Biography

Will Rees became an associate attorney in the Columbia office of SMITH | ROBINSON in 2025, shortly after graduating cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He had already been a law clerk at SMITH | ROBINSON since May 2023.

He was born and raised in North Carolina, originally in Hendersonville and later in Youngsville. He came to South Carolina to study at Wofford College, from which he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2022, with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a minor in philosophy.

From there he went to the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor in May 2025. While in law school, he was student works editor for Volume 76 of the South Carolina Law Review. He was a member of the Order of the Coif and the Order of the Wig and Robe. He also worked as a student lawyer representing indigent clients in criminal matters in the Criminal Practice Clinic.

In addition to extracurricular involvement, he received five CALI awards for earning the highest grade in a particular course. Those classes where he excelled were Civil Procedure; Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing II; Advanced Legal Analysis; Drafting Business Agreements; and Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing III.

He was one of 15 students from across the country to win the 2025 Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Award, known more commonly as a “Burton Award.” He earned this award for his article titled “Enhancing Law Enforcement or Compromising Privacy? The Problem with South Carolina’s Use of Automatic License Plate Readers,” which was published in Volume 75 of the South Carolina Law Review.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, including his fiancé, whom he will marry in January 2026. He plays golf and follows Gamecock football.