USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law

09/10/2026

Tomorrow is the final day for Early Bird pricing for the Estate Planning Conference!

The conference is open to attorneys, accountants, trust officers, financial planners, and other professionals engaged in estate and tax planning, elder law, family business planning and financial planning.
Register to hear from nationally renowned speakers on timely estate planning, family planning, and small business planning topics.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay current on the issues shaping the field. Sign up today using the link below!

-Early Bird Special: $495
-After September 12, 2026: $695

Learn More: https://bit.ly/4xfeEGf

09/09/2026

Congratulations to Professor Clint Wallace on the publication of his new book, "The ‘Logic' of the Income Tax," co-authored with Bret Wells of the University of Houston Law Center!

Published this week on Sept. 4, the book helps readers better understand the federal income tax by examining the underlying logic that connects its many technical rules. It explores how both the internal logic of the income tax and the political economy surrounding tax law help explain how and why the system works as it does.

Congratulations to Professor Wallace and everyone who helped bring this project to life!

Learn more here: https://faculty.westacademic.com/Book/Detail?id=357825&utm_source=Law+School&utm_campaign=778ac584c8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_08_11_06_07&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-778ac584c8-67913265

09/08/2026

Congratulations to new Assistant Professor Austin Nelson on receiving the 2026 Best Dissertation in American Political Thought Award from the American Political Science Association for his dissertation, “America’s Bankrupt Constitution: Contract Rights, Insolvent Debtors, and the Foundations of American Federalism.”

Nelson also received an Honorable Mention for the Walter Dean Burnham Dissertation Award in the field Politics and History. He will be recognized for his work at the American Political Science Association’s Annual Meeting.
Congratulations on these outstanding achievements, Professor Nelson!

09/05/2026

Tributes to Joe Rice, ‘79, continue to demonstrate the overwhelming impact he made to the University of South Carolina, , South Carolina and the larger legal community.

For SC Rice Law, Joe’s generosity and support for future lawyer leaders will have an enduring legacy.

“It’s a gift of significant magnitude that is having a profound effect on the future possibilities and opportunities of our students,” William Hubbard, the dean of the university’s law school, told The Post and Courier.

Read the piece on Joe’s impact: bit.ly/PCRice

09/04/2026

Joseph Rice, a legendary Gamecock and longtime benefactor of the university, passed away Thursday. We will share more details when they become available.

A nationally known litigator, the two-time USC alumnus (1976 B.S., 1979 J.D.) played a significant role in civil action related to asbestos liabilities, the to***co industry and more.

The Joseph F. Rice School of Law was named for him in 2023 after a transformational $30 million gift to create student scholarships, endow professorships and more. The Rice Athletics Center is also named for the Rice family.

“Joe Rice was a man whose impressive combination of intellect, character, wisdom, spirit and generosity defined a life that made an outsized impact on the world he inhabited. Such a rare man leaves an imprint that lives on long beyond his lifespan, and this will inevitably be true for Joe. The University of South Carolina was honored to know him as an alumnus, friend, benefactor, and one of the greatest Gamecocks of our time.” — University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis

09/04/2026

The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law is heartbroken by the sad and unexpected passing of our dear friend Joe Rice, '79.

We are proud and honored that the law school bears his name. Joe Rice’s legacy will live in perpetuity through the generations of law students who have been and will be supported through his kind generosity.

Our hearts go out to his beloved wife Lisa, daughter Ann E. Rice Ervin, grandson Beckett, son-in-law Tucker Ervin, and to his treasured colleagues at Motley Rice.

With profound sadness, we share the sudden and unexpected passing of our beloved leader, Joe.

He was more than a visionary leader. He was a pioneer, an innovator, a mentor, and a friend whose wisdom, generosity, and unwavering commitment to justice were legendary.

As hard as it will be, we will continue the work that meant so much to him. That commitment will endure as part of his legacy.

08/27/2026

Meet Emma Kate Connelly, ’29 J.D.!

A lifelong South Carolinian and two-time Gamecock, Emma Kate chose to continue her education at the university she already calls home. With a passion for serving children and families, she hopes to pursue a career in family law and make a meaningful impact in her community.

Learn more about Emma Kate and her journey to SC Rice Law here: https://bit.ly/4gUewqI

08/26/2026

’s new 1L students and 2L and 3L peer mentors recently volunteered with our faculty and staff for nearly 30 nonprofits around Columbia for 1L service day. 350+ SC Rice Law representatives did everything from painting at affordable housing units and organizing materials for the Salvation Army Midlands to picking up trash and caring for rescue animals at Final Victory Animal Rescue.

As Dean William Hubbard says in the last video, making justice accessible through pro bono work and volunteering is at the heart of true justice, and the service projects are an example of ways to give back to the community the students will serve.

08/20/2026

Congratulations to Class of 2026 graduates who were recently inducted into the Order of the Coif at the law school!

Students in the exact top 10 percent of a law school’s graduating class may be inducted into the Order of the Coif, widely considered the highest academic accolade a law student can achieve in the U.S.

The 2026 new members include:
Levi Bradley, Audrey C. Burton, Drew Byrne, Judson Childress, Meggie Cruser, Jason Devlin, Mariah Earley, Tanner G***k, Samuel Hurwitz, Chandler Huskey, Alexander Lingle, Grant Majors, Morgan Mercer, Cameron Newton, Brooke Perry, Grace Smith Phillips, Megan Repose, Matthew Skipper, Joshua Strickland and Andrew Turner. (Not all inductees were able to attend the ceremony)

The three graduates with the highest cumulative GPA were also honored with the Dean’s Medallion: Grant Majors, Grace Smith Phillips and Joshua Strickland.

08/18/2026

Did you know has more than 40 student organizations? ⚖️

Students had the opportunity to explore the many ways to get involved at our Fall 2026 Law Student Organization & Resource Fair! From connecting with student organizations to learning about resources available throughout law school, the fair was a great way to kick off the semester and discover all our community has to offer.