Remembering South Carolina’s legal leaders
Law school and SC Bar co-host “Memory Hold the Door” ceremony to recognize contributions of legal professionals who exhibited high ethical and professional standards during their lives.
USC Rice School of Law student recognized for legal writing excellence
William Rees ('25) received a Burton Award for excellence in legal writing for his South Carolina Law Review article on law enforcement and privacy.
Law school classmates forge lifelong friendship
2018 classmates bond over marathons and motherhood, supported by a familiar, nurturing presence.
Lessons in leadership with USC Women’s Basketball Coach Dawn Staley
The Lawyers as Leaders class features multidisciplinary experts throughout the semester, who share their experiences as leaders.
Timely symposium on access to justice
Panelists at the annual South Carolina Law Review event encouraged attendees to think critically about legal institutions and consider opportunities for reform.
Retired Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty honored by Supreme Court and Governor during portrait unveiling ceremony
The Supreme Court of South Carolina held a special term of court on April 22, 2025, to unveil the official portrait of retired Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty, honoring his distinguished service and lasting contributions to the judiciary and the citizens of South Carolina.
Inspiring future appellate advocates
The Honorable J. Michelle Childs ('91) of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, the Honorable Albert Diaz, chief judge of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and attorneys Bill Nettles and Tejinder Singh shared their experience, advice and insight with law students.
Compassion at the heart of "The Global Nexus" symposium
SC Journal of International Law and Business event centered on "Business, Human Rights, and Sustainability in the Nuclear Age."
Generative AI and access to justice
At the law school's second annual TechInLaw Symposium, experts explore the crucial role of technology in maintaining an equitable justice system.
Innovating for safety
US Department of Transportation Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee, on which Professor Bryant Walker Smith serves as vice chair, releases 99-page report with straightforward recommendations to harness innovation for the public good.
Law school recognizes advocates and hears from ABA president-elect during annual MLK ceremony
During the Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., three organizations received awards for legal advocacy, and one distinguished guest received a special recognition.
Law professor climbs public influence rankings among country's top education scholars
Ranked No. 30 overall, Derek Black is the only full-time law professor to appear on Education Week's annual rankings of top scholars impacting educational practice and policy.
Cross-continental classroom
Students gain a global legal perspective by taking courses in the UK.
Where learning meets practice
Expert faculty support students and community members through the law school's eight in-house clinics.
December 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news and impact published in December 2024.
Providing pathways with purpose
Sara Cano Zuleta ('19 political science and government, '24 law) knows firsthand the challenges immigrants face gaining legal status. Now, as an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow, she’s using her law degree to help other immigrants.
Education and preservation
Rebecca Plevel's heritage and expertise energize her research on Native American copyright law and advocacy for a more thorough legal education.
"The perfect professional gentleman lawyer"
"Professor B" becomes the law school's most recent honorary inductee to the Order of Barristers, a national society for excellence in trial advocacy, oral advocacy, and brief writing.
Invested in community service
The Jeffcoat Public Interest Fellowship reinforces the firm's commitment to the common good.
November 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news and impact published in November 2024.
National experts converge for law school's inaugural Estate Planning Conference
"All-stars" in the estate planning and tax fields came to Columbia, including alumnus and U.S. Tax Court Judge Adam B. Landy.
Professor Joseph Seiner appointed to U.S. Foreign Service Grievance Board
Seiner selected for distinguished board by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.
October 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news and impact published in October 2024.
Taylor House unveiling
More than 100 years later, the meticulously restored historic home now houses the law school's admissions office alongside the master of studies in law and certificate programs.
Federal district court judge holds hearing at the law school
The Honorable Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. '75 held a civil court hearing on election law for students to observe in the historic Karen J. Williams Courtroom.
September 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news and impact published in September 2024.
New hires in the USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law community
JD and Master of Legal Studies programs welcome new faculty.
Propel AI initiative aims to weave AI into scholarship, research
Bryant Walker Smith, associate professor of law and an expert on emerging technologies, is one of three faculty members tapped by Vice President for Research Julius Fridriksson to guide Propel AI as it launches this semester.
Up for debate
USC Rice School of Law students establish the founding chapter of the Lincoln-Douglas Society, a neutral platform for civil discourse on the country's most controversial topics.
USC Rice School of Law welcomes the Class of 2027
The new 1Ls are part of the largest applicant pool and most selective admissions cycle in the law school's history.
Why Quit?
Law school namesake and legal trailblazer Joe Rice rides high in the saddle.
August 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news and impact published in August 2024.
New South Carolina Supreme Court chief justice sworn in
After more than 30 years serving the South Carolina judiciary, alumnus The Honorable John W. Kittredge ascended to the most senior office of the state's highest court.
July 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news and impact published in July 2024.
The best offense is a good defense
The inaugural Richard Scott Joye Trial College gave SC criminal defense attorneys a unique opportunity to earn continuing legal education credits through hands-on training without leaving the state.
Transformative mentoring
Alumnus Joe Rice builds strong legal team by nurturing and empowering attorneys.
June 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news, and impact published in June 2024.
