There is no doubt that the legal industry is changing. It is undergoing a revolution, and even industry experts concede that it is in a state of flux. Unlike the past, where lawyers often relied on pedigree and reputation, today’s legal provider is no longer a matter of choosing a company that has a high-profile name, or has the right expertise. Instead, a criterion that is becoming more and more important is a company’s scalability and experience.
In response to the challenges facing lawyers, the University of South Carolina School of Law has launched a new program called the Rule of Law Collaborative. This organization will provide legal assistance to citizens in post-conflict countries. The organization will also help local residents with their tax affairs, and will offer free legal services to low-income and elderly residents.
The Rule of Law Collaborative is headed by Joel H. Samuels, professor of law at the University of South Carolina. Other members of the collaborative include Bennett Gore Jr., director of the Veterans Legal Clinic and clinical instructor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, and Alysja Carlisle, who will start a scholarship fund to support future students.
Another new initiative will focus on improving efforts to protect children. The Children’s Law Center will soon be in a first-class teaching space, and will help to provide children in the Midlands with more opportunities.
In addition to the new home, the University of South Carolina School of Law will continue to improve its academic profile. It is announcing two new visiting professors for the coming semester. Both will work in the law school’s new online curriculum. One of the visitors will be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Samuel A. Alito.
Incoming students to the University of South Carolina School of Law will be welcomed with an event on April 20. They will be surrounded by faculty in 14 locations across the Midlands, and will be able to take advantage of the many resources the School of Law has to offer. As part of the celebration, an alumni group will present a gift to the School of Law.
This semester, the University of South Carolina School of Law is also celebrating its 150th anniversary. In honor of the occasion, the school has announced the appointment of new faculty members to named chairs. These appointments were made in recognition of the significant contributions these professors have made to the school.
The school has also received a major donation from the Konduros Fisherman Fund. The philanthropic organization has pledged more than $1 million to the law school.
In addition, the law school has been awarded a major grant from the University of South Carolina to study the effects of legal innovation on the legal profession. This research will be funded by an endowed scholarship fund. Having an endowed scholarship fund can boost the law school’s rankings and attract students to the institution.