It covers South Carolina law and commentary on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

It also publishes the winning essays from the Warren E. Burger Writing Competition, which is sponsored by the American Inns of Court Foundation.

The journal was originally published as the Year Book of the Selden Society, then as the South Carolina Law Quarterly, before getting its current title.

The American Inns of Court invites judges, lawyers, professors, students, scholars and other authors to participate in the competition by submitting an original, unpublished essay of 10,000 to 25,000 words on a topic of their choice addressing issues of legal excellence, civility, ethics and professionalism.

[3] Every year, the South Carolina Law Review selects its members from a journal competition held immediately after spring exams.