Judge Letitia Verdin '97 elected to the Supreme Court of South Carolina
After her investiture, Verdin will be the only woman serving on the state Supreme Court, and just the third woman to take the bench in the Court's history.
Observe, learn, collaborate
Externships offer law students real life experience with practicing judges and attorneys.
Committed to Health Care
Professor Jacqueline Fox is researching and comparing national health care expenditures in the English, Australian, U.S. through her ground-breaking Fulbright Global Scholar project.
Equal Access to Education
Claire Raj works on Department of Education project to protect rights of students with disabilities.
Passionate Advocates
Talent, chemistry and preparation form the foundation that makes Mock Trial program one of the country's best.
May 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news, and impact published in May 2024.
Palmetto LEADER volunteers use their legal skills for community service
Students worked alongside attorneys in Hartsville, SC earlier this month developing their legal skills while providing wills, durable healthcare powers of attorney, and expungements to those who qualify for assistance.
Michelle Pappas Named Class of 2024 Children's Law Concentration Distinguished Student
Pappas graduates with a Master of Social Work from USC and her juris doctorate with a Children's Law Concentration from the Joseph F. Rice School of Law.
Class of 2024 celebrates commencement
Commencement exercises were held May 3 in the Horseshoe for the School's Class of 2024.
Middle School Pipeline program engages young learners with the value of law
The USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law hosted students from Hopkins Middle School for a series of programs on legal storytelling and the chance to be part of a courtroom in action.
Celebrating 2024 Award Winners
The Law School recognizes students, faculty and staff who have made outstanding achievements in the 2023-2024 academic year
April 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news, and impact published in April 2024.
New grant-funded Tax Clinic at USC Rice School of Law accepting clients
The law school's low-income Tax Clinic provides free legal assistance to qualifying taxpayers in disputes against the IRS.
USC Rice School of Law announces 2024 Compleat Lawyer Award Recipients
The highest honor given by the law school, these awards recognize alumni nominated by their peers for their professionalism, competency, and integrity.
Law alumnus and USC trustee Miles Loadholt dies
A native of Fairfax, South Carolina, Loadholt earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of South Carolina in 1965 and his law degree from USC in 1968.
USC report on protective orders highlights ways to address domestic violence
The multi-disciplinary collaboration provides the first glimpse of data on Orders of Protection at the state and local level throughout South Carolina.
US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit holds hearing at USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law
Students observed oral arguments for three cases heard by Chief Judge Albert Diaz, Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum, Jr. '89, and Judge William B. Traxler, Jr '73.
March 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news, and impact published in March 2024.
Why are Americans fighting over no-fault divorce? Maybe they can’t agree what marriage is for
Professor Marcia Zug shares her thoughts as well as a brief history of divorce, marriage, and the "marital bargain."
From Court to Court
2L Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk balances basketball and law school.
Whose Beach is it Anyway?
Law professor Josh Eagle works to expand public beach access.
February 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news, and impact published in February 2024.
Inaugural TechInLaw symposium invites attendees to consider the interplay of technology and law
Creighton Waters '96 delivered keynote on technology used in 2023 Alex Murdaugh trial.
President Biden nominates alumnus for judgeship on US Tax Court
Three-time USC graduate Adam B. Landy '09 is one of three nominees for the US Tax Court.
In Memoriam: Henry L. Brown '51
Law school honors the passing of a distinguished alumnus and WWII veteran.
Free tax assistance for qualifying South Carolinians
Law students volunteer to help community members prepare tax documents and enhance their legal skills with guidance from professor Clint Wallace.
January 2024: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news, and impact published in January 2024.
I. S. Leevy Johnson '68 delivers keynote steeped in history at MLK awards ceremony
The second annual Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reinforced the importance of collectively fighting injustice and honored legal organizations committed to public service.
Jacquelyn D. Austin '96 confirmed to US District Court for the District of South Carolina
Judge Austin will fill the vacancy left by Judge J. Michelle Childs '91 who is a now member of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Former SC Gov. Beasley to join faculty of USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law
Former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley will join the faculty of the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law on March 1.
Law professor selected to help lead federal advisory committee on transforming transportation
Bryant Walker Smith appointed vice chair of a new US Department of Transportation committee helping to shape AI policies.
CHAMPS awarded second million-dollar Duke Endowment grant
Research will emphasize the importance of medical-legal partnerships in addressing social determinants of health.
In Memoriam: Richard Earl Day
Remembering former dean of the USC Rice School of Law.
Law school hosts federal civil court hearing courtesy of Federal District Court Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. '75
Students observed attorneys arguing the constitutionality of the SC Democratic Party's refusal to include a potential candidate on their primary ballot.
December 2023: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news, and impact published in December 2023.
November 2023: Faculty Scholarship & Impact
Faculty scholarship, news, and impact published in November 2023.
Jim Bowers: Making history
The USC Rice School of Law's first full-time Black law professor reflects on his impact 50 years later.
USC School of Law named Joseph F. Rice School of Law
Learn more about well-known alumnus and trial attorney Joseph F. Rice '79.