As Terrence Singleton settles into his final year at Charleston School of Law, he is experiencing a sense of excitement for what lies right in front of him.
An Aiken, South Carolina, native, Singleton is serving as an extern at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina.
“Bankruptcy law is interesting,” he said. “I’m starting to see how it reshapes people’s lives. Seeing that firsthand has been an amazing experience.”
“One of the skills that I’ve learned is to think more like a judge and see the thought process behind Court opinions,” Singleton continued. “Being part of the thought process behind these opinions and orders is very rewarding. It has challenged me to rethink how I approach issues. I must consider the person who’s in front of me and understand what the law says.”
Singleton paused, then asked if he could share a personal story about the impact Career Services has had on his education.
“During my 1L year, I didn’t go to Career Services at all,” he said. “I just wasn’t sure whether I needed it until my judicial clerkship class. When I initially walked in, I realized how welcoming it was, and that’s what I think more students need to realize: Don’t be afraid to just walk in and introduce yourself. There will be someone willing to help you. The door is open. That’s one of the wonderful things I’ve experienced; I wish I had taken advantage of it during my 1L year.”
Charleston Law Career Services helps students plan and prepare for careers and works closely with prospective employers to maximize employment opportunities. Law students can benefit from support including resume writing, job searching, mock interviewing with employers, the judicial clerkship process, the Law Links Mentorship Program, and Pro Bono opportunities that prepare students for careers in all areas of legal practice.
“Dean [Megan] White (Assistant Dean of Career Services & Director of Judicial Clerkships) has been very helpful in getting me to that goal,” said Singleton. “She introduced me to Justice James of the Supreme Court over the summer.”
The introduction opened the door for Singleton to participate in the Judicial Observation and Experience (JOE) Program. “Now I work with a federal district judge in bankruptcy court. I am getting a lot of experience.”
Singleton’s typical workday includes case research, supporting law clerks, and preparing orders for court.
“Now, on Wednesdays, it’s more exciting because we have hearings in the mornings: confirmation hearings and motion hearings,” he said. “Right now, I’m working on the facts section of an order. I’m going through the record, the exhibits admitted into evidence, and I get to pick and choose what I think is relevant. It’s very rewarding, very interesting. I can’t wait to see what I write be published online as part of an opinion.”
I ask myself, ‘How can I bring these two closer together?’ A lot of times, someone is going to leave unhappy, and that’s something you are going to have to accept. You must follow the law, and you want people to walk away happy, but it’s not always that cut-and-dry.”
Next month, Singleton will stretch his legal experience beyond the classroom and externships. Last week, he learned he received a student grant to attend the ClioCON Conference (October 26-27), a tech conference in Boston.
Singleton said the opportunity was born when he took Legal Technology in Practice over the summer with Katie Brown, Associate Dean for Information Resources at Charleston Law.
“I’m not very familiar with technology, and I see this as an opportunity to learn,” said Singleton. “I’m very grateful for the grant, which will let me learn more about legal technology and meet people who work in the field.”
Singleton graduated from Clemson University with a degree in political science and a minor in legal studies.
“I am really enjoying my time at Charleston Law,” he said. “It’s a vibrant legal community, and the lifestyle is amazing.”
Charleston has been named the “Best Small City in the U.S.” for the 15th time in the past 16 years, according to Condé Nast Traveler. The publication announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards, with several South Carolina spots earning top honors across multiple categories.
Charleston attorney John Henderson (’10) dropped by the Charleston School of Law Podcast studio this week. We sat down to talk about how his firm—Henderson & Henderson, LLC—uses AI in practice and how this emerging tool is reshaping the legal field, from staffing to research. Listen at charlestonlaw.edu. #LawSchool #AI #CharlestonLaw #SCLaw
