Midlands Regional Luncheon – July 26, 2012

The Midlands Region of SCWLA held its summer luncheon on Thursday, July 26, at the Palmetto Club in Columbia.  The program included a two-hour CLE on “Collaborative Law in South Carolina” that was free for SCWLA members.  The guest presenters were attorneys M. L. (Bart) Bartlett, Jr. and Shannon K. Burnett, both members of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP),who described the history of collaborative law, the process, and how it is developing in South Carolina.  Mr. Bartlett and Ms. Burnett have together established the South Carolina Collaborative Law Institute, a Columbia Group, and also created the Columbia Collaborative Law Center, L.L.C.  They are currently authoring the book Collaborative Law in South Carolina for the South Carolina Bar. 

A collaborative law practice is a voluntary dispute resolution procedure that seeks to settle disputes and avoid protracted litigation in divorce cases by providing a team approach to work through the issues facing families.  In a collaborative practice, they often employ other professionals to assist in this process, and they were joined by Philip P. Rusnak, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, to explain how his expertise contributes to this team approach.  Audience members asked questions throughout the program in order to learn more about how this emerging process is being used in domestic cases to reduce the conflicts between parties.  The team approach was evident in the speakers’ presentation and was very effective in demonstrating the process.  We greatly appreciate them coming to our Midlands luncheon and providing this timely and instructive overview for our members.  For more information on collaborative law, please visit www.collaborativepractice.com (from the IACP website).  You may contact the program’s presenters at www.ColumbiaCollaborativeLawCenter.com, or bbartlett@bartlettlawfirm.com and Shannon@burnettcairns.com.

-Karen Huelson, S.C. Supreme Court

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Midlands Spring Reception — March 15, 2012

Sarah Leverette

The evening included a presentation with three distinguished members of SCWLA. The Honorable Carolyn Matthews, SCWLA President, 2012-13, provided an entertaining look at women in the legal profession. Liz Zeck, SCWLA’s Immediate Past President, 2011-12, next informed our members about the new SCWLA Foundation, which she is heading up, and the Foundation’s Legal Scholarship Program. The program concluded with Sarah Leverette, a recipient of SCWLA’s Bissell Award, who was also the first female faculty member at the USC Law School and the second woman to serve on the SC Industrial Commission. She presented a thoughtful discussion on the historical perspectives of women lawyers in this state.

Many thanks are due our speakers for making this such an enjoyable event!

-Karen Huelson, S.C. Supreme Court

Immigration Law CLE — March 1, 2012

The SCWLA Midlands Region held a monthly luncheon and a free 1-hour CLE on immigration law on Thursday, March 1, 2012, at The Palmetto Club in Columbia. The guest speakers were Tammy Besherse, Staff Attorney with the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center, and Patricia (Tricia) S. Ravenhorst, Director and Attorney with the South Carolina Immigrant Victim Network, who spoke on “The Need for Pro Bono Counsel for Undocumented Youth.” In explaining the immigration process, they gave examples of the myriad circumstances that can lead to a child’s need for assistance from pro bono counsel and their efforts to sort out many difficult cases. The CLE was well-attended and SCWLA members had many questions on this topic. We look forward to posting a link to their materials on the SCWLA website soon. Many thanks to our speakers for their informative presentation. Thanks also to Joy Mandanus, an immigration lawyer at McNair who provided our introduction, and to Eve Ross, also an attorney at McNair, as they suggested this program after attending other functions featuring Ms. Besherse and Ms. Ravenhorst and being impressed with their efforts.

-Karen Huelson, SC Supreme Court

Midlands Luncheon on the Hudson River School Painters

Kerry Kuhlkin-Hornsby, Director of Education, Columbia Museum of Art

Thomas Cole (American, 1802-1848), oil on canvas

The SCWLA Midlands luncheon on Thursday, February 2, 2012 was held at The Palmetto Club (the Summit Club location) and featured Kerry Kuhlkin-Hornsby, the Director of Education for the Columbia Museum of Art as our guest speaker. Kerry gave SCWLA members a special slideshow presentation and a discussion regarding Nature and the Grand American Vision: Masterpieces of the Hudson River School Painters, a special exhibition of forty-five magnificent paintings on loan from the collection of the New-York Historical Society until April 1, 2012. The paintings are on loan for a limited period that began last fall while the NYHS undergoes renovations. She noted Columbia was selected as one of only four stops in the nation for this traveling exhibition, and it is the only stop in the Southeast.

