Acceptance Speech by Lawyer of the Year "Babs" Warner

“I am honored to receive the LRE Lawyer of the Year Award. Good students make good teacher and it is very important to me that many of the students who participated in the mock trial program wrote letters (unbeknownst to me) supporting me. These students are an incredible group of young people with brainpower and dedication that is rare.

The students who participate in this program are all leaders. In addition to participating in mock trial, they receive all sorts of academic honors and participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities such as music, drama and tennis. Some have become lawyers, others leaders in the business community, but all have the foundation to become successful citizens.

The (SC) Bar’s LRE mock trial program provides students with an opportunity to learn about lawyers and the court system in a very positive way. They learn about respect for the legal system and to respect the judges and one another in the courtroom. They learn to think on their feet. They learn that it is difficult to master the facts and the law, and that the practice of law is hard work.

The mock trial program provides students with good life lessons. They learn that life isn’t always fair, the judge doesn’t always rule in their favor, and sometimes the rules keep the juiciest evidence from being admitted. They learn to take that spear in the chest, to face adversity without flinching. They learn that a combination of preparation, poise and skill will give them an advantage. I hope that the knowledge that they gain will give them confidence as they face challenges outside the courtroom and after high school.

Now, in closing, why do I do this? For purely selfish reasons. I do it because having a program like this makes the place where I live a better place to live. I do it because I want the young people who participate in the program to go off to school, learn professions and come back and take care of me when I am old. And I do it because it makes me a better lawyer. What more could I ask for?

Thank you.”