To become a lawyer, you must enroll in the best and most respectable law school and pass the bar exam. These two factors are critical in securing your first legal employment.Â
The issue is that finding the ideal law school to complement you can be difficult at times. So, how do you go about it?
It is worthwhile to contemplate becoming a lawyer in South Carolina. A lawyer in South Carolina earns an average of $51.55 per hour, and there is an increasing demand for lawyers in the state.Â
The demand for lawyers in the state has increased because of the difficulty of the academic process and bar examinations.
If you decide to pursue a career as a lawyer, the next step is to choose a law school. The University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) and the University of Charleston are alternatives in South Carolina (Charleston, SC), amongst others.
The American Bar Association approved these institutions. But which is the better option for you? To make a more educated choice, read a detailed analysis of all the law schools in South Carolina.Â
This article gives the 2023 ranking of the best law schools in South Carolina. Stay with us.
What are the Requirements of Law Schools in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, becoming a lawyer is a multi-step process that requires years of intensive instruction and study.
Law school is a graduate program that can be difficult to enter. That is why, before submitting your official application, you should complete as much preparation as possible.
The requirements include:
- Complete a bachelor’s degree.
- Pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
- Request your official transcripts.
- Write a personal statement.
- Get letters of recommendation.
- Apply to law schools.
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How Much Does it Cost to Go to Law School in Sc?
Each Law school has its tuition and application fee.
The application fee for part-time programs at the University of South Carolina School of Law is $0. Full-time tuition is $23,722 (in-state) and full-time tuition is $55,480 (out-of-state).
The application fee for the full-time program at Charleston School of Law is $0. Its full-time tuition is $43,374.
Another state with great law schools is California. Check Out the Best Law Schools in California
How Long are Law Schools in South Carolina?
The Juris Doctor (J.D.) is a full-time, three-year curriculum. To graduate, students must complete 90 credits in their various law programs.
What are the Low-Grade Law Schools in South Carolina?
If your grades are not up to the required grade of the law school you applied for, you can consider going to this law school with low grades as you might be considered.
Charleston School of Law has an LSAT score of 145 with a GPA of 3.15 and an acceptance rate of 55.1%.
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What are the Law Programs in South Carolina?
Different Law Programs can be studied in South Carolina Law schools and they include:
- Business/Corporate Law
- Constitutional Law
- Clinical Training
- Contracts/Commercial Law
- Environmental Law
- Criminal Law
- Health Care Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- International Law
- Legal Writing
- Tax Law
- Trial Advocacy
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List of Law Schools in South Carolina
Thinking of the law schools in South Carolina?
Here is a list of some of them
- 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
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What are the Best Law Schools in South Carolina
Irrespective of the many Universities that offer law or law related programs in South Carolina, there are law schools in South Carolina that are considered the best law schools you can study for law degrees in the state. They are:
1. The University of South Carolina Law School
Because of its tremendous academic excellence and beautiful campus, the University of South Carolina is often regarded as one of the best colleges in the state.
The “Horseshoe,” as students and faculty affectionately refer to it, is the college’s heart and boasts a lovely garden area. Not only does the school have excellent academics, but it also has some fantastic extracurricular activities.
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team is one of the best in the country. Law students appreciate catching a game to take a break from their studies. The city also has a large number of restaurants and attractions to offer.
U.S. News and World Report rank the law school as the “92nd Best Law School.” While studying at the University of South Carolina Law School, there are many outside chances to expand your portfolio.
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2. Charleston School of Law
The University of Charleston is a private university located in the state’s largest city (by population). Students can earn their legal degrees while studying for the bar examination.
Charleston Law School is an excellent place to begin your legal career. The faculty is well-known, and there are numerous mentorship opportunities. Internships are also available at a variety of law firms in Charleston.
The campus is lovely, and the student body is smaller than South Carolina University’s. The law school’s objective is to educate students about everything they need to know to have a successful legal career.
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3. Claflin University
Claflin University, located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, is a private, historically black university.
It provides bachelor’s and master’s degrees in various disciplines, including law-related programs such as Criminal Justice.
Law enforcement, corrections, judicial procedures, criminal investigation, administration and management, and criminal justice research are among the six major topics of criminal justice that students can study in the Criminal Justice degree.
Through teaching theories of crime and criminal conduct, concerns linked to crime prevention and offender rehabilitation, and topics such as evidence preservation and analysis, their curriculum fosters an understanding of the history of the criminal justice system.
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4. Coker University
A private, non-profit, four-year institution that offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in various disciplines, including law-related programs such as Pre-Law programs.
