Posted in: Lawyers › Editorial Board
For Charleston law professor and attorney Constance Anastopoulo, family has been a big source of inspiration in her law journey.
“I was drawn to law school because my father was a lawyer, and I admired his commitment to equity and the power of law,” Anastopoulo said. “He was an immigrant to the United States from Greece and the first person in my family to go to college and then law school.”
Her father’s law career inspired her to apply to law school at the University of North Carolina where she was awarded a grant from The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to work with women in the North Carolina Women's Prison.
The program was impactful during Anastopoulo’s law school years and left a lasting impression.
“I chose my particular law school because of its commitment to public service,” Anastopoulo said. “Meeting and talking to the women through the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation while learning about the circumstances that brought them to be incarcerated profoundly impacted the kind of lawyer I wanted to be. The larger systemic problems and their individual personal stories informed the next phase of my career to use my law degree to represent the individuals and fight for fairness in the legal system.”
After graduating from law school and years of working in civil litigation, Anastopoulo brought her passion to the classroom and has been teaching as a tenured professor at the Charleston School of Law since 2007.
“I find teaching deeply fulfilling because of the opportunity to prepare the next generation of lawyers,” Anastopoulo said.
Through teaching insurance law for the past 13 years, Anastopoulo has become very familiar with step-down provisions in insurance policies. Her experience and specific cases and opinions inspired her recent article for SC Lawyer.
The South Carolina courts continue to find that these provisions violate the intent and purpose of mandatory automobile coverage that protects the interests of the public. Advocating for clients and making sure they are treated fairly is key Anastopoulo said.
“The biggest takeaway is for attorneys representing their clients to not give up or give in,” she said. “While the language in the policy included a provision to reduce the coverage, the attorneys for the insured argued against its application and won despite the decision of the Court of Appeals to enforce the provision. Ultimately, it's up to us as attorneys to advocate for our clients and ensure they are treated fairly in every circumstance.”
A veteran SC Lawyer author, Anastopoulo explained why other lawyers should give it a try.
“I have written several articles for SC Lawyer and each time, I have found the staff so easy to work with and very professional,” she said. “I find the process an enjoyable experience and I highly recommend other lawyers giving it a try. It's also a great way to connect with the legal community in the state.”