SC Bar Exam Results Are In …
The results from the February 2009 S.C. bar exam are finally in, and barring the S.C. Supreme Court arbitrarily deciding to throw out certain sections of the test (like they did in 2007), here are the results …
Charleston School of Law – 53.7% passage rate (29 of 54)
University of South Carolina – 76.32% passage rate (29 of 38)
Other Schools – 61.9% passage rate (78 of 126)
Total – 62.39% passage rate (136 of 218)
Please note that we are making no commentary whatsoever on these results … at the moment. We’re just reporting them.
Crazy, huh?
Even our headline was non-incendiary.
What can we say, it’s a Friday afternoon and we’re seriously just phoning it in at this point …
WEB EXTRA
Comments
By Andy on April 17th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
CSOL….
Oops again.
By CSOLover on April 17th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
We are in the process of contacting all legislators we speak. These results will be amended. “Supreme favors…” Stay tuned.
By Forensics Club on April 17th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
$40k/yrx3=$120k=53% of passing the Bar
Wait till the ABA makes them report their (un)employment numbers.
By Why can't they pass the Bar? on April 18th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Why can’t these Charleston Law School students pass the Bar Exam? Are their professors not adequate teachers of the law?
What does USC Law do differently?
I notice that Charleston is a “for profit” law school. Who “owns” the school? Does this play into the hiring of professors, teaching, etc.? Are the owners more concerned with making a profit than their students’ Bar Exam passage, employment, and overall success?
I did not attend either law school so I am indifferent. However, due to the fact that students at both USC Law and Charleston Law will most likely be a member of the SC Bar and practice in SC- why do the two schools not work together to both improve their Bar passage rates and employment stats? In my opinion, SC law schools should be working together, civilly, not against each other. Shouldn’t the two law schools focus on competing with out of state schools like UNC, Wake Forest,etc. instead of each other?
By Part-Time Program on April 18th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
These results are particularly bad because of the school’s part-time program, which has much lower admission standards and composes the large majority of the school’s December graduating class.
Also, generally a large number of February bar examinees (from whatever school) are repeat test-takers, resulting in lower passage rates for the February exam on the whole.
By Frank on April 18th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
“What does USC Law School do differently”? They have Cheif Justice Jean Troll that ingores the test results of some individuals that fail the test and changes the scores so that they pass. That’s what USC Law School does differently.
By Frank on April 18th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
“What does USC Law School do differently”? They have Chief Justice Jean Troll that ignores the test results of certain people that failed the Bar exam and changes their scores so they could pass. That is what USC Law School does differently. Jean Troll is such a dedicated USC fan!
By Chucktown Import on April 18th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
We’re talking about 25 people here, for the love of god. Most of whom are probably retakes… I’m glad to see that USC Law still has some quality people that continue to push this pseudo-rivalry. The civility code means nothing to some, I suppose.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' ... on April 18th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
What does USC Law School do differently? Admit qualified students (plus a few politicians’ kids). CSOL can admit subpar students, charge them a fortune for a “law degree,” but they can’t make these boneheads smart enough to pass the bar exam.
By Chucktown Import on April 19th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Not Sayin’ –
It is incredibly courageous of you to make such claims anonymously, and as I said above, the civility code means nothing to some people. You seem to post often on this website, (that alone is indicative of your credibility) and each time you mention the price of our private degree. Don’t be jealous that we can afford tuition. It is unbecoming of a legal professional to display such envy through paltry insults and jabs on a pathetically jaded political blog. Instead, enjoy your days in Columbia, as your adjunct professors fall to the wayside, your moot court board remains impotent, your facilities are in disrepair, and the budgetary woes of a broken state government continue to weigh your institution down more than the backward childish immaturity that you and some of your classmates seem to display.
