InfiLaw must be granted a license to operate the Charleston School of Law, according to the South Carolina State Commission on Higher Education. The license must be issued if the company meets the required criteria, according to The Post and Courier.
The office of Attorney General Alan Wilson wrote a response to an inquiry submitted by Rep. John King, D-York. Wilson’s office wrote that the commission does not have discretion to decide these matters. He also wrote that the commission cannot deny a license because of reputation and character problems not specified in the law. The commission also cannot deny a license based on pending lawsuits at two of the three law schools operated by InfiLaw.
The commission is scheduled to hold a vote on Thursday to determine if InfiLaw will be granted a license.
The private law school has three owners, two of which want to sell to InfiLaw. A large majority of the alumni, students and faculty are opposed to the sale because they feel InfiLaw’s three law schools have lower standards already.
A lawyer representing InfiLaw, Kevin Hall, said that he is optimistic that the license will be approved for the company.
“The Attorney General’s opinion makes it clear that the commission should grant the license,” he said. In May, the Academic Affairs and Licensing Committee voted by a 3-1 margin against issuing the license to InfiLaw. The entire commission will consider the recommendation of the committee when the vote is held on Thursday. There are 11 members of the commission.
