School has smooth first year
Excerpted from a story in The (Charleston) Post and Courier

MAY 23, 2005 -- The new law school that opened its doors in August with 200 students wrapped up its inaugural school year earlier this month, and it has lost only three students along the way.

Dean Richard Gershon praises students for an overall smooth first year. Not only are they quality students, they're good-natured people, he said.

The school emphasizes public service, something students say attracted them. Earlier this year, it adopted a pro bono policy that requires students to per-form 30 hours of free legal ser-vice in the community. Ger-shon said this could amount to 6,000 hours of free legal help per year.

"We certainly are confident that we're doing things the right way," Gershon said.
Student Steve Abrams is attending law school to enhance his profession: computer forensics. Abrams, a leading expert witness in several states, said he's hired mostly by attorneys to provide evidence for court cases. A Mount Pleasant resident, he wanted to live in the Lowcountry.

"This law school opened up, and it was the perfect opportunity," Abrams said.

Being a new school, it has yet to receive accreditation from the American Bar Association. Gershon said the accreditation process starts in October, and he's confident the school will fare well.

Margie Pizarro has faith the school will gain its accreditation. Pizarro believes in the school so much she left her job as a public school teacher.

She said she hasn't regretted her decision.

"They know us by name," she said. "It is a very nurturing environment."