By Jacorie McCall
This summer, I had the honor of working for Chief Judge Bruce Williams at the South Carolina Court of Appeals. Judge Williams, a Wofford College graduate, is renowned for creating South Carolina’s Drug Court. His career began as a family court judge in Richland County, and his initiatives have expanded across the state. Over the course of my internship, I had the chance to deepen my research and writing skills, and I can already see the difference these experiences have made in my academic work this year.
Judge Williams is a wealth of knowledge, and over the years, our professional relationship has developed into a friendship. In January, while interning with former Chief Justice James Lockemy of Dillon, South Carolina, I was introduced to several judges, including Judge Williams back in 2018. From there, we stayed in touch, which ultimately led to my summer internship with the Court of Appeals in June. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with Judge Williams, and it was an experience I will cherish.
In the second half of the summer, I had the privilege of working for the South Carolina Solicitor’s Office in the Sixth Circuit under Solicitor Randy Newman. I was assigned to two exceptional lawyers—Senior Attorney Stephanie Woods, a former prosecutor in the York Solicitor’s Office, and Mike Burch, a former clerk for Judge Henderson in the Fourth Circuit. Together, we worked in the Drug Unit and the Domestic Violence Crime Task Force, where I gained invaluable insight into both the criminal justice system and the pressing needs of victims in South Carolina.
Through this experience, I had the opportunity to work alongside other attorneys in the Violent Crime Task Force, including Lisa Collins. I learned about the state’s drug laws, particularly the new fentanyl regulations, and gained a deep understanding of the various domestic violence laws, including those involving weapons. This experience reawakened my passion for helping victims, especially those whose voices often go unheard.
Working with the Solicitor’s Office reminded me of why I decided to go to law school in the first place. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my summer, and I am so grateful for the solid foundation Mississippi College of Law has provided me. I had the privilege of working alongside students from Charleston School of Law, Tennessee School of Law, and the University of South Carolina School of Law, and I couldn’t be prouder of how well my education prepared me.
As I begin my third year of law school, I am eager to apply the tools and experiences from this summer to my studies and future career. These internships reaffirmed my commitment to becoming a lawyer who advocates for the vulnerable, and I’m excited to see where this path takes me next.
