10 Top Law Schools in South Carolina-How to Apply

For you to have a career in law, you would have to start by finding the best law schools in South Carolina that fit your needs to attend. After graduating, you would then need to pass the bar examination.

Now, where the problem might lie is in choosing the perfect law school. We are here to help with that. We will be looking at the best law schools in South Carolina.

The state of South Carolina is located in the coastal Southeastern region of the United States. It is the 40th most extensive and 23rd most populous U.S. state.

The capital of this state is Columbia, and the largest city in the state is Charleston.

Attending law school in South Carolina is a decision you should consider. The average salary a lawyer earns in the state is $51.55 per hour.

You should also know that there is a growing need for lawyers in the state. This is due to the difficulty of the education process and the bar examination. 

Once you have decided on going through with the decision to attend a law school in South Carolina, the next step is to select the law school.

There are some factors that tend to influence the rankings of law schools, one such factor is the American Bar Association accreditation. 

The ABA accreditation is a rigorous process that stays a minimum of three years. It is a process that ensures a level of national uniformity in legal education and practice.

The requirement for this accreditation is that the school must possess standard facilities and quality education. This means if you attend a law school that is approved by the ABA, you become eligible to sit for the bar exam in any state, including South Carolina.

The other factors that can influence the rankings of law schools are the percentage of students who pass the bar on the first sitting; job placement success; school resources; the equality of student-faculty interaction; and also the reputation of the law school among other institutions.

Now, let us talk about law schools. You know how every state has laws that are put in place to regulate legal issues and maintain peace and order? Lawyers are there to ensure this is what happens with those laws. For you to become a lawyer, you have to go through the four walls of a law school. 

As a definition, one can simply say that law schools are schools where lawyers go to gain the legal knowledge and experience they need to handle legal issues.

It is part of the prime conditions for lawyers to attend a law school before they can address themselves with the title.

Law schools including the ones in South Carolina offer hands-on legal experience.

Through internships, legal clinics, and extracurricular activities. Classes in law school will cover subjects such as:

  • Criminal law.
  • Constitutional law.
  • Legal research.
  • Civil procedure.
  • Contracts.
  • Torts.
  • Legal writing. 
  • Property.

How To Get Into A Law School In South Carolina

For you to get admission into a law school in South Carolina, you first have to find out what the minimum academic requirement at the law school is and meet it.

Note that the lowest academic requirement needed to enroll in a law school is a bachelor’s degree. 

To obtain this, you would have to first finish your secondary education.

Then, apply to any tertiary institution of your choice to obtain a bachelor’s degree in law. Remember that it has to be a government-accredited institution.

After this, you have to take the law school admission test after your bachelor’s degree. Once you pass the test, then you would select any South Carolina Law School of your choice and complete the application process for the school.

The moment you get into law school, you would earn a Juris Doctor degree. This is not all, you still have to pass the bar examination so you can push your career to the next level.

Best Law Schools in South Carolina

Here, we will look at the best law schools in South Carolina. The beautiful coastal state coincidentally also happens to be home to two of the top-ranked law schools in the United States of America.

The two top-rated law schools in the state of South Carolina schools are South Carolina Law School and Charleston School of Law. We would first take a look at them:

The University Of South Carolina School of Law

The University of South Carolina School of Law, also known as South Carolina Law School. It is a public law school that was founded in 1867 and is located in Columbia.

It is the oldest law school in the entire country and until this day, is the only public and non-profit law school in the state of South Carolina.

The law school has been a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1924 and has been accredited by the ABA since 1925. Students get to benefit from extensive connections and industry connections because of the location of the school and its long-standing history in the city and state.

The University of South Carolina is widely known as one of the best schools in the state because of its incredible academic excellence.

The school also features incredible extra-curricular activities. The law school is ranked as the 92nd Best Law School by U.S. News and World Report.

As a public university, this school of law provides legal education that is of great value to residents of the state.

Not only residents, the school also offers generous scholarships to international students. This is in a bid to make the program more affordable for all.

When it comes to admissions selectivity, South Carolina Law School accepts approximately 46% of the students who apply to them. Successful applicants have a median LSAT score of 156 and a GPA of 3.51. The school has a Bar Passage Rate of 65%.

The tuition and fees of South Carolina Law School can be viewed here.

Charleston School Of Law

Charleston School of Law is a private, for-profit institution that was established in 2003 by a group of local attorneys and judges. The school is fully accredited by the ABA in 2011. It is relatively young when compared to others in the country.

This law school is known for having exceptionally dedicated professors and a small student-to-faculty ratio. It is an amazing way to jump-start your career in law.

The faculty is well recognized with several mentorship opportunities and there are many different law firms in the school for students to pursue internships.

Charleston School of Law has a mission to teach its students all they need to know to have a successful career in law.

It accepts approximately 55% of applicants in terms of admissions selectivity. Also, successful applicants have a median LSAT score of 151 and a GPA of 3.19. The Bar Passage Rate is 43%.

This law school offers a wide range of internship opportunities and hosts a professionalism series that provides students with real-world insights into the important role professionalism plays in the law field.

You can take a look at the tuition and fees over here.

Institutions that offer law degree programs:

These schools mentioned above are the two best law schools in South Carolina. Now, let us take a look at some other institutions that offer law degree programs:

The Military College of South Carolina

The Military College of South Carolina, known simply as The Citadel is a public senior military college located in Charleston and was established in 1842.

