Service to the Public
Adopt-a-Student Program
Elementary school students will be paired with young lawyers who will serve as mentors and role models. E-mail communication will be emphasized as a forum with which children are comfortable communicating. This project will allow young lawyers to make a difference in the lives of children in need but will relax the time commitment required by normal mentoring relationships.
R. Trippett Boineau III, Chair
McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC
P.O. Box 12519
Columbia, SC 29211
(803) 227-4937/F: (803) 933-9801
trippett.boineaw@mgclaw.com
Backpack Drive Committee
New backpacks, school supplies and other educational items will be collected and donated to needy children.
Paul H. Hoefer, Chair
Robinson McFadden & Moore, PC
P.O. Box 944
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 227-1134/F: (803) 744-1558
phoefer@robinsonlaw.com
Cinderella Project
One of the Division’s most popular projects, which began in 2001, the Cinderella Project involves gathering donations of gently worn formal gowns, shoes and accessories for socially and economically disadvantaged high school students. Students from area high schools are invited to attend a boutique held in the spring to “shop” for a dress and other items at no cost.
Anne Marie Hempy, Chair
Collins & Lacy, PC
P.O. Box 5819
Greenville, SC 29606
(864) 282-9100/F: (864) 282-9101
ahempy@collinsandlacy.com
Christy Tyner, Aiken Coordinator
Maxwell Law Firm
225 Chesterfield St., NW
Aiken, SC 29801
(803) 641-6700/F: (803) 641-6816
ctyner@maxwelllawfirm.com
Brittany P. Tye, Anderson Coordinator
Senerius & Tye
P.O. Box 4125
Anderson, SC 29622
(864) 224-7436/F: (864) 224-6912
brittany@seneriuslawfirm.com
Michelle P. Kelley, Columbia Coordinator
S.C. Attorney General's Office
P.O. Box 11549
Columbia, SC 29211
(803) 734-3645/F: (803) 734-6679
mkelley@scag.gov
Angela Castillo-Lana, Greenwood Coordinator
Solicitor’s Office, 8th Judicial Circuit
P.O. Box 516
Greenwood, SC 29648
(864) 942-8802/F: (864) 942-8830
acastillo@co.greenwood.sc.us
Community Law Week
Held each year during the first week of May, Law Week is designed to promote the legal profession and provide the public with information about their legal rights. Law Week will include, but is not limited to, the following projects: Children’s Book Drive, DSS Playroom, Kids’ Identification, Lawsuits Project and Speakers-in-Schools.
William W. “Trey” Watkins Jr., Chair
Elmore & Wall, PA
P.O. Box 1200
Charleston, SC 29402
(843) 329-9500/F: (843) 329-9501
trey.watkins@elmorewall.com
Day of Action Committee
Geared toward lawyers who want to be involved but have time constraints that prevent them from participating in the traditional sense, these projects will allow young lawyers to participate in hobby-oriented service in one day. Young lawyers can decide the amount of time they will devote. This committee is rewarding many by accomplishing a balance between service to the public and relaxation to the individual lawyer.
Joy D. Stoney, Chair
Stoney Law Firm, LLC
P.O. Box 30187
Charleston, SC 29417
(843) 763-1300/F: (843) 763-1333
stoneyjd@knology.net
Disaster Relief Committee
Provides instruction on the legal issues that often arise at the time of a natural disaster. Services offered include assistance with life insurance claims, counseling on landlord/tenant and other housing problems, assistance with home repair contracts and consumer protection matters, advice on remedies and procedures, and the replacement of wills and other important legal documents. This committee will also offer a training seminar, “Are you Prepared? Issues Facing Attorneys and the General Public During Times of Disaster.”
