SC Bar President inspires incoming class at Convocation

Charleston School of Law hosted its annual Convocation on Wednesday at the Charleston Music Hall. The event featured messages from Dean Jon Marcantel; Professor of Law Allyson Haynes Stuart; Legal Writing Professor and Center for Trial Advocacy faculty advisor Suzanne Chapman; keynote speaker Case Kenny, an author and influencer; and South Carolina Bar President Nikki Shutt.

“You are going to make some lifelong friends during law school,” said President Shutt, who is the 10th female president at SC Bar. “The ties that bind you will continue throughout your life. The people that you’re sitting next to might be going to your wedding; might be the godparents to your kids; there through harsh times; and going to be your referral sources.”

Shutt encouraged the incoming 1L Charleston Law students to embrace the opportunities before them, saying, “You’re in exactly the right place if you want to practice law in South Carolina. When you finish law school, you’ll take the bar and become a member. The first thing you’ll plug into is the Young Lawyers Division. Whatever your interest is, a substantive area of practice or otherwise, there is a place for you in the South Carolina Bar, and it’s a place where you will get to know other people who practice law like you.”

The South Carolina Bar serves 19,000 members “through collaboration, the sharing of information, and by providing quality education to improve South Carolina’s legal profession and the administration of justice.”

Following Convocation, Charleston Law also hosted the Student Organization Fair featuring more than 40 student organizations. Students often refer to campus organizations as the “heartbeat” of the student experience because they offer opportunities to turn ideas into action, network, and build relationships. Beyond the classroom, these organizations allow students to explore their passions, develop leadership skills, and engage with the legal and local communities in meaningful ways.