The February passage rates are indeed below par, although it is only representative of small number of students, and mostly comprised of retakes. Nonetheless, it’s a 6% increase from last February. As we continue to improve, it continues to be clear that people like you are unhappy we exist because the writing on the wall is incontrovertible – USC has been stagnant for decades, had a stranglehold on the legal profession in this state regardless of merit, and competition from a new school concerns those who have enjoyed that monopoly.
By Calhoun Fawls on April 19th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Believing that the Bar Exam is graded anonymously is like believing in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. I think that is one reason Charleston has such results. Will someone please turn this over to someone other than the Supreme Court?
By Cryin Shame on April 19th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
These numbers are dismissal for CSOL again. This is why they will always bee a total joke. I love the excuses they come up with every time.
By HonkyTonk on April 19th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Cryin-
Is that “Bee” as in “Bumblebee”
Bless your heart.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' ... on April 19th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
What do you expect from a law school located adjacent to the Music Farm? The place is a joke and always will be a joke. The hysteric reaction of its “students” to criticism shows how pained they are by the realization that they’ve wasted time and money pursuing a meaningless degree and a career in which they aren’t intellectually capable of being competetive. Their seething jealousy of those who received a superior legal education, not to mention a fighting chance at actually becoming licensed as attorneys, almost makes these CSOL clowns worthy of pity. But their misplaced arrogance can only command disgust.
By Whit Sowards on April 20th, 2009 at 12:18 am
Frank, If I’m not mistaken, the Supreme Court’s decision to toss the T&E portion of the 2007 Bar Exam benefited CSOL more than it benefited USC. CSOL’s passage rate was elevated from roughly 62% to that magical number of 70%. I am certain USC’s passage rate was at or above 85% prior to the Court’s decision to throw out the section.
As for Chucktown Import, it’s a bit hypocritical to anonymously criticize somebody for anonymously posting about CSOL, right? I can assure you that nobody up here in Columbia wastes any time thinking about the law school down in Charleston. I also find it interesting that you take pride in the fact that you pay more in tuition than those who attend public schools. I guess you have to pay more for easy access to the beach and the Music Farm, right?
By Future Law Student on April 20th, 2009 at 8:49 am
man this really makes me glad I’m not going to Charleston Law School…wooo for out of state schools!
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' on April 20th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Whit, there is much about Chucktown Import’s tearful diatribe to inspire laughter. He suggests leaving comments on this site draws the writer’s credibility into question, and yet ignores the fact that could only I know I post here regularly if he reads this site regularly. What does that likewise say about his credibility? He suggests the civility code means nothing to me, and then calls me and many others who have received part of our education from the public school system “redneck pussies.” Is that sort of language and attitude toward the less privileged considered “civil” at CSOL? How does he reconcile his elitist attitude with a law school that has “as its chief aim providing public service?” http://www.charlestonlaw.edu/about.htm
This poor, privileged, dimwitted snob thinks paying a higher tuition than USC students pay somehow makes him better than USC students. I’m sure his frustrated parents, who are obviously footing the bill, wish he had the brains to go to the best law school value in the state. I just hope Chucktown’s parents have plenty of money left after paying for his Music Farm School of Law education, because he’ll likely be on the family dole for many years with nothing more to earn a living than a fifth-rate legal education and the dim prospect of ever receiving a license to practice law in this state.
By justme on April 20th, 2009 at 10:11 am
When I took the bar exam in 1996, the pass rate was about 95% for USC law graduate takers and 90% for out of state, and I believe that had been the standard for several years. In the past few years, pass rates have become a great deal lower. What happened? Are they grading more strictly?
Will: It would be interesting to do a 20 year analysis of pass rates and what happened.
As to CSOL vs USC, there are competent and not-so-competent students at both. I happen to know some excellent professors at CSOL. What I did hear for years is that USC Law School teaches to the bar exam. It might be good if CSOL did the same thing.