The college happens to be one of the six senior military colleges in the United States.

The institution has 18 academic departments that are divided into five schools offering 31 majors and 57 minors.

The programs that are non-military offer 12 undergraduate degrees, and 26 graduate degrees including three legal and law degree programs. 

The college also offers evening and online programs with seven online graduate degrees, three online undergraduate degrees, and three certificate programs.

The college has a school curriculum that makes sure its students get the best education. You can take a look at the school’s tuition and fees here

Anderson University

Anderson University is a private, four-year university that offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in approximately 78 areas of study.

The school is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention and is a member of the South Atlantic Conference.

The school is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offers one of the best law degrees in South Carolina.

The school has 11 Legal and Law degree programs. In 2020, the school graduated 48 Legal and Law students with 26 of them earning Master’s degrees, while 22 earned Bachelor’s degrees.

Details of the tuition and required fees for Anderson University can be accessed here.

South Carolina State University

South Carolina State University is a public university that was established in 1896 and is located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States.

It has the title of being the only public, historically black land-grant institution in the state. The school has accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

The institution is a prestigious school of higher learning in South Carolina that offers two Legal and Law degree programs. The school graduated 60 Legal and Law students in 2020. They all earned Bachelor’s degrees in Law. 

If you are interested in getting info on the tuition and fees of South Carolina State University, click here.

Coker University

Coker University is a private not-for-profit, a 4-year university located in Hartsville, South Carolina. The institution was founded in 1908 and has accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The University offers four Legal and Law degree programs. They consist of a composite of classroom and other experiences. Students who complete any of the programs gain specialization in Pre-Law.

Also, each student is expected to complete an internship with an attorney. This is to expose the student to legal practice as it is performed in the real world.

You can have a look at the details of the school’s tuition and financial aid here.

Bob Jones University (BJU)

Bob Jones University is a private, non-denominational evangelical university that was founded in 1927 and is located in Greenville, South Carolina.

The school is known for its conservative, cultural and religious positions. 

The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Transnational Association of Christain Colleges and Schools.

BJU has approximately 2,500 students and in 2017, it estimated the number of its graduates to be 40,184.

The school offers three Legal and Law degree programs. It also has gained strong recognition for the Legal programs it offers.

The info on its tuition and financial aid can be accessed here.

Florence-Darlington Technical College

Florence-Darlington Technical College was established in 1963, it is a small, two-year community college that is located in Florence, South Carolina. The college has an enrollment of over 6,000 students. 

The school has an outstanding reputation to maintain in the study of law. It also happens to be one of the best law schools in South Carolina.

The institution offers two Legal and Law degree programs. You can view the tuition details here.

Lander University

Lander University is a public, four-year university in Greenwood, South Carolina.

It was established in 1872 and in 2019, it was the fastest-growing public university in South Carolina, according to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. 

The school offers four Legal and Law degree programs with students earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Details of the school’s tuition fee and financial aid can be gotten here.

Clemson University

Clemson University is the last school on this list of best law schools in South Carolina. It is a public land-grant research four-year university that was founded in 1889.

It also happens to be the second-largest university in the student population in South Carolina. The school offers five Legal and Law degree programs.

You will find details about the cost of the school and financial aid here.

FAQs 

How Much Does It Cost To Take The Bar Exam In South Carolina?

All examinees will pay a fee of $1,000. Although practicing attorneys will pay the same $1,000 fee plus an additional $750. 

How Many Times Can You Take The Bar Exam In South Carolina?

In South Carolina, there is no limit on the number of times you can take the bar exam. But you would need additional study if you fail three times in a row.

Why Attend Law Schools In South Carolina?

There could not be a better place to obtain a degree in law than in South Carolina. The state has one of the most beautiful educational standards in the United States. It has produced many alumni who have made incredible contributions to the growth of the country and the world at large.

South Carolina is also a diverse and affordable city. This makes it the perfect place for law students to gain the hands-on experience they need. They do this by working with several corporations, firms, courts, and non-profit organizations. 

You would also be able to connect with students of creative minds regarding legal issues, this would help you in becoming a better lawyer. There is also the opportunity for you to meet policy administrators and create your network with specialists for your career prospects.

How Much Does It Cost To Enroll In Law Schools In South Carolina?

The statistics from the U.S. News state that the average tuition for a full-time student in South Carolina is $23,722 (in-state) and $55,480 (out-of-state). On the other hand, the application fee falls on the average of $60. There are some schools that do not require an application fee for part-time students.

As a student in South Carolina, you are advised to look for as many financial aid opportunities that are accessible to you. Some scholarship programs are fully funded while others cover only tuition fees. There are scholarships that assist students from a low-income earning background and others are for outstanding students who have excellent academic records.

How Much Do Lawyers Make In South Carolina?

As of 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor made it known that lawyers employed in South Carolina made an average annual median salary of $111,090. 

How Long Is Law School In South Carolina?

All American Bar Association-approved law schools would require 3 years of full-time study to earn a Juris Doctor (JD). Some law schools also offer part-time programs that would take up to 4 to 5 years to complete. 

There are many schools that offer joint degrees, such as a JD/MBA or JD/MA. These joint degrees may also take up to 4 to 5 years to complete, but when compared to taking the degrees separately, it would take a lesser time to complete.

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