Law leaders encourage new class at Convocation

Charleston School of Law held its annual Convocation on Wednesday at the Charleston Music Hall. Keynote speakers Rusty Infinger and Mary Vosburgh (’12) encouraged students at the event.

Infinger, president-elect at the South Carolina Bar, congratulated the faculty, staff and student body for all they’ve accomplished already.

“Pat yourself on the back. Congratulate yourself,” he said. “Just getting here means you have done a lot. You’ve put in the work you’ve sacrificed. “This is an incredible school and I’m so impressed with what you’re doing here.”

Vosburgh, President at the Charleston County Bar Association, encouraged the incoming class to embrace the challenges ahead.

“Challenge yourself,” said Vosburgh. “Take on new opportunities that maybe you didn’t think about. Step outside of your comfort zone.”

Vosburgh learned this lesson from her own experience at Charleston School of Law. After her 1L year, Vosburgh was offered an internship to do pro bono work at Crisis Ministries (now 180Place).

“My first thought was, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. What can I do at a homeless shelter in the legal field?’”

A little frightened by the unknown, Vosburgh decided to step out of her comfort zone. “I was a bit scared because I never really knew someone experiencing homelessness.”

Vosburgh said her decision to accept the opportunity was life changing. “I was willing to step outside of my comfort zone,” she said. “The experience has changed my life — and others — for the better I am now a fulltime attorney representing homeless veterans.”

Pro bono work is not only rewarding, but it is also necessary to ensure that citizens have access to the justice. You can change people’s lives.

Both Infinger and Vosburgh congratulated the law school for its efforts to expand and emphasis wellness resources to students pursuing a career in the legal profession.

Infinger pointed to Lawyers Helping Lawyers, a SC Bar program designed to support legal professionals and law school students “experiencing challenges with substance use disorders, mental health illnesses and/or stress-related issues that affect their professional and personal lives.”

“This profession can be so demanding at times, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the tasks, to-do lists, and the responsibility that you have to your clients as lawyers, we often forget to make sure that we are healthy both physically and then wellness is a focus these days for a good reason,” said Vosburgh.

Charleston School of Law welcomed 194 new first-year students on Monday. The Fall 2022 class is projected to be the fifth consecutive year of increased credentials and the highest credentialed in a decade. Read more about our Fall 2022 class and new initiatives here.

CHARLESTON SCHOOL OF LAW QUICK FACTS

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 you for success both in the classroom and in the legal profession.

  • The Princeton Review ranks Charleston School of Law professors sixth in the country for faculty accessibility and No. 12 nationwide in quality of teaching (2022)
  • Charleston School of Law faculty ranked among the top of The Princeton Review’s list of Best Professors in the nation (2016-2018)
  • Experiential Learning: Charleston School of Law students have access to more than 150 externship sites, creating opportunities for experiential learning in the legal field.
  • Community Service: Charleston School of Law students have performed more than 241,000 community service hours (2004-current).
  • Students have won the National Tax Moot Court Championship for seven consecutive years (2012-2018)

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