By The Majority on April 20th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Just a few facts:
1. I graduated from CSOL.
2. I passed the bar exam on my first try.
3. I work as a lawyer in South Carolina.
4. I do not work for my father, mother, or any relative.
5. The Music Farm did not interfere with my legal studies.
6. The beach did not interfere with my legal studies.
7. The existence of USC Law School did not interfere with legal studies.
8. I am not unique.
By Gillon on April 20th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Just a thought, but isn’t one of the raison d’etres of this blog to promote the idea that private schools are superior in every way to public schools, and in fact that private enterprise can do most everything better than the government?
And you say that CSOL is a “for profit” private law school? Hmmm, what do you think Sic Willie– care to come to their defense?““
By Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo on April 20th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
USC law is run like a business…a cash cow that the general fund sucks money out of and doesn’t invest money back into. The thing is, if the powers that be really wanted USC law to be higher quality (at least as defined by US News) they could do it almost instantly. Just cut tuition and enrollment. Case in point: Cal-Irvine started a brand new school and for its very first class apparently has a student profile that rivals the top-20 law schools. How? No tuition the first 3 years.
By Granby Hanby on April 20th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
The reason people love to watch CSOL fail so much is the utter morons like Chucktown Import who go there and swear it is the greatest place on earth. No one would chose CSOL over USC. CSOl will continue to fail at every objective measure they are faced with. They will also continue to do well marketing themselves and selling the “dream” of a legal career to people who have no choice but to go there and no chance to ever pass the bar.
By cgi-bin laden on April 20th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Eh, the Feb results are always lower for everyone. Wait until July exam results for the real hysterics.
By USC Law always on top on April 20th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
USC Law will ALWAYS outdo CSOL in everything! We have better professors, programs, and facilities.
Our LSAT scores, Bar Exam passage rates, moot court bar, law reviews, etc. will ALWAYS be much better than CSOL. And as our professors and career services department say, law firms don’t want to hire CSOL students! They will always pick USC Law students over CSOL students. Besides, we are the ones the state supports–do you get any government funding? I didn’t think so. And, we all have jobs lined up… I don’t think any of you do!
CSOL always say they are going to “prove us wrong” year after year. Sounds like what USC says about beating Clemson!
By Mr. Darcy on April 20th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
To By not Sayin,’ Just Sayin’
As far as your post quoted below that said:
“This poor, privileged, dimwitted snob thinks paying a higher tuition than USC students pay somehow makes him better than USC students. I’m sure his frustrated parents, who are obviously footing the bill, wish he had the brains to go to the best law school value in the state.”
I’m sure his parents hope their son knows that when writing a sentence about a state in which there are only two law schools, one should say “wish he had the brains to go to the better law school value in the state,” and not “the best”! Best would be used only if there were more than two. But I’m guessing literacy isn’t a real big think with the Bubbas at Rooster U, or its graduates who grade the South Carolina Bar Exam. I’m hoping your practice is one limited to filling out lots of forms. But then again, I doubt very many of the judges who read your pleadings, etc. know any better. After all, they done went to your alma mater too!
By the way, too has another o when it’s used to mean also. If you need anymore basic grammar tips, I’m sure my son, who is in grade school, can tutor you, and your colleagues.
By Unimpressed on April 20th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
There are of course “subpar” students at both schools. If you have neglected to notice the supply of new lawyers far exceeds demand – and its only getting worse. I find it comical that someone has the audacity to claim that all USC graduates have job offers lined up right now…especially given the economy. When partners are being let go from large SC firms I’m sure no one is impressed by some wet-behind-the-ears kid who couldn’t even fumble his way through a motion hearing. Fact is…regardless of where you go to school, USC or CSOL, unless you’re graduating at the top of the class or have some really unique experiences you probably aren’t getting any decent job. It’s time to face reality kids…every idiot who can qualify for a student loan is going to law school. The market is saturated with under-educated and under-experienced lawyers – of course, this isn’t limited to the new grads! And on top of that, neither law school in SC is very impressive in the rankings. USC has been a half-assed school for decades…CSOL is a half-assed school now. Hopefully, the powers that be will find a way to remove their heads from their rears and steer both schools into, at the very least, a respectable ranking.
