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Charleston School of Law Juris Doctor Program Catalog and Student Handbook 2024-2025

Academic Catalog and Handbook

Law School Honor Code & Code of Conduct

The purpose of the Charleston School of Law is to educate students of a high moral character and unquestionable personal integrity. In furtherance of this purpose, the Honor Code provides a just standard demanding the utmost personal dedication to honest and fair dealing among the academic community. We acknowledge failure to attain or maintain such a standard shall be punished to the greatest degree allowed herein. The Law requires the highest standards of personal conduct and professional ethics embodied by the principles below, to which we hold ourselves accountable.

Ever mindful of the purpose of our founding, and in the interest of justice, we the students of the Charleston School of Law hereby adhere to an Honor Code that governs the ethical, moral, and legal conduct of the students, faculty, and administration.

Honor Pledge

On my honor, I pledge to abide by and promote the Charleston School of Law Honor System as set forth in the Honor Code and Code of Conduct.  As a law student, I shall not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do, and I submit to the jurisdiction of the Honor Court for adjudication of any matter within the scope of its authority.

If a professor does not require this pledge to be included with work submitted in his or her class, the pledge will be implied.

Honor Violations

An Honor Code Violation is the commission of any of the following sanctioned offenses as they pertain to school business.

  • Plagiarism
  • Improper Conduct with Respect to Academic Activity
  • Improper Conduct with Respect to Examination and Assessment
  • Deceptive Communication
  • Interference with Property
  • Impeding Administration of the Honor Code

See Honor Code & Code of Conduct §II, A for full description of the Honor Code’s Jurisdiction over school business.

Code of Conduct Violations

A Code of Conduct violation is the commission of any of the following sanctioned offenses as further defined in the Honor Code & Code of Conduct.

  • Improper Conduct with Respect to Other Members of the CSOL Community
  • Breach of Anonymity
  • Improper Conduct Concerning the Use of Technology
  • Endangering the Health and Safety of Members of the CSOL Community
  • Breach of Confidentiality
  • Violation of Laws, Rules or Regulations

Allegations and Reporting

An allegation of violation of the Honor Code or Code of Conduct shall be in writing, signed by the complainant, and submitted to a member of the Executive Board of the Judicial Board or submitted electronically by emailing the written, signed complaint to judicialboard@charlestonlaw.edu.