Published Feb. 2, 2009

The Charleston School of Law positioned itself as a place of legal and legislative authority with its inaugural symposium on law and society held recently in Charleston.

More than 1,300 lawyers, businesses leaders, legislators and journalists discussed and listened to arguments related to constitutional reform, the right to an education, the selection of judges and the role of the governor’s office as a chief executive, among other topics.

These issues, all of which have been important for more than 100 years in this state, are critically important now, in the face of a dwindling state budget and a declining economy.

The State Constitutional Reform in the New South symposium brought together some of the best legal minds in South Carolina and the country, pairing them with the state’s chief justice, former governors and practicing attorneys. The symposium wasn’t just an academic exercise; the moderators — many of them from South Carolina’s law firms — asked tough questions and probed for real answers to make the state a better place to work, live and learn.

As our state struggles with soaring unemployment and economic woes, the way state government responds will matter all the more. The legacy of this recession won’t be felt in the next five or 10 years; its lasting impact will be generational, and making government stronger and more responsive via a long-term agenda, instead of a short-term reaction, will shape that legacy for our children’s children.

The fifth class currently attending The Charleston School of Law might not fully understand the journey the school’s leaders took to create a new legal institution. The naysayers who maintained the state needed only one law school — and were critical as the school sought to be accredited — likely didn’t foresee what the school could become.

This school is the real deal, and that was evident in the energy, enthusiasm, courage, vision and leadership that the organizers displayed in presenting such a strong offering in such a short amount of time.