Brian M. Knowles, Chair
Knowles Law Firm, PC
P.O. Box 50201
Summerville, SC 29485
(843) 810-7596/F: (843) 747-1118
bknowles.lawfirm@gmail.com
Families Forever Project
Focuses on adoption awareness with possible assistance from various agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Social Services and the Adoption Coalition for Education and Support (ACES). This committee will be responsible for producing educational materials and organizing statewide “Family Fairs,” events that encourage and educate families regarding foster care and adoption, whether through DSS or a private adoption agency. In addition, the committee will host one or more CLEs to educate members of the Bar about their role in adoptions and the scope of the law for various adoption matters.
Jacqueline V. Bond, Lowcountry Coordinator
Craver & Current, PA
P.O. Box 1016
Charleston, SC 29402
(843) 577-7757/F: (843) 577-0811
jbond@cravercurrent.com
Tamika D. Cannon, Upstate Coordinator
S.C. Legal Services
148 E. Main St.
Spartanburg, SC 29306
(864) 699-0309/F: (864) 582-0302
tamikacannon@sclegal.org
High School Digital Video Project
A video contest for high school students in S.C. on an educational topic in conjunction with Community Law Week. Participants will be challenged to present an exciting, yet educational, video for other high school students. Awards will be given to students who create the winning video and the high schools that they attend. The selected videos will then be combined and distributed as educational outreach materials for other students during the Community Law Week Speakers-in-Schools project.
Tina N. Herbert, Chair
McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC
700 Gervais St., Ste. 300
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 779-2300/F: (803) 748-0526
tina.herbert@mgclaw.com
Justice Jam
An annual benefit concert to raise money for a local charity. The unique feature about this concert is that at least one member of every band is a lawyer. This committee will locate lawyer bands with musical talent; find a low-cost venue; locate sponsors for the event; and conduct other support planning.
Travis V. Olmert, Chair
Carter Smith Merriam Rogers & Traxler, PA
P.O. Box 10828
Greenville, SC 29603
(864) 242-3566/F: (864) 232-1558
travis.olmert@carterlawpa.com
Ben G. “Gibbs” Leaphart Jr., Co-Chair
Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC
P.O. Box 11449
Columbia, SC 29211
(803) 231-7849/F: (803) 231-7898
gleaphart@sowell.com
Our Courts
A Web-based education project designed to teach students about civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy. Our Courts, the vision of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, is intended to supply the next generation with the tools needed for informed civic engagement and leadership. As a continuation of the Our Courts program, YLD will coordinate with other statewide legal organizations to connect lawyers with S.C. students and provide them the opportunity to interact with direct participants in the judicial process.
Allison P. Sullivan, Chair
Bluestein Nichols Thompson & Delgado, LLC
P.O. Box 7965
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 779-7599/F: (803) 779-8995
apsullivan@bntdlaw.com
Protecting Our Youth (Through Legal Education)
Educates at-risk high school students on criminal law and the ramifications of their actions, including prosecuting students as adults, repeat offenders, new DUI laws and drug offenses. Conducted with possible assistance from the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice, Children’s Law Center and the Bar Children’s Law Committee.
Fred W. “Trey” Suggs III, Chair
Roe Cassidy Coates & Price, PA
P.O. Box 10529
Greenville, SC 29603
(864) 349-2616/F: (864) 349-0303
tsuggs@roecassidy.com
Special Olympics
S.C. lawyers and their friends and family members will be invited to participate in Special Olympics S.C., primarily through volunteer opportunities at each of the three (Mid-Winter, Fall and Summer) statewide games. Participants may volunteer with a group of their peers at designated venues or choose individual events and time slots of interest. Volunteer opportunities will cover a broad spectrum of activities from coaching and officiating to providing encouragement and serving meals. In addition, young lawyers will have the opportunity to work with Special Olympics in their communities on a more regular basis to serve the needs of South Carolinians with intellectual disabilities.
