During the next several months, the University of South Carolina School of Law will celebrate its 150th anniversary. To honor the occasion, faculty and students are participating in a series of thought-provoking programs. Many of the events will be held at the new home of the School of Law. This facility will feature brand-new classrooms, state-of-the-art technology, and grand architecture.
The opening of the new home marks a milestone for the School of Law. The event will include a dedication ceremony featuring U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito and other legal and political leaders. In addition to celebrating the opening of the new building, the event will also recognize some outstanding achievements in the 2020-2021 academic year.
The inaugural Cybersecurity Legal Institute at the School of Law will be held in April. Karen Painter Randall, a 1984 alumna and nationally recognized expert in cybersecurity, will head the newly formed Cybersecurity Legal Task Force at the School of Law. Other speakers will include Judge Shedd, who teaches Fourth Circuit Practice, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
During the fall competition season, the Mock Trial and Moot Court teams broke school records. The class of 2021 is one of the most academically talented classes in the history of the school. This group of incoming students, along with faculty and peer mentors, are working together to create a better future for South Carolina.
A group of law professors at the School of Law are working to create better outcomes for juveniles who are facing potential incarceration. Additionally, a faculty group is working to make sure women and gender non-conforming individuals are protected from domestic violence. In recognition of the importance of the Rule of Law in the United States, the School of Law has formed the Rule of Law Collaborative. This organization will work with fragile and post-conflict countries to provide legal support. The Collaborative will also support research on sheriffs in the U.S.
The School of Law is inviting alumni who are currently practicing in the public sector to apply for public interest loan forgiveness funds. Incoming law students will be paired with attorneys in South Carolina who are seeking pro bono legal services.
The School of Law has a number of student organizations that are active in the community. The Women in Law (WIL) organization has a food drive every fall and a 5K run in September. In addition, the Pro Bono Board wrapped up its annual Harvest Hope-owen food drive. In addition to these, the School of Law has a number of programs that provide support to the local community.
The School of Law is working to improve the lives of South Carolina children. The Children’s Law Center will have a first-class training space and will enhance efforts to protect children in the state. The center will also soon have a mobile law office, Palmetto LEADER, which will crisscross the state to help those in need.