First-Year Grade Distribution Policy

1. Standard Normalization. Unless otherwise stated in this policy, all instructors and faculty shall apply Standard Normalization in all classes with enrollments over twelve students.
   
   There is a strong presumption in favor of Standard Normalization. Faculty may appeal the application of this policy to the faculty or Curriculum Committee, with the right to appeal that decision to the Associate Dean, who shall grant an exception only upon a substantial showing of exceptional circumstances. Examples of exceptional circumstances could include a paper course in which a significant proportion of the students have demonstrated through written assignments over the semester that their final papers will merit an A grade, or a course with only thirteen students who are all performing at a high level. Any such appeal must be submitted to the faculty or Curriculum Committee no later than the last class or 48 hours after receiving the normalization range, whichever is later.  In granting any extraordinary appeal, the faculty or Curriculum Committee shall, in their discretion, direct the faculty member to apply Expanded Normalization or No Normalization.  The effect of any granted appeal is limited to the semester in which it was granted.
2. Expanded Normalization. Shall apply to courses in which students receive substantial feedback on at least three instances of performance. The substantial feedback must occur over the course of the semester—whether the feedback is given on a series of assignments or on a single assignment. The professor must provide the substantial feedback prior to the next instance of student performance. After the first instance of performance, students must be required to respond to the substantial feedback that was already given on their previous performance. Additionally, the substantial feedback must objectively assess student performance based on a rigorous, methodical grading criteria. Whether Expanded Normalization applies to a particular course can be determined through a faculty vote, the approval of the Curriculum Committee, or approval of the Associate Dean, upon a substantial showing that the course meets this description. A denial by the Curriculum Committee or faculty may be appealed to the Academic Dean. Once granted, Expanded Normalization shall apply to all subsequent offerings of that course by that professor that continue to meet the criteria set forth herein.
   
   
3. No Normalization. Shall apply to classes that, in addition to meeting the criteria for Expanded Normalization, also provide substantial lawyering experience that involves advising or representing one or more actual clients. In addition, Supervised Legal Research projects are not subject to normalization and may be assessed via letter grade or via traditional Pass/Fail as set forth in the Student Handbook Policy on Pass/Fail Grading.
   
   
4. High Pass/Pass/Low Pass/Fail. Shall apply to externships.
   
   
5. Pass/Fail. Shall apply to reading groups, Legal Analysis Workshop, Introduction to the Legal Profession, Lawyers as Leaders, Legal Practice Workshop, and SLRs taken Pass/Fail.
   
   The Faculty reserves the right to modify the Grade Distribution Policy and apply the modified Policy to students then enrolled in the Law School.

Fall Grades: All grades are due the first day of spring classes.  

Spring Grades: First year grades are due 21 days after the last regularly scheduled 1L examination. Upper level grades are due the last Friday in May. Provided, however, the Dean has discretion to set a date for submission of grade information to determine the status of graduating seniors.

Summer Grades:  For each summer school course grades must be reported 30 days after either the regularly scheduled examination date for the course or the last day of class if there is no examination in the course. 

Grades received by the Registrar’s office in their final form will be posted within 24 hours.  

Once your grade is posted for a course, you will receive an email from the Law Registrar’s office.  You can also find your grade on Self Service Carolina. Log in and then select STUDENT, then Grades, then view grades, and then select term. 

Effective for students matriculating in Fall 2024 and onward, the numerical value of grades are as follows:

A   =  4.000
A-  =   3.670
B+  =   3.500
B    =   3.000
B-  =   2.670
C+ =   2.500
C   =   2.000
C- = 1.670
D+ =   1.500
D   =   1.000
D- = 0.670
F     =   0.000
WF =   0.000

For students who enrolled prior to fall 2024, the applicable standards can be found in an earlier version of the handbook, available here. 

Email lawreg@law.sc.edu and request an SLR form. You will be required to complete the form in consultation with your SLR advisor. The SLR advisor will then forward the completed form to the Law Registrar’s office. You will then be registered for the course. A confirmation email will be sent.

You may ask any faculty or established adjunct professor to supervise an SLR.  If you are unclear which adjunct is an “established” professor, please contact the Law Registrar’s office for additional guidance.

An SLR may satisfy the graduation requirement provided that you are registered in two credit hours and write a minimum or 30-50 pages. Note: An SLR cannot be used to satisfy the writing requirement in your final semester of law school.

No, all classes that are listed as in-person classes must be attended in-person.

Submit a completed Editorial Board Credits Form by email to the law registrar’s office by the due date. The form does not require the signature of the Editor in Chief or the faculty advisor. The Law Registrar's office will add you to the course. Although the form may be submitted early, registration for the editorial board credits will start after 3L registration. 

When grades are due, the faculty advisor and EIC will confirm with the Law Registrar's office that you have met all the requirements to receive the credits.

Submit a completed Credit for Supervised Extracurricular Competition Form  by email to the law registrar’s office by the due date. The form does not require the signature of the  the faculty advisor. Although the form may be submitted early, registration for the extracurricular competition credits will start after 3L registration. 

When grades are due, the faculty advisor will confirm with the Law Registrar's office that you have met all the requirements to receive the credits

Contact Stephanie Nye for information about the application process for externships.

• Log onto SSC, choose STUDENTS  
• registration 
• select term 
• register for classes 
• schedule and options tab  
• click onto the number 2 for the option to change to 3 
• click submit (bottom right). 

The graduation requirements and checklist are available on the Law Registrar's website.   

Hardship petitions shall be filed with the Office of the Law Registrar and  Academic Services. The petition shall contain a complete statement of why the student is seeking hardship admission to the course. Students seeking hardship admission to second-year preference courses during their third year shall explain why they did not take the course during the second year. Hardship Petition Form

Beyond the first year curriculum, students must successfully complete the following upper-level courses:  

• Problems in Professional Responsibility (3 credit-hours) or Professional Responsibility (2 credit-hours) with a grade of a “C” or better 
• A Perspective Course 
• A Writing Requirement with a grade of “C” or better, or “S” if taken pass/fail 
• Six (6) credit hours of Experiential Courses with a grade of “C” or better, or “S” if taken pass/fail

Please contact the Office of Law Registrar to discuss your specific situation.

A student may take a maximum of six credit hours during the upper-level years of their law school career on a pass/fail basis.  However, pass/fail credit is available only in those courses offered exclusively on a pass/fail basis or, with the instructor’s consent, in Supervised Legal Research.

No, Introduction to the Legal Profession does not count toward the upper level 6 credit hours of pass/fail courses. 

Yes, but only in a course designated as W or W(3). For W(3) courses, you must change the credit hours to 3.