Academic Affairs
The Charleston School of Law is dedicated to preparing students to provide public service while pursuing productive and responsible careers in the legal profession. The school offers full- and part-time courses of study leading to the Juris Doctor degree to college graduates of high moral character and demonstrated academic ability.
To be eligible for a Juris Doctor degree, a student must have received course credit for 88 credit hours, satisfactorily completed all required courses and 30 hours of pro bono work under the Pro Bono Program, attained a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00, satisfied the upper-level writing requirement, fulfilled the ABA residency requirement, and conducted himself or herself as a fit candidate for admission to the bar.
It is expected that students enrolling in the full-time division will graduate in three years and those in the part-time division in four years.
- Full-time course load. The standard course load for full-time students is 13-17 credit hours per semester.
- Part-time course load. The standard course load for part-time students is 8-12 credit hours per semester.
To ensure that students are able to take required courses in a timely fashion, students in both programs will follow a predetermined curriculum. In a given semester, students are assigned and pre-registered into required courses. Students in the full-time division are pre-registered into courses scheduled during the day. Students in the part-time division are pre-registered into courses scheduled during the evening hours.
Office of Academic Affairs
The Office of Academic Affairs, headed by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Margaret M. Lawton, oversees and administers the academic program and policies, including academic scheduling, hiring and evaluating adjunct professors, orienting new faculty and adjuncts, and evaluating faculty performance. The Office of Academic Affairs is responsible for advising students in course selection and progress toward graduation. The Office of Academic Success Programs is also a part of the Office of Academic Affairs.
For any questions regarding the Charleston School of Law academic program, or any academic policy, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs at (843) 377-2420, or come by the Academic Affairs Suite, located in suite 321 in the AT & T Building (campus map). Margaret M. Lawton, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and associate professor of law, and Michelle D. Priester, Assistant to the Associate Dean, are available to assist you.
- Academic Policies & Forms
- Working and Law School
- Registration Information for Spring 2010
- Spring 2010 Booklist
- Tentative Spring 2010 Exam Schedule
Office of Academic Success
The Office of Academic Success, headed by the Assistant Dean for Academic Success, provides academic counseling and support to students. The Office of Academic Success is located at 394 Meeting Street. Mark E. Hoch, Assistant Dean for Academic Success, is available to assist you. Brock Collins, Director of Academic Success and Legal Research and Writing Professor, is also available to assist you. Professor Collins' office is located at 414 Meeting Street, second floor.
Office of the Registrar
The Office of Academic Affairs also oversees the Office of the Registrar, which is located in Suite 101 on the first floor of the AT & T building. Janet Heaslip, the Registrar, can be reached by telephone at (843) 377-2419. The Office of the Registrar administers registration, student schedules, the recording of grades, and the maintenance and certification of student transcripts. The Office also processes requests for letters of good standing and enrollment verification, for permission to change status, for permission to withdraw from a course, and for permission for leaves of absence. Please click on the link below to access the necessary forms for these and other transactions.
