Why University of South Carolina?
The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law offers a practical, client-centered legal education in the heart of the state capital, emphasizing experiential learning and public service.
University of South Carolina is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 37.6%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.67 GPA and 159 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.43–3.86 GPA and 156–161 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 206 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of South Carolina admitted 3 transfer students into the 2L class. 4 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #62
- Median GPA
- 3.67
- 25th–75th: 3.43–3.86
- Median LSAT
- 159
- 25th–75th: 156–161
- Acceptance rate
- 37.6%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 206
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 3
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of South Carolina admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
4 1Ls transferred out of University of South Carolina in the same cycle — context for how portable University of South Carolina's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1South Carolina
- 2North Carolina
- 3Georgia
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define University of South Carolina's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of South Carolina" essay where they align with your interests.
- Carolina Health Advocacy Medicolegal Partnership (CHAMPS) ClinicStudents work on legal cases impacting children's health, collaborating with medical professionals on issues like SSI, Medicaid, and SNAP appeals.
- Criminal Practice ClinicStudents represent defendants in misdemeanor cases, parole hearings, and probation revocations, gaining hands-on experience in the criminal legal system.
- Domestic Violence ClinicThird-year law students represent individuals seeking protection from domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking through emergency civil litigation.
- Education Rights ClinicStudents advocate for children and families in educational law contexts.
- Federal Litigation ClinicStudents represent clients with civil rights claims in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.
- Veterans Legal ClinicProvides legal assistance to veterans.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- South Carolina Law Review— The principal and oldest legal publication in South Carolina, frequently cited by courts, practitioners, and scholars.
- Journal of Law & Education— Features articles on constitutional and civil law related to American education.
- South Carolina Journal of International Law & Business— Focuses on public and private international law, analyzing global economic and social flows.
- Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Journal— A peer-reviewed journal published in partnership with the American Bar Association's Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Marie C. BoydAdministrative Law
- Joseph A. SeinerAlternative Dispute Resolution
- Lisa EichhornAppellate Practice, Civil Procedure
- Scott BauriesEducation Law, Civil Procedure
- Derek BlackEducation Law, Constitutional Law
- Susan S. KuoCriminal Law, Academic Affairs
- Colin MillerCriminal Law
- Claire S. RajEducation Law, Clinics and Externships
- Emily SuskiChildren's Law, CHAMPS Clinic
- Clint WallaceTax Law (Low Income Tax Clinic)
- Madalyn WasilczukCriminal Law (Youth Defender Clinic)
- William C. HubbardDean, Educational Foundation Distinguished Professor, International Law (World Justice Project)
What makes University of South Carolina distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Located in the state capital, offering proximity to the State House, South Carolina Supreme Court, and various courts for unique learning and career opportunities.
- ·Houses the Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough Center on Professionalism, dedicated to enriching teaching and research on the legal profession and promoting public service.
- ·Features a state-of-the-art building, completed in 2017, including the Karen J. Williams Courtroom, which occasionally hosts U.S. Court of Appeals sessions.
- ·Offers numerous combination degree programs, allowing students to earn a J.D. concurrently with master's degrees in fields like Business Administration, Public Administration, Social Work, and Environmental Resources Management.
- ·Benefits from the presence of the U.S. Department of Justice's National Advocacy Center on campus, providing students with expanded internship opportunities and course offerings.
Using this for your "Why University of South Carolina" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about University of South Carolina
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of South Carolina?▾
University of South Carolina's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.67 and a median LSAT of 159. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.43–3.86 GPA and 156–161 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of South Carolina's acceptance rate?▾
University of South Carolina's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 37.6%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of South Carolina offer?▾
University of South Carolina's notable clinical programs include: Carolina Health Advocacy Medicolegal Partnership (CHAMPS) Clinic, Criminal Practice Clinic, Domestic Violence Clinic, Education Rights Clinic, Federal Litigation Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of South Carolina publish?▾
University of South Carolina's notable student-edited journals include: South Carolina Law Review, Journal of Law & Education, South Carolina Journal of International Law & Business, Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Journal.
Where do University of South Carolina graduates work?▾
University of South Carolina graduates concentrate employment in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of South Carolina admit?▾
University of South Carolina admitted 3 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of South Carolina
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (6) — verify any fact above
- https://law.sc.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics/
- https://law.sc.edu/student-life/journals/
- https://law.sc.edu/faculty-staff/faculty-expertise/
- https://law.sc.edu/centers-programs/
- https://law.sc.edu/academics/degrees/
- https://www.lsac.org/choosing-law-school/find-law-school/search-law-schools-lsac-official-guide/university-south-carolina-joseph-f-rice-school-law
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.