For two Lander alumni, supportive mentors and relevant courses prepared them for success in law school and their careers as attorneys.
Macy Gault and Jitwan Floyd are recent Lander alumni and law school graduates who made the most of their time at Lander and in law school.
Despite studying different majors and practicing in different areas of law, their paths are similar: both attended the Joseph F. Rice School of Law at the University of South Carolina and both feel Lander prepared them for law school.
Gault graduated from Lander in 2022 with a degree in history, a major she chose on the suggestion of a career counselor and ended up falling in love with. Floyd graduated in 2021 with a degree in political science, another popular choice for those who plan on continuing their education at law school.
Both Gault and Floyd realized this career path was a possibility for them while at Lander and praised the faculty and staff who tailored their education to meet their future career goals.
“Honestly, I'd say the biggest way Lander prepared me is that I had really great professors who believed in me and supported me from day one,” Gault said.
“They definitely allowed me the flexibility to tailor my history degree towards the law. I don't know if every other major would have been able to do that, but when we had assignments, they would let me tailor them around law-related subjects to help move myself toward the goal of going to law school. They didn’t have to do that, but it was extremely helpful and encouraging.”
She mentioned history professors Dr. Ryan Floyd and Dr. Kevin Witherspoon, her advisor, who she said was a big advocate for staying on the path to law school.
Meanwhile, Jitwan Floyd mentioned the course offerings at Lander prepared him for law school, particularly a constitutional law course taught by the Honorable Jane H. Merrill.
“In retrospect, Judge Merrill structured her course to mirror a law school setting. We briefed cases, analyzed the black letter law, held moot court, etc.,” Floyd wrote.
“Moreover, Dr. Ashley Woodiwiss’ political philosophy course challenged my analytical skills, which is a critical skill to succeed in law school. He was also my academic advisor and provided sound counsel.”
Floyd also mentioned Kenneth Roach, current associate athletic director for club sports, who oversaw the Presidential Ambassadors program while Floyd was at Lander.
“He often shared his life experiences, including when he took the LSAT, as guidance,” Floyd said.
Now, Gault is working in commercial real estate law after graduating from law school. When she entered law school, she did not think she would pursue real estate law, but one week into her first real estate law class, she realized that she found the area of law she wanted to practice in.
“So then in my second year, I started the real estate law society (RELS) at the law school,” she said.
“I got in contact with some people—the real estate-related professors—and got the ball rolling. After taking my first real estate law class, I took as many real estate classes as I could and kept on with the society until I graduated and left it to a new band of young law students who were eager to take it over.”
Along with a few other jobs, like working for South Carolina Fathers and Families and working for a real estate firm doing residential work, Gault externed for the law firm she works at now.
“I was lucky enough to get offered a job at a great firm, Robinson Grey,” she said. “I was very grateful and excited to start practicing commercial real estate and business law.” Gault is looking forward to continuing with the firm, and will marry fellow Lander alumnus Ross Cooper in May.
Floyd is working as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable J. Mark Hayes II—a South Carolina Circuit Court judge.
“I cannot think of a better way of spending my first year as an attorney other than figuratively sitting at the feet of a legal mastermind and honing my legal skills,” Floyd said.
“As a judicial clerk, I prepare for Common Pleas and General Sessions Rosters by organizing trial/motions binders, drafting jury charges and summations of briefs, communicating with counsel of record and conducting legal research. I also assist with administrative duties through drafting objective bench memorandums and maintaining submissions of proposed orders.”
Floyd mentioned his time in the Pro Bono Program in law school—one of many groups he was involved with—in which he traveled to rural communities throughout the state and partnered with a licensed attorney to execute simple wills and healthcare powers of attorney.
He said his collective experience in law school confirmed his interest in litigation as opposed to being a transactional attorney.
Following his clerkship, he will transition into private practice with Smith | Robinson in Columbia.