If you’re reading this article, you’re probably aware of the new law in South Carolina that prohibits carrying concealed weapons in public places, including restaurants, bars, and large entertainment venues. This law also expands the number of places where you cannot carry a weapon. The law imposes a long list of “sensitive” locations where firearms are banned, including restaurants and bars.
But the new law isn’t just about public safety. It also provides free tax assistance to low-income residents and elderly individuals, and gives South Carolina Law students the opportunity to provide legal services to local people. And this year, students won the King of the Hill Mock Trial Competition.
Innovation is the key driver behind the changes in the legal industry, but it’s not only about the technology used. Rather, it’s about the expertise, scalability, and reputation that a provider has. Those are all factors that are now vital for determining which legal service providers to work with.
For instance, law firms are losing market share to in-house departments. In fact, the “Net Promoter Score” of many corporate law firms is lagging. Yet, the law companies that have developed expertise in the ‘business of law’ are setting the stage for scalable alternatives to traditional law firms.
Some of the most promising examples of legal innovation include the creation of law firms that leverage technology to provide cost-effective, cost-cutting solutions to non-regulated legal activities. These companies are leveraging their own expertise in the ‘business of law’ to help clients save millions of dollars.
Another example is the use of social media to create a positive image for the law. Companies like LexisNexis have developed technology that helps lawyers and other professionals find legal cases, evaluate clients’ cases, and make the most of their time. They’ve also created a suite of solutions that include a fact & issue finder, a legislative tracking API, a search within query builder, and an alerts guide. Moreover, they’ve acquired IPlytics, an intellectual property protection company.
Law firms have a history of innovation. However, some of the earliest innovators were the law schools themselves. Charles Sullivan, an early professor of law at Seton Hall Law, was one of the pioneers. Today, the University of South Carolina School of Law has an impressive group of faculty members who are creating innovative solutions to the challenges facing today’s legal community.
Among these pioneers is Marina Lao, the country’s leading expert on antitrust law and policy. She has helped shape the policies of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and is a prominent author of articles in the top 15 law reviews in the past five years.
Several of the school’s faculty members are creating innovative programs that provide students with the tools and resources needed to succeed. For example, Professor Jari Peters and Associate Professor Gaia Bernstein have a program for fifth and sixth graders that teaches kids how to use technology responsibly. Meanwhile, the Institute for Privacy Protection at Seton Hall Law is organizing experts to address the ways that children are using technology too often.