Law School mourns the loss of founding Dean

The Charleston School of Law mourns the loss of Dean Richard Gershon, who passed away on Monday. He was 67.

Gershon was the founding dean of the Charleston School of Law. During his tenure Gershon led Charleston Law to provisional accreditation by the American Bar Association (ABA) in 2006.

“Richard Gershon was an important part of Charleston School of Law history,” said President Emeritus & Chairman of the Board of Trustees, J. Edward Bell III. “His leadership and guidance helped steer the Law School in its early stages. He will be sorely missed.”

“The Charleston School of Law lost a true giant,” said former Dean Andy Abrams. “While our law school may have had five founders, there was only one founding dean, and only one Richard Gershon. The Charleston School of Law is where it is and what it is because of the unshakeable foundation he laid through his efforts, his expertise, and his love.

“His selfless leadership, his unwavering integrity, and his courageous spirit were hallmarks of Richard Gershon, the dean, and even more importantly, Richard Gershon, the man. He has left an indelible imprint on our community, our school, and our hearts.”

Charleston School of Law founder Robert Carr told the Post and Courier:

“If we had drawn him up, he couldn’t have been more perfect. I’ve said that with his personal relationship to the University of South Carolina, with his personal connections to Charleston, with his professional experience, if we were too stupid to hire him, we shouldn’t be undertaking this enterprise.”

Alex Sanders, former state Court of Appeals judge and former President of the College of Charleston added:

“He was just a person I instinctively liked. He’s far exceeded our expectations. He’s been the best thing that has happened to us, and I think the community has taken to him just like I did.”

Gershon resigned from Charleston Law in 2008 to return to teaching at the University of Mississippi School of Law where he taught tax courses, as well as wills, trusts, and estates, and legal profession. He later served as dean of the law school from 2010-2015. Gershon also served as dean of Texas Wesleyan University School of Law and on the faculty and as the academic associate dean at Stetson University School of Law.

Gershon attended the University of Georgia receiving his degree in political science (1979). He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1982 from the University of Tennessee College of Law and a LL.M. degree in 1983 from the University of Florida.

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WHO WE ARE

The Charleston School of Law is an ABA-accredited law school nationally recognized for its student-centric culture. Our faculty and staff are committed to preparing students for success both in the classroom and in the legal profession. Charleston Law is one of only two law schools in South Carolina.

MISSION

• To teach students through a rigorous, skills-based study program;
• To teach the practice of law as a profession, having as its chief aim providing public service;
• To institute and coordinate legal outreach programs to the South Carolina and American Bars, local, state, and federal governments, as well as to the general population; and
• To provide an inclusive, diverse environment in which to encourage and foster collegial, collaborative, and professional relationships among students, faculty, staff, and the community.