South Carolina Bar
Encyclopedia
The South Carolina Bar is the integrated (mandatory) bar association
of the U.S. state
of South Carolina
.
in 1968, and the two organizations were merged in 1975. As of 2009, South Carolina Bar has just under 13,000 members. The House of Delegates and the Board of Governors are the policy-making and executory components of the Bar. The former is composed of members representing the judicial circuits throughout the state; it acts as a policy-making body for the Bar and meets at least twice a year. The Board of Governors may act within the scope of that policy in the duration between meetings.
The authority of the South Carolina Bar is established by statute as an administrative arm of the South Carolina Supreme Court, which retains the ultimate authority in the state governing the practice of law. However, the Bar does not receive state funding, and is supported solely by the dues and licensing fees of member attorneys. Membership in the Bar is mandatory for all persons practicing law within South Carolina, and all fees and dues must be paid to maintain active membership status.
The Bar provides a variety of programs for members and the public, including Continuing Legal Education
for members, Law related education
for the public, access to justice programs, pro bono coordinating services, and a variety of other services.
. As of 2009 the bar exam in South Carolina tests knowledge of the common law
through the Multistate Bar Exam and the exam tests South Carolina law on the state essay portion. Applicants must also pass the MPRE ethics exam, pass a background check
, and pay all necessary fees.
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Organization
The South Carolina Bar began in 1884 as the South Carolina Bar Association, a professional organization of approximately 200 lawyers; the group was voluntary, with no mandates to join being a prerequisite to practice. Later, the South Carolina State Bar was created by the South Carolina Supreme CourtSouth Carolina Supreme Court
The South Carolina Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The court is composed of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices.-Selection of Justices:...
in 1968, and the two organizations were merged in 1975. As of 2009, South Carolina Bar has just under 13,000 members. The House of Delegates and the Board of Governors are the policy-making and executory components of the Bar. The former is composed of members representing the judicial circuits throughout the state; it acts as a policy-making body for the Bar and meets at least twice a year. The Board of Governors may act within the scope of that policy in the duration between meetings.
The authority of the South Carolina Bar is established by statute as an administrative arm of the South Carolina Supreme Court, which retains the ultimate authority in the state governing the practice of law. However, the Bar does not receive state funding, and is supported solely by the dues and licensing fees of member attorneys. Membership in the Bar is mandatory for all persons practicing law within South Carolina, and all fees and dues must be paid to maintain active membership status.
The Bar provides a variety of programs for members and the public, including Continuing Legal Education
Continuing Legal Education
Continuing legal education is professional education of lawyers that takes place after their initial admission to the bar. In many states in the United States, CLE participation is required of attorneys to maintain their license to practice law...
for members, Law related education
Public legal education
Public legal education comprises a range of activities intended to build public awareness and skills related to law and the justice system. This term also refers to the fields of practice and study concerned with those activities, and to a social and professional movement that advocates greater...
for the public, access to justice programs, pro bono coordinating services, and a variety of other services.
Bar Exam
All attorneys licensed to practice in the state belong to the South Carolina Bar after passing the bar examinationBar examination
A bar examination is an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction.-Brazil:...
. As of 2009 the bar exam in South Carolina tests knowledge of the common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
through the Multistate Bar Exam and the exam tests South Carolina law on the state essay portion. Applicants must also pass the MPRE ethics exam, pass a background check
Background check
A background check or background investigation is the process of looking up and compiling criminal records, commercial records and financial records of an individual....
, and pay all necessary fees.