By FITSNEWS || The Charleston School of Law (CSOL) announced the hiring of Maryann Jones as its new president this week.
According to a news release from the law school, Jones will manage its executive functions while current dean Andy Abrams continues to oversee CSOL’s academics. Prior to taking the post, Jones served as dean of Western State University’s law school.
“We are indeed fortunate to have an individual with the experience and expertise of Maryann Jones assuming a leadership position here at the Charleston School of Law,” Abrams said in a statement. “Having previously played a significant role in our initial American Bar Association accreditation efforts and later in the establishment of our J.D./M.B.A. dual degree with the College of Charleston, her knowledge of legal education, in general, and the Charleston School of Law, in particular, will be invaluable at this pivotal time in the life of our law school.”
Pivotal … that’s for sure.
CSOL is in the midst of being sold to InfiLaw – an agreement which recently received a key blessing from a committee of the American Bar Association (ABA). Unfortunately, South Carolina’s Commission on Higher Education (CHE) has yet to approve the license for the new facility.
Why not? Well, some lawmakers seem to believe taxpayers should assume responsibility for the institution – a proposal we have adamantly opposed.
Others – led by S.C. Rep. Eric Bedingfield – have argued government has no business standing in the way of the agreement between these two private sector entities.
We concur with that assessment …
State government needs to stop standing in the way of this deal. Our “higher education” system is already overextended and in dire need of being privatized – not expanded at taxpayers’ expense.
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7 comments
The “school” had another dismal showing by its alumni on the results of the Summer bar exam. Their horrible passage rate used to make news, especially around here. I guess it’s hardly newsworthy anymore.
A key blessing from the ABA? Like there was ever any doubt? The Only organization more laughable than csol is the ABA. Both deserve to collapse under their own weight.
You are so so so correct. Jean Toal wrote her own assessment on her judicial disciplinary farce under the name of the ABA a few years ago. Then Toal helped buy William Hubbard a stint as president of ABA this year. This is where the Feds should spend a few minutes of their phantom investigation of Toal.
Will, the name of the school she is coming from is Western State College of Law at Argosy University.
“Others have argued government has no business standing in the way of the agreement between these two private sector entities.” Yes, but the State of South Carolina has a right and a responsibility to ensure that there a proper number of attorneys with a proper education practicing in this State.
The NYT reported in 2009 that SC was admitting 506 attorneys to the State Bar with job openings totaling 262.
1) The State sponsors a law school on behalf of its residents that meets current job openings, why have a for-profit one?
2) If bar passage rate is the indicator of quality, then USC is a higher quality school than CSOL.
3) The regulation of the number of admitted attorneys is in the interest of the State, too few lawyers deprive people of justice, and too many means more poor quality attorneys.
4) 506 is approximately 262 X 2. The closure of one of these law schools will end this problem.
Wikipedia says:
The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at the Western State College of Law for the 2013-2014 academic year is $64,357 living at home and $59,493 for a full time student that is self supporting. The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $251,417.
In 2013, The National Law Journal reported the graduating class of 2012 had the fourth highest unemployment rate, at 27.7 percent, among all U.S. law schools.
Great! We got us a winner!
Sorry to keep going but:
University of South Carolina:
According to South Carolina’s 2013 ABA-required disclosures, 68.6% of the Class of 2013 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation.
The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at South Carolina for the 2013-2014 academic year for a non-resident is $62,440, and for a resident is $40,048. The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years for a non-resident is $240,274, and for a resident is $151,733 .