An internship with an attorney will be required of each student. The goal of this internship will be to expose the student to legal practice on a day-to-day basis.
Students in the Pre-Law Specialization will be connected with a practicing attorney who will mentor them whenever possible.
This experience will complement the more formal learning that occurs in classes and internships, and will introduce the student to the formal but crucial, parts of the legal practice culture.
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5. Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University is a private Southern Baptist university in North Charleston, South Carolina.
It is a non-profit institution that offers degrees in various fields, including law-related programs.
The Bachelor of Arts in pre-law and legal studies is a pre-professional degree for students who want to go to law school and work as a lawyer.
This degree focuses on developing the skills and talents that pre-law students need to be competitive in the law school admissions process and to provide the groundwork for a successful legal education.
As a result, this degree focuses on courses that teach and promote critical thinking, effective communication, and a foundational understanding of the law and legal system.
The criminal justice program at Charleston Southern University is one of the tops in South Carolina. Students find the degree reasonable and flexible, as it may be completed entirely online or in a regular classroom setting.
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6. Newberry College
The Pre-Law Program at Newberry College is designed to prepare future lawyers for one of the most important and rewarding careers available.
A future law student can connect with other pre-law students, join a Mock Trial team, and obtain legal experience through internships and taking a Pre-Law curriculum.
Students leave the program with the following skills: 90% of students who finish the Pre-Law curriculum are accepted into law schools, and 100% have graduated from law school since 2003.
7. Greenville Technical College
Greenville Technical Institution is a South Carolina technical college that offers law-related courses.
The Criminal Justice Technology curriculum at Greenville Technical College is designed to prepare students for entry-level roles in various fields in the rapidly increasing criminal justice field. The curriculum teaches students about the criminal justice system and its interactions with society.
Many alumni go on to graduate school, law school, research, government service, or social services, such as law enforcement, prisons, probation/parole, juvenile justice, and victim services, using their associate degree as a springboard into a bachelor’s degree program.
8. Trident Technical College
The South Carolina Technical College System includes it. Approximately 12,000 students are enrolled each semester, studying toward college transfer associate degrees and technical associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. One course it provides is law.
Trident Technical College offers criminal justice, homeland security, cybersecurity, and paralegal studies programs to students interested in pursuing employment in these fields. The courses are delivered by experienced professionals and focus on the skills needed to meet the demand for competent individuals.
TTC is a good place to start if you want to transfer to a four-year college to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, paralegal studies, or pre-law.
9. Midlands Technical College
This is a college that offers degrees in a variety of fields, including law-related programs such as Paralegal studies.
The 61-credit-hour Paralegal Studies Associate Degree program educates students to assist lawyers in carrying out their professional responsibilities. The paralegal conducts research, prepares paperwork, and conducts client interviews under the direct supervision of an attorney.
This certificate program is open to students with a bachelor’s degree or higher who want to gain the skills needed to work as a paralegal.
10. Horry-Georgetown Technical College.
With over 65 degrees and certificate programs, including Law, HGTC is the state’s fourth-largest technical college.
HGTC offers bachelor degree law programs in Criminal Justice, Paralegal and Human Services.
The Criminal Justice program offers a comprehensive examination of the criminal justice system, focusing on legal concerns and fundamental concepts and principles related to law enforcement, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice.
The paralegal studies programs at HGTC prepare students to perform documentary and legal research, produce legal documents, offer procedural solutions, and implement thorough office processes for effectively handling specialized subjects of law under the direct supervision of an attorney.
11. Anderson University
Anderson University is a South Carolina-based private university. It provides bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in 78 fields, including law programs.
Anderson University’s Pre-Law program focuses on the Humanities and the Law. Those interested in law school can major in any subject. Still, Humanities and the Law is designed to provide students with experiences that will prepare them for a graduate degree in law. The purpose of the Humanities and the Law major’s purpose is to educate students in the humanities and legal studies to prepare them for law school or a vocation that requires an interdisciplinary, liberal arts education.
12. Bob Jones University
The institution comprises seven colleges and schools that provide more than 60 undergraduate degrees and fourteen associate degree programs, including law programs such as the Paralegal program.
You’ll start your paralegal degree by learning about the law, the court system, and legal language and procedures. You’ll learn how to prepare legal documents and papers and summarize them as if you were a practicing attorney. In addition, you’ll have a solid comprehension of legal research methodologies and proper citation.
