Prior to joining the faculty of the Charleston School of Law Richard Gershon served
as the law school's first dean. Under his leadership, the law school attained
provisional accreditation with the American Bar Association. In May of 2008, Gershon was
awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) by the Charleston School of Law. 

His previous experience was as Dean at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in Fort
Worth Texas. During his tenure at Texas Wesleyan, Dean Gershon led the school to full ABA
accreditation, applications increased 58 percent, median LSAT scores rose from 149 to
151, median undergraduate GPAs rose from 2.95 to 3.04, and the first-time bar passage
rate increased from a high of 71.57 to 85.71 percent. 

Dean Gershon was also on the faculty at Stetson University School of Law from 1984-1998.
He was the Academic Associate Dean at Stetson from 1988-1992. 

Course Interests/Research/Teaching Areas 

Estates & Trusts 

Estate & Gift Taxation 

Estate Planning 

Federal Income Taxation 

Moot Court 

Real Property 

Taxation of Business Entities (Partnerships, Corporations and Subchapter S) 

Tax Planning Seminar 

Publications 

Books: 

Guide to the Internal Revenue Code, Fourth Edition, Matthew Bender (November 1999); Third
Edition (January 1997); Second Edition (January 1995); First Edition (May 1988). Fifth
Edition (with Dean Jeffrey Maine) (November 2007). 

International Tax Guide: United States Income Taxation (with Cooper), Callaghan &
Company (June 1991). 

Selected Articles: 

"Using Socio-Economic Theory to Teach Tax Law," 41 U San Diego L Rev 201. 

Essay: "Field of Deans." 33 Toledo L. Rev. 49 (2001 Leadership in Legal
Education Symposium). 

"Tax-Exempt Entities: Achieving and Maintaining Special Status Under the Watchful
Eye of the Internal Revenue Service." 16 Cumberland L. Rev 301. 

Professional Memberships 

American Bar Association 

Charleston Bar Pro Bono Board 

Charleston Jewish Federation, Board Member 

Florida Bar Association 

Georgia Bar Association 

International Tax Section of the Texas Bar 

Rotary Club of Charleston, Board Member 

The United States Tax Court 

Personal Interests 

Hockey 

Running