
A new center at USC Upstate seeks to give students the resources they need to pursue legal and justice-related careers.
The Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty Center for Justice and Society, officially dedicated on Sept. 19, will offer students experiences and training to prepare them for jobs in law, public policy, government or criminal justice. Beatty, a Spartanburg native, retired in June after 17 years on the South Carolina Supreme Court, seven of them as chief justice.
“One of the main aims of Upstate is to have students who are career-ready,” says Allison Ellis, professor of political science and the center’s director. “So this speaks directly to that, because we’re providing them with opportunities that will hopefully lead to careers.”
Beatty started out in law providing legal services to those who couldn’t afford representation. Before his tenure on the state Supreme Court, he also was elected to city and state offices. In that spirit of public service, the center will be a place where students can explore policy and reforms that benefit society, Ellis says.
“People who are interested in broad topics, not just law but also social justice, victims’ advocacy, or domestic violence, often ask: What does that look like, and how can we work to address these challenges?” Ellis says. “The Center for Justice and Society aims to further this conversation and establish a lasting legacy inspired by Justice Beatty’s commitment to justice and equality.”
The center will also help students who may not be familiar with the process of applying to law school. Ellis says in addition to mentoring, the center will offer an LSAT preparation class through the Princeton Review. Students will be able to participate and compete in mock trial, and workshops and seminars during the year will focus on soft skills development. Travel experiences will be offered as well.
Additionally, the center will host speakers from different legal sectors so students can consider what path is best for them. Law school is difficult and stressful, Ellis notes, so it’s better if students can understand all their choices before pursuing something they may regret later.
First generation students will especially benefit from the center’s activities, Ellis says. In keeping with Beatty’s commitment to helping others, “hopefully providing students with some of those opportunities will make it a little easier on them, so they don’t have to figure it all out themselves.”