, a professor from your grad school or an employer in a situation where you left school for some time.
Apply to law schools.
When you have all the required documents for the application to different law schools of your choice, you get the application form an amount. write your applications and send them to the organization in charge of receiving them.
Read Also: 15 Best Law Schools in Spain | Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
How Much is the Tuition of Law Schools in South Carolina 2024?
Tution of law school in South Carolina vary from school to school. Basically, international students pay more tuition than resident. Generally, full-time tuition in the University of South Carolina Law School is $24,492 (in-state) and full-time tuition is $$44,704 (out-of-state).
Full-time tuition in Charleston School of Law is $43,700 and $35,100 for part-time students.
Read Also: 15 Best Law Schools in New Hampshire | Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
10 Best Law Schools in North Carolina.
US News lists best law schools in South Carolina based on some standard metrics such as acceptance rate, GRA rate, after-graduation placement, faculty resources, GPA of applicants, and different perceptions of overall program quality by law schools, lawyers, and judges.
Schools that are ABA-approved are considered as best. On a general note, what makes a school the best option for an applicant aside from the already mentioned few, is what school offers courses that concentrate on the applicant’s desired area of law. Some of these law schools are;
#1. University of South Carolina School of Law
The University of South Carolina School of Law was established in 1867 and is located two blocks from the state capitol building.
The school is often regarded as one of the best colleges in the state probably because the school does not only have excellent academics but also has some fantastic extracurricular activities.
- Ranking-#84
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- LSAT Score -151
- GPA-3.19
- Bar passage rate:52.6%
#2. Charleston School of Law
The University of South Carolina School of Law is a public law school that is located in the capital of South Carolina: Columbia. It was established in the year 1867,
It is one of the oldest law schools in the entire country. To this day, the South Carolina School of Law has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1924 and has the ABA approval since 1925.
The South Carolina School of Law provides an excellent value legal education to residents and out-of-state students for the sake of affordability.
Other Schools that offer law degree programs:
The two law schools mentioned above are rated as the two best law schools in South Carolina. and other institutions offering one legal course or more include;
#3. The Military College of South Carolina
The Military College of South Carolina is located in Charleston and was established in 1842.
This college is among the six senior military colleges in the United States.
The institution has 18 academic departments and these are divided into 4 schools offering 31 majors and 57 minors.
As expected, it offers military programs and non-military ones. The programs that are non-military offer 12 undergraduate degrees, and 26 graduate degrees which include three legal and law degree programs.
There’s an option for evening and online programs with seven online graduate degrees, three online undergraduate degrees, and three certificate programs.
The college generally has a curriculum that makes it possible for its students to get the best education.
#4. Claflin University
Claflin University is a private, historically black university that is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina.
It offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in different disciplines which includes law-related programs such as Criminal Justice.
The major topics in this criminal justice program are Law enforcement, corrections, judicial procedures, criminal investigation, administration and management, and criminal justice research.
The school’s curriculum fosters an understanding of the history of the criminal justice system by teaching topics that have to do with crime prevention.
#5. Anderson University
Anderson University a private and a four-year university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in approximately 78 areas of study.
Anderson University has an affiliation with the South Carolina Baptist Convention and is also, a member of the South Atlantic Conference.
The school though not accredited by the ABA is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It offers one of the best law degrees in South Carolina.
With up to a number 11 Legal and Law degree programs, it graduated 48 Legal and Law students with 26 for Master’s degrees,- and 22 for Bachelor’s degrees.
#6. Coker University
Coker University is a private, non-profit, four-year institution. This University offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in different disciplines that include law-related programs such as Pre-Law programs.
Any student taking up a legal course is required to, intern with an attorney so that he/she will be exposed to day-to-day legal practice. These students are also connected to a legal practitioner who can play a role of a mentor.
#7. Bob Jones University (BJU)
Bob Jones University was founded in 1927 and is located in Greenville, South Carolina. It is a private, non-denominational evangelical university known for a conserved cultural and religious perspective.
The university has accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Transnational Association of Christain Colleges and Schools.
The school offers about three Legal and Law degree programs.
#8. Florence-Darlington Technical College
Florence-Darlington Technical College is located in Florence, South Carolina, and was established in 1963. Though it is a small, two-year community college, it has an outstanding reputation to maintain in the study of law. The school offers 2 legal and law degree programs and has one of the best law departments in South Carolina.
#9. Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University is a private Southern Baptist university that offers degrees that include law-related programs. It is located in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Charleston Southern gives a Bachelor of Arts in pre-law and legal studies. This bachelor’s is a pre-professional degree primarily for students who want to go to law school and work as a lawyer. it prepares them by sharing certain skills they will need to be competitive in the law school admissions process. The criminal justice program in this university is one of the top and students find studying here flexible because it can be completed entirely online or in a regular classroom.
#10. Newberry College
Newberry College just like some other schools that offer pre-Law Program focuses on getting future lawyers for law school and its competitiveness.
Newberry college encourages intending law students to connect with other pre-law students and to obtain legal experience through internships.
Students of Newberry college are equipped with skills and as a result, 90% who finish the program are accepted into law schools.
How to apply to law schools in South Carolina.
1. Create an account with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
creation of this account with the law school admission council is required, good thing is that it is and can be done online at LSAC.org.
2. Register and take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
LSAT is an examination any intended law student should write for a high score because it gives an applicant an option to choose from top-ranking law schools.
3. Complete and electronically apply for admission.
Applications are available at LSAC.org. you need to fill out the application carefully too, alongside listed things for submission.
4. Submit two letters of recommendation.
5. Personal statements should be submitted online at LSAC.org.
6. Submit a current resume with your application to LSAC at LSAC.org.
7. Request transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
Transcripts usually should be submitted by these pre-law school(s) directly to LSAC’s CAS. This transcript should denote that a degree has been granted and must be sent to LSAC before school matriculation.
In a situation where an applicant had enrolled previously, probably without completion in a J.D. program at a law school, he/she is required to submit
(a) a transcript from your prior law school to LSAC,
(b) a letter of standing from your prior law school, and
(c) a letter of recommendation from one of your law school professors to LSAC.
Read Also: 15 Best Law Schools in New Hampshire | Cost, Requirements, How to Apply
How Long is a Law School in South Carolina?
Just like every other American Bar Association-approved law school, it would take 3 years of full-time study to earn a Juris Doctor (JD). Where the law school also offers part-time programs, it will take up to 4 to 5 years to complete and to get a JD.
For schools that offer joint degrees, like JD/MBA or JD/MA. It may take up to 4 to 5 years to complete,
Frequently Asked Questions
The ranking of schools is done according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among 443 national universities, South Carolina is ranked 115.
The University of South Carolina has an acceptance rate of 68.6% this is to say that for every 100 applicants, 69 are accepted and that makes the school moderately selective. As much as the school is flexible, it expects any applicant that wants to be accepted to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores.
The Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree is generally a three-year program when it’s a full-time program but can be for more in the case of a part-time program. To graduate, Students must earn 90 credits.
Though this is currently subject to change, an applicant can retake the bar exams as many times as he/she has to but after the third time, there’s a requirement for an additional study.
Conclusion.
Finding the requirements and easy route to apply to your dream law school in South Carolina. This article discusses the best law schools in South Carolina and other schools offering legal courses, degree or programs.
References
- Us News.com – Best Law Schools in South Carolina
- testmaxprep.com -Top Law Schools in South Carolina
- educationplanetonline.com – 10 Top Law Schools in South Carolina-How to Apply
- academicground.com – 15 Best Law Schools in South Carolina | 2022