
Joseph F. Rice School of LawAt a Glance
The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law prepares lawyer-leaders who serve the public with knowledge, professionalism and civility.
The Joseph F. Rice School of Law is one of the nation’s oldest and the state’s only nonprofit law school. Centrally located in the capital city, student learning opportunities abound at the State House, and South Carolina Supreme Court in addition to a wide variety of courts, from state to federal, criminal and civil, and even courts of special jurisdiction. Plus, students have access to the nation’s leading legal minds from the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center training facility, just steps away on the USC campus.
-
Law school's first full-time African American professor cements his legacy
James E. Bowers was an undergraduate student at USC in the early days of desegregation and the first full-time African American law school professor. He will cement his legacy with an endowed professorship in his name at the Joseph F. Rice School of Law, the first named for a Black law school professor, and an endowed lectureship series that will share knowledge about democracy and the rule of law.
-
2025 artificial intelligence faculty experts list
University of South Carolina researchers explore how artificial intelligence can be used for advancements in health care, education, manufacturing, energy, disaster management and transportation. They are also helping shape and inform the ethics and policies surrounding these emergent solutions.
-
Law professor Marcia Zug looks at the history of marrying for reasons other than love
Law professor Marcia Zug explores the history of marriage as a legal institution in her book "You’ll Do: A History of Marrying for Reasons Other than Love."
-
How Internet of Things devices affect your privacy
The Internet of Things includes any device that automatically sends and receives data via the internet. But the data from these devices can reveal a lot about the people who interact with them — and about other people near the devices, writes law professor David Sella-Villa for The Conversation.

Life-Changing Work
The school’s all-volunteer Pro Bono Program is the nation's first and oldest. Through a number of law-related opportunities, students can apply their education and skills, further explore their career path and deepen their commitment to serving the public. Among our partner organizations are the S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center, Lexington County Juvenile Arbitration Program, Lawyers4Vets Legal Clinic, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, the Richland County Bar Association’s HELP Homeless Clinic and more. And with the new Palmetto Leader mobile clinic, students and faculty travel the state to provide legal services to underserved communities.
PRO BONO PROGRAM