Charleston School of Law

Introduction

The Charleston School of Law (CSOL) offers students the unique opportunity to study the time-honored practice of law amid the beauty and grace of one of the South's oldest and most prestigious cities, Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 2003, CSOL is a freestanding school. The School of Law received full accreditation from the ABA on August 4, 2011.

Located in beautiful downtown Charleston, South Carolina, the school is conveniently situated near the historic "four corners of the law" as well as a thriving legal community and the federal and county courthouses. The open intellectual environment at CSOL complements the progressive nature of the city of Charleston. With its diverse economy, rich cultural heritage, thriving tourist industry, and natural amenities, the city—home to one of the nation's busiest ports—is a hub of activity. Charleston is attractive, fun, and consistently named one of the best places in the country to live, work, and learn. The city is home to other institutions of higher education, including the Medical University of South Carolina, the Citadel, and the College of Charleston. The 580,000-person metropolitan area is served by a strong program of cultural activities. Spoleto Festival USA, an internationally renowned arts festival of opera, dance, music, and theater, draws more than 85,000 people to the city each summer. Visitors and residents delight in Charleston's nationally recognized restaurants, vibrant nightlife, walks along the historic Battery, tours of historic homes, boating, sailing, golf, and beachcombing on nearby Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, or Kiawah Island.

Library

The Sol Blatt Jr. Law Library, located in a historic 1857 railroad building, offers the feel of Charleston while housing a wireless network that provides access to an ever-growing digital collection. In just seven years, the library has built a digital and print collection that includes over 600,000 titles.

Students have access to the full text of primary and secondary sources of American law 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in the world via the Internet. In addition to the traditional legal databases of Westlaw and LexisNexis, students also have electronic access to the full text of materials from Eighteenth Century Collections Online, BNA, CCH, CIAO, Environmental Law Reporter, HeinOnline, LLMC, LexisNexis Congressional, LexisNexis State Capital, The Making of Modern Law, Primary Sources on the Web, Treatises & Trials, the Making of the Modern World, Matthew Bender, Pro Quest Legislative Insight, RIA Checkpoint, and US Supreme Court Records and Briefs, Tax Analysts, Inc., and vLex. For cost-effective training to become twenty-first century lawyers, students learn to integrate print and electronic research in a study space that manages to combine the historical charm of Charleston with the functionality of twenty-first century access to digital information.

Expenses and Financial Aid

Tuition for the 2011–2012 academic year was as follows: full time—$36,674; part time—$29,466; estimated living expenses—$18,000. The school offers both need-based and academic merit-based scholarships. Applicants that want to be considered for merit scholarships must have a completed file on or before February 1. Merit-based scholarship decisions are made in early March. Need-based scholarship applications must be received no later than May 15. Applicants should be eligible for federal student loans and are encouraged to complete the FAFSA no later than April 15. For the 2012–2013 academic year, CSOL plans to participate in the Post-9/11 GI Bill: Yellow Ribbon Program.

Admission

CSOL requires applicants to have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution prior to enrolling in the school. CSOL offers both a full- and part-time program of study leading to the Juris Doctor degree. Beginning students are accepted for the fall semester only. All applicants are required to take the LSAT and register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. Applicants should submit a completed application, a personal statement, a résumé, two letters of recommendation, and a $50 application fee. Applicants who are accepted will be required to submit a dean's certification form from all colleges or universities attended for 12 or more credit hours. Applications for the full-time program must be submitted on or before March 1; the deadline for those applying to the part-time program is April 1.

Many factors are considered; however, the two most important factors in reviewing an application are the cumulative undergraduate GPA and the LSAT. If an applicant has multiple LSAT scores, the highest score will be considered. A score is valid for three years. Other factors taken into consideration are graduate work, military or significant work experience, letters of recommendation, the personal statement, and community service.

Curriculum

Students at CSOL study law in a collegial learning environment. The low student-to-faculty ratio, 17:1, is a testament to the student-centered focus. The goals of CSOL include teaching the practice of law as a profession serving the public and instituting and coordinating legal outreach programs for the South Carolina and American Bars; local, state, and federal governments; and the general population.

Courses in torts, property, contracts, civil procedure, and legal research, analysis, and writing comprise the first-year curriculum. Required upper-level courses include business associations, commercial law, constitutional law, criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence, trusts and estates, and professional responsibility, as well as an advanced writing requirement and a skills course.

All students are required to perform a minimum of 30 hours of public service prior to graduation and to participate in the professionalism program during each year of law school.

Special Programs

The school offers a dynamic externship program that provides students the opportunity to gain practical work experience in legal business environments while earning course credit. Students have the opportunity to work under the direct supervision of members of the judiciary and attorneys in private practice, as well as in the public sector or in public interest jobs. In 2011, more than 110 organizations, including county public defenders' offices, state agencies, state and federal courts, and nonprofit agencies in South Carolina and beyond, offered more than 122 externship opportunities to students.

Housing

The school does not offer on-campus housing. Charleston offers many options for off-campus living. Whether students opt to live in the downtown historic district, at one of the nearby beaches, or in one of the many convenient neighborhoods and communities, they will find that carriage houses, apartments, or rental houses are available. The office of admission works with incoming and continuing students to find housing in the Charleston area.

Student Activities

Students have the opportunity to work on the publication of two law reviews. A student board publishes the Charleston Law Review on a quarterly basis. Students may also work with federal magistrate judges to publish the printed edition of the Federal Courts Law Review. There are other writing opportunities with MALABU, the Maritime Law Bulletin, and Resolved, Journal of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Students participate in various Advocacy Programs ... Moot Court, Mock Trial, Alternative Dispute Resolution, as well as many others. CSOL students have won or placed in several competitions.

The school has more than 30 student organizations, including, but not limited to, the Student Bar Association, Black Law Students Association, International Law Society, Environmental Law Society, Criminal Law Society, Children's Advocacy and Family Law Society, and Women in Law.

CSOL students also have the opportunity to become members of the Charleston County Bar Association.

Career Services

The Career Services Department provides a wide range of career development services for CSOL students and creates opportunities to connect students with employers in an efficient and supportive manner. The department serves as a liaison between students and legal employers. The staff provides individual career counseling and assistance with job application materials as well as programming on career-related issues. They also coordinate the on-campus interview program, forward job application materials to employers, post positions, and participate in national and regional career fairs.

The department is available to assist students in finding part-time employment while enrolled in law school, as well as summer employment and full-time permanent employment upon graduation. The Charleston area provides myriad opportunities for part-time employment while students are enrolled in their second and third years of law school.

CSOL prepares students for careers in all areas of legal practice. Regardless of a student's path after graduation, CSOL strives to instill in students the value of public service. All students must complete 30 hours of pro bono legal service under the supervision of a licensed attorney before they graduate. The Director of Public Service and Pro Bono within the Career Services Department develops and supports pro bono opportunities and provides guidance to students in their selection of pro bono work.

Applicant Profile

LSAT Score	3.75+	3.50–3.74	3.25–3.49	3.00–3.24	2.75–2.99	2.50–2.74	2.25–2.49	2.00–2.24	Below 2.00
	GPA
LSAT score 175–180	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Possible	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 170–174	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Possible	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 165–169	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Possible	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 160–164	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Possible	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 155–159	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Possible	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 150–154	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 145–149	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 140–144	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 135–139	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 130–134	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 125–129	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 120–124	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely

Good = Good Possibility

Possible = Possible

Unlikely = Unlikely