William R. “Will” Johnson, Chair
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA
P.O. Box 11889
Columbia, SC 29211
(803) 540-7945/F: (803) 765-1243
wjohnson@hsblawfirm.com
H. Cooper Wilson III, Mid-Winter Coordinator
Hood Law Firm
172 Meeting St.
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-1205/F: (843) 722-1630
cooper.wilson@hoodlaw.com
Brittany F. Boykin, Fall Coordinator
Gallivan White & Boyd, PA
P.O. Box 10589
Greenville, SC 29603
(864) 271-9580/F: (864) 271-7502
bboykin@gwblawfirm.com
Voices Against Violence
Modeled after the ABA YLD’s Voices Against Violence, this program is designed to educate young lawyers about the epidemic of domestic violence, particularly among the teen population. The Committee’s goal is to engage young lawyers in efforts to respond to and prevent domestic violence in their communities by taking part in legislative advocacy, handling pro bono cases involving domestic violence, providing support to existing domestic violence shelters and programs through collection drives and refurbishing projects, delivering presentations to the public about domestic violence or holding local roundtable discussions for domestic violence advocates.
Carrie H. Raines, Chair
Howser Newman & Besley
1508 Washington St.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 984-6548/F: (803) 758-4445
caroline.raines@gmail.com
Melissa Maddox-Barnes, Necessities Coordinator
The Housing Authority, City of Charleston
550 Meeting St.
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 720-3683/F: (843) 720-3977
mb@chacity.org
Katie H. McElveen, Refurbishing Coordinator
Richardson Patrick Westbrook & Brickman, LLC
1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Bldg. A
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 727-6602/F: (843) 216-6509
kmcelveen@rpwb.com
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Provides free tax preparation for households with low-to-moderate incomes. VITA volunteers will receive training to prepare basic tax returns in various communities throughout the state. The training will be sponsored by various organizations that run VITA sites (libraries, churches, schools and neighborhood centers) and will be conducted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In addition, participants will receive outreach materials on additional programs.
Clanitra L. Stewart, Chair
S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center
P.O. Box 7187
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 779-1113, ext. 104/F: (803) 779-5951
cstewart@scjustice.org
Jessica S. Wells, Co-Chair
1013 Park Ave.
Florence, SC 29501
(843) 260-0805
jessica537@aol.com
Wills Clinics
Provide free wills for first response personnel including police officers, firefighters and paramedics. During a clinic, attorneys set up workstations to provide this service, usually at a fire department or police station. Clinics will be scheduled throughout the state several times a year. In November, the committee will schedule a clinic for veterans. Guidelines, forms and a training session will be provided prior to each clinic.
Katie H. McElveen, Chair
Richardson Patrick Westbrook & Brickman, LLC
1037 Chuck Dawley Blvd., Bldg. A
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 727-6602/F: (843) 216-6509
kmcelveen@rpwb.com
Publications Committee
Prepares and updates YLD publications, a service that provides important legal information to the public. This committee is responsible for collecting articles for the Division newsletter, South Carolina Young Lawyer, which is distributed semi-annually. This newsletter is one of the YLD’s prize-winning projects and serves as the main source of communication between the Division's Executive Council and membership. The newsletter contains committee reports, upcoming events, member spotlight, practical tips and other items of interest to young lawyers.
Shelby K. Leonardi, Chair
Nelson Mullins, LLP
1320 Main St., 17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 255-9597/F: (803) 255-9166
shelby.leonardi@nelsonmullins.com
Each One/Reach One Campaign
Encourages young lawyers to donate to the S.C. Bar Foundation’s Young Lawyer Legacy category. This category will allow young lawyers to make an annual donation that is affordable and assist the Bar Foundation with its goals. The passions of many young lawyers are served through Bar Foundation grantees such as S.C. Legal Services and the S.C. Bar Law Related Education Division. In turn, the Bar Foundation will donate a portion of the Young Lawyer Legacy contributions back to the YLD.
Amy L. May, Chair
Rogers Townsend & Thomas, PC
P.O. Box 100200
Columbia, SC 29202
(803) 771-7900/F: (803) 343-7017
amay@rtt-law.com
