20th Anniversary: ABA Accreditation

This Fall marks the 20^th anniversary of the first class at Charleston School of Law. Throughout the academic year, we will celebrate the alumni, faculty, programs, and key events that shaped Charleston Law into the successful law school it is today.

Dateline: August 4, 2011

Charleston School of Law was granted full accreditation from the American Bar Association (ABA).

“In 2003, we began with a dream to create a second law school in South Carolina, a student-centered law school that focused on services to the state and region,” said Dean Andy Abrams. “Now, this is no longer a dream, but a reality.”

The vote was held in Toronto at the ABA Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar.

“It has been a truly remarkable seven-year journey, made possible by the incredible efforts of the founders, faculty, students, staff, alumni, and Charleston community and the lawyers and judges throughout this city, state, and region,” added Abrams. “Charleston School of Law is an institution with a brief but remarkable past, a compelling present, and now, with this grant of full accreditation, a promising future.”

Rooted in tradition, we continue to celebrate our rich history and mission to serve the greater good through the practice of law.

20TH ANNIVERSARY RESOURCES

Charleston School of Law is sometimes referred to as the oldest and newest law school in South Carolina.

In November 1825, a group of Charleston attorneys petitioned the South Carolina Legislature for a charter of incorporation for the “creation of a regular Law Institute in the City of Charleston.”

Three months later, in February 1826, the Charleston Forensic Club began offering lectures, essentially establishing the South’s first law school.

In the spring of 2003, a group of judges and attorneys began discussing the potential of creating a new law school in Charleston, South Carolina.

It was determined that the law school would serve as a community-centered institution offering a traditional and experiential educational program of the highest caliber, stating:

“We will teach law students of high moral character and unquestioned personal integrity that the practice of law is a public service profession.”

The group proceeded by submitting a letter of intent to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (SCCHE), and by the end of summer, a conditional license was granted to begin recruiting and accepting students for the Fall 2004.

Nearly two centuries after the Forensic Club was formed, on Monday, August 23, 2004, the legacy was renewed when Charleston School of Law officially welcomed its first class of students.

The school opened its doors with 133 full-time students and 64 part-time students.

By 2006, Charleston Law’s enrollment reached 600 students.

20th Anniversary ABA Andy Abrams Charleston School of Law