The application process

How can I apply to the Charleston School of Law?

The Charleston School of Law is accepting for the 2008-2009 academic year. For more information, click here.

What is the application deadline?

Applications for Fall 2009 admission are available online. Applications are accepted for free until Dec. 31, 2008. After that, you must include a $50 application fee. The final application deadline for full-time applicants is March 1, 2009, and for part-time applicants is April 1, 2009.

Admissions procedures and requirements

What are the requirements for admission into the Charleston School of Law?

Can I send information through the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)?

Yes. LSAT scores, recommendation letters, and transcripts can be sent through the LSDAS service. For your reference, the Charleston School of Law's LSDAS code is 5821.

How will applications be evaluated?

The Charleston School of Law admits students selectively after a thorough evaluation of all personal and academic criteria. Many factors are considered in the decision to accept an applicant. LSAT performance and undergraduate GPA are statistically proven indicators of law school success. Other factors such as postgraduate work, employment, community service, extracurricular activities and leadership experience will also be weighed in the decision-making process.

Is the LSAT required? How long are my LSAT scores valid? Will multiple scores be averaged?

Completion of the LSAT is required for admission into the Charleston School of Law. LSAT scores will be accepted up to five years from the original date of the test. The LSAT registration packet can be obtained from the Law School Admissions Council, Box 2000, Newtown, PA, 18940, by calling (215) 968-1001, or by registering online at www.lsac.org. The Charleston School of Law will use the high score when multiple LSAT scores are presented.

Are there any specific undergraduate degree requirements?

Prior to enrolling in the School of Law, all applicants must have received a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. No particular pre-law curriculum is required.

Does the Charleston School of Law conduct personal interviews?

Formal interviews are not part of the normal application process. Students may contact the Admissions Office at 1-843-377-2143 with any questions or concerns. If the Admissions Office decides to conduct interviews as supplements to the application process, students will be notified.

Tuition, financial aid and scholarship information

What is the tuition for the Charleston School of Law?

For the 2008-2009 school year, per semester tuition is $16,010 for full-time students and $12,759 for students in the part-time program. Fees are $475 per semester. Incoming students pay a one-time matriculation fee of $160. The late registration fee is $50.

Will scholarships be available?

The Charleston School of Law offers both merit and need-based scholarships. A student's application to the School of Law serves as the application for merit scholarships. To be considered for merit scholarships, files must be complete by February 1, 2009.

Need-based scholarship applications are available in early January; the deadline for applying is May 15. You may download the application for the need-based scholarships on our website. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid with any questions about scholarships and loans.

Will financial aid be available?

To learn more about the financial aid process, visit our Financial Aid page.

All students are advised to complete the FASFA which serves at the application for the Federal Stafford loans and the Federal Grad PLUS loans.

If you have questions or need additional student loan information, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 843-377-4901.

Program information

Do you offer both a full-time and a part-time course of study?

The Charleston School of Law offers both full-time and part-time courses of study leading to a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. The standard course load is 15 credit hours per semester for full-time students and 9 credit hours per semester for part-time students. After the first year, part-time students will take 12 credit hours per semester. It is expected that students enrolling in the full-time division will graduate in three years and those in the part-time division in four years.

When will part-time classes be held?

Classes for the part-time program will be taught by the same professors as the full-time program. Classes for the part-time program will be held in the evening from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. to accommodate student work schedules.

What courses are required?

The following courses are required: Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Commercial Law, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Domestic Relations, Equity, Evidence, Insurance, and Wills, Trusts and Estates. Students also have to take Legal Research and Writing, and Professionalism. Third year students must enroll in an Interning, Clinics or Lawyering course. A student must also meet the Advanced Writing Requirement.

Can students enroll in elective courses?

First year courses are predetermined. However, in the second and third years of law school students are free to choose from a wide variety of elective courses ranging from Historic Preservation Law, Admiralty, and Sports Law to Accounting for Lawyers and Poverty Law. Ample opportunities for outside study are also available to second and third year students including various internships and clinics. For more information on course selections, please request a catalog from the Office of Admissions.

Will the classes be scheduled at convenient times for working students?

The school offers early classes and twilight classes, as well as regular day classes, to accommodate both full and part-time students.

General questions about faculty and facilities

Who is the dean of the Charleston School of Law?

Professor Andy Abrams serves as the school's dean. His academic interests are education law and sports law. Learn more.

Prior to joining the Charleston School of Law in August 2005, Abrams served in key leadership roles at the College of Charleston including provost, senior vice president for strategic planning and administration, and general counsel. He also was a tenured professor of legal studies.

Abrams teaches education law and sports law at the Charleston School of Law. On Jan. 1, 2008, he took on the additional responsibility of serving as the law school's interim dean. Prior to joining academia, he was a trial lawyer in Greenville.

Who are the other faculty and administrators?

John S. Benfield is the school's Associate Dean for Admissions, Administration and Alumni. He was educated at The University of South Carolina (M.A. 1982) and Wofford College (B.A. 1978). He has experience as Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid, University of South Carolina, 1993-2003; Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, University of South Carolina, 1990-1993; Project Director, South Carolina State Reorganization Commission, 1987-1990; Political Science Instructor, Spartanburg Methodist College, 1982-1987.

Where is the Charleston School of Law located?

The Charleston School of Law now occupies the historic 81 Mary Street building. The building, more than 170 years old, is the previous railroad depot for the Best Friend of Charleston and was most recently the offices for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. The downtown location is convenient to parking, housing, restaurants and shops. The school also has offices and classrooms at the adjacent AT&T building on Meeting Street, as well as space at 394 Meeting Street and 414 King Street.

Do you offer housing?

The Charleston School of Law does not provide student housing. However, Charleston and the surrounding areas offer many housing options, and the school will assist students in locating suitable housing. Students may also meet future roommates at the reception planned for matriculating students this summer. In addition, the Office of Admissions has a guide to area housing and keeps a roommate list to assist students in finding roommates for the school year.

Accreditation and licensing questions

When will the Charleston School of Law become ABA accredited?

The law school received provisional accreditation in December 2006. Learn more.

Is the Charleston School of Law licensed?

The Charleston School of Law is licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.