Strengthening South Carolina's Legal Workforce and Expanding Access to Justice

The Bridge-to-Practice Fellowship places recent USC Rice School of Law graduates in one-year, full-time positions with nonprofit organizations, legal service providers, and other employers across South Carolina. Fellows gain meaningful, hands-on legal experience while helping organizations expand their capacity to serve clients and communities throughout the state.

Preparing the Next Generation of Legal Professionals

The fellowship gives graduates a strong start to their legal careers through:

• Full-time, supervised legal experience immediately after graduation.
• Hands-on training in areas such as legal research and writing, client service, compliance, litigation support, and policy analysis.
• Mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities that help fellows build lasting professional connections.
• A bridge to long-term employment while providing flexibility to prepare for the South Carolina Bar Examination.

Delivering Immediate Benefits to South Carolina Communities

At the same time, fellows strengthen the organizations and communities they serve by:

• Expanding access to legal assistance for individuals and families who might otherwise struggle to obtain legal help.
• Increasing legal capacity in rural and underserved communities where attorney shortages can limit access to services.
• Helping South Carolina employers recruit, develop, and retain emerging legal professionals.

Meet the 2026 Legal Fellows

The 2026 Bridge-to-Practice Fellows are putting their legal education to work while serving organizations and communities across South Carolina:

Stephen Murray — GROW SC Small Business & Nonprofit Assistance Program, Columbia

Kelly Simmons — Time Served, Greenville

Damonja Hilton — Center for Heirs Property, North Charleston

Michael Adair — Rainy Day Fund, Columbia

Daniel Schorr — Finger Melnick, Hilton Head