Business, family, and property law courses will provide you with a well-rounded education in areas of law that affect individuals daily. You’ll also gain the skills to conduct interviews with clients and witnesses.
The curriculum finishes with an internship with a local attorney or law firm, a significant element of your education and experience.
13. York Technical College
York Technical College (York Tech) is a Rock Hill, South Carolina-based public community college. It is one of three institutions in Rock Hill and is part of the South Carolina Technical College System.
It offers a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Technology. The Criminal Justice Technology program offers a curriculum that teaches students about the criminal justice system and how it works.
Students are taught by a varied group of current and retired law enforcement officers who act as mentors, preparing them for successful careers in public service and security. York Technical College provides a two-year degree program and a one-year certificate program in criminal justice.
14. Limestone University
Previously Limestone College was a Gaffney, South Carolina-based private Christian university. Limestone University offers 57 majors in four academic divisions: Arts and Letters; Natural Sciences; Social and Behavioral Sciences; and Professional Studies, such as Law.
This school offers a bachelor’s degree program in Criminal Justice-Law. This program is for Criminal Justice students who want to go to law school or work in the legal field. Students will be introduced to several practice areas while polishing the same skills and knowledge as those who have completed a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, but with a focus on the discipline and practice of formulating and adjudicating law.
15. Florence-Darlington Technical College
Florence–Darlington Technical College, located in Florence, South Carolina, is a two-year community college.
It offers various law degree programs, such as a bachelor’s degree program in Law and Jurisprudence for a study period of three years, irrespective of it being a two-year community college.
 Visit school.
Top Law Schools in South Carolina
With many Universities offering law and law-related programs in South Carolina, some law schools are considered the top law schools based on their performance and ranking. They include:
- The University of South Carolina Law School
- The Charleston School of Law
What are the Pre-Law Schools in South Carolina?
Pre-law is a term used in the United States to describe any course of study ‌by an undergraduate to prepare for law school.Â
According to the American Bar Association, law schools must admit only students who have earned an approved bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in their home country.
The pre-law schools in South Carolina include:
- Limestone University
- Bob Jones University.
- Newberry College
South Carolina Law School Ranking
Law schools in South Carolina are ranked based on their educational performance and excellence, and facilities.
Here are the law schools in South Carolina based on their ranking:
The University of South Carolina School of Law
The University of South Carolina is ranked 84th (tied) among the best law schools in the country. They rank schools based on performance based on widely regarded excellence factors.
This law school has an LSAT score of 155 and a GPA of 3.41.
The Charleston School of Law (CSOL)
They rank Charleston School of Law 147-192 in Best Law Schools. They rank schools based on performance based on widely regarded excellence factors. This law school has an LSAT score of 145 with a GPA of 3.15
Accredited Law Schools in South Carolina
Law schools must be accredited or approved before they can be certified as good law schools to study law. Accredited law schools in South Carolina are:
The Charleston School of Law (CSOL)
A law school that provides students with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to study law. The law school first opened its doors in 2003. It is a stand-alone institution.
In December 2006, the ABA granted provisional permission to the school. Graduates can apply for bar admission in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The University of South Carolina School of Law
The state capitol building is two blocks away from the law school.
The law school provides unrivaled leadership preparation by graduating numerous future members of the state’s court, legislature, and executive agencies.Â
The American Bar Association has accredited the law school. Since 1924, it has been a member of the AALS.
Conclusion
The law schools of the University of South Carolina and the University of Charleston are both excellent. The surrounding circumstances determine the difference.
The Charleston Law School is located on a smaller, more tranquil campus. Meanwhile, the University of South Carolina Law School has a larger student body and more extracurricular activities. Regardless, both universities have beautiful campuses and prestigious law schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to go to law school in SC?
The application fee for part-time programs at the University of South Carolina School of Law is $0. Full-time tuition is $23,722 (in-state) and full-time tuition is $55,480 (out-of-state). The application fee for the full-time program at Charleston School of Law is $0. Its full-time tuition is $43,374.
How do you get into Charleston Law School?Â
All applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an authorized institution before enrolling in the Charleston School of Law. Each degree-granting school should send LSAC a final transcript indicating the degree was awarded.
What LSAT score do I need for law school?
For example, to get into a top-ranked law school, you’ll almost certainly need an LSAT score of at least 160, while many good law schools will take a score in the mid-150s. A 170 or more is usually required for a top 10 law school.
What colleges are in Florence SC?
Florence-Darlington Technical College
Francis Marion University
McLeod Regional Medical Center School of Medical Technology
Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology
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