By DisappointedInTheWholeSystem on April 21st, 2009 at 3:55 pm
I was one of those part-time students at CSOL – I guess some on here would refer to me as “sub-par”. I have failed the BAR three times now and I have studied my a– off! I had many of the professors from USC (who relocated to CSOL), I took the same BAR-BRI course many of the USC students did, and yet I feel as if the system has failed me. Did I get an inadequate education at CSOL? Is the grading of the BAR political and biased? I wish I knew.
And for those of you who think that CSOL’s bar passage rates are because of people not smart enough to really be in law school, I am an educated professional who decided to go to law school in the evening (after I worked all day). My parents have no money or prestige. I am stuck with the enormous student loans MYSELF. I did not party or lay on the beach during school. My life was STUDY, WORK, STUDY, WORK!
I think it is time that some investigative journalists get ahold of this story and throw it out there for nationwide publicity otherwise nothing will get done unless backs are thrown against the wall. If my education sucked, I want a refund. If the SC BAR Examiners are unethical in their grading, I want reform.
And BTW, I know quite a few CSOL graduates who are exceptional attorneys and are doing quite well for themselves. I just wish I was one of them.
By Silence Dogood on April 22nd, 2009 at 10:19 pm
“USC Law always on top,” dude (lady?), are you serious about all USC grads having “jobs lined up?” While I can’t claim very much experience in hunting for legal jobs – I know many USC grads who even from 2008 who are still looking for jobs. Clearly you are (a) not graduating law school right now (b) misinformed about the legal job situation (c) have no idea what you are talking about and just making stuff up?
I am not CSOL or USC law school apologist, but your frightfully misinformed comments struck me as…interesting.
By Going-to-CSOL-because-I-workfor-A-living on April 24th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Not everyone’s mom and dad pays their bills to go to school full-time.
By SC Lawman on May 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 am
Not for nothing, but for all you USC grads ragging on CSOL- USC isn’t exactly Top-10. In fact, it’s not Top-50. And the near 25% flunk rate on the 2/09 SC bar exam isn’t exactly a number to be proud of.
The ability to pass the bar exam has a lot to do with how, when and where you study, and a lot less to do with the law school you attended. Which isn’t to say that law school is irrelevant, but it’s not as big of a factor as some of you believe.
For instance, the Dean of the Stanford Law School failed the CA bar exam the first time she took it. I suspect that Stanford Law wasn’t on the short list of law schools most of you USC posters applied to. So, what does that say about the Dean? The Mayor of Los Angeles took the CA bar exam 4 times, and never passed it. He finally gave up, and now runs the second largest city in the US.
In my opinion, anyone who makes it through law school should be congratulated; especially the part-timers at CSOL.
By Joseph Galiastro on May 8th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
I am a New Jersey resident, seriously interested in relocating to South Carolina…I am interested in obtaining BarBri materials as well as any state-specific materials for SC. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! jgalia77@yahoo.com
By Grad from a school that matters on June 1st, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I stumbled upon this page by accident and would like to thank all the CSOL & USC posters for a great laugh. The debate over which school is better in South Carolina is a fight for the coronation to be King of the Losers. Both of these schools are a joke (OK, CSOL is more of a joke). Congrats, USC, you’re probably less terrible than CSOL!!
By Grad from one of the above-mentioned schools on July 10th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Who really cares which school is “better”? It’s a frightening thought that the people from BOTH schools that spend so much time debating this topic (which really just amounts to a pissing contest) are actually going to be attorneys.
If either school actually were that great – and were secure in that fact – they wouldn’t have to spend so much time trying to bash the other.
A j.d. is a j.d. is a j.d. in SC. It’s not like we’re talking Harvard vs. Yale or Stanford, people.