The Hudson River School developed during the 19th century, when various artists and writers created landscapes and writings focused primarily on the Hudson River Valley area in New York. The exhibition is divided into four main themes: (1) The American Grand Tour, (2) American Artists A-Field, (3) Dreams of Arcadia: Americans in Italy, and (4) Grand Landscape Narratives. Of particular interest was Kerry’s presentation on the last of these four themes, which included Thomas Cole’s dramatic series of paintings entitled, The Course of Empire (c. 1834-36), which she described as depicting the rise of a great civilization from an unspoiled landscape, followed by the civilization’s ultimate decay into ruins.

Kerry encouraged SCWLA members to enjoy this unique opportunity to view and learn more about this extraordinary collection, and she stated guided tours are available by contacting the Columbia Museum of Art. Kerry’s behind-the-scenes tour for SCWLA was certainly appreciated, and a special thanks goes to Bebe Barton for arranging this presentation for our group. We now look forward to seeing more of the collection in person!

-Karen Huelson

Midlands Luncheon with Barbara Seymour, Deputy Disciplinary Counsel with the Supreme Court of South Carolina

The Midlands Region of SCWLA welcomed in the New Year with a large turnout at its luncheon in Columbia on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at the Summit Club. Barbara Seymour, Deputy Disciplinary Counsel with the Supreme Court of South Carolina, presented a two-hour annual ethics update that is always one of the most-popular programs at the Midlands luncheons. Barbara covered three areas, which included (1) highlighting the Annual Report of Lawyer Discipline in South Carolina, (2) summarizing some of the significant 2011 disciplinary opinions, and (3) discussing recent rule changes and proposals by the Supreme Court.

The Annual Report contained some interesting statistics, such as the fact that less than 1% of complaints in the last year were filed anonymously, and nearly 63% were filed by the clients themselves or by the clients’ family members or friends. The bulk of the complaints were filed against attorneys who are sole practitioners (38.8%) or in law firms (35.17%), with corporate counsel and mediators/arbitrators comprising the least complained about practice types, at less than 1% each.

Several disciplinary cases were notable for the criminal violations involved, ranging from the unfortunately all-too-common (hiding of assets), to the bizarre (indecent exposure), to the unbelievable (lawyers trying to kill other lawyers). Apparently negotiation and problem-solving skills are not as universally possessed or practiced as one would hope. Many cases involved substance abuse as a contributing factor, and the South Carolina Bar is a great source of assistance for lawyers needing help.

Lastly, on the topic of recent rule revisions and proposals, Barbara noted that in August 2011, the South Carolina Supreme Court revised Rule 7.1 to permit, in limited circumstances, the use of testimonials in lawyer advertising. The Court has also begun the first phase of implementing electronic filing in South Carolina courts by creating the Attorney Information System (“AIS”), an electronic database with contact information for attorneys licensed in South Carolina. All Bar members were required to register with AIS online prior to renewing their dues for 2012.

As always, Barbara provided a wealth of information and much-appreciated ethics credits as a benefit to our SCWLA members. For those who missed this wonderful opportunity and would like more information on the matters mentioned above or who have any questions on the disciplinary process, please contact Barbara Seymour at the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, (803) 734-1419.

-Karen Huelson, S.C. Supreme Court

Midlands Holiday Luncheon with Libby Anne Inabinet — December 2

Libby Anne Inabinet

The SCWLA Midlands area held its December holiday luncheon on December 2, 2011 at Columbia’s Summit Club. Libby Anne Inabinet, Regional Chief Development Officer for the American Red Cross, Columbia Region, was our guest speaker. She is a South Carolina native and has over twenty years of nonprofit experience, and she was also a teacher in the Richland County area for nineteen years. Among her many accomplishments, Libby Anne opened the first office of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic in South Carolina and served as its first State Director. In her introduction, Cindy Ouzts noted that Libby Anne has received numerous awards for her outstanding charitable work and services to the community.

The worldwide International Red Cross and Red Crescent network was originally formed after a Swiss businessman, Henry Dunant, witnessed a battle in 1859 outside the Italian town of Solferino. He set out to organize care for those wounded in war. At an International Conference in 1864, representatives of sixteen European states and four philanthropic institutions adopted the first Geneva Convention, a treaty to save lives and alleviate the suffering of wounded or sick military personnel. The red cross, a reversal of the Swiss flag’s white cross on a red background, was designated as the symbol to identify medical personnel and facilities and their neutral status. The 1864 Geneva Convention became the foundation of what is now known as international humanitarian law (IHL), which encompasses humanitarian principles and international treaties directed at helping both combatants and noncombatants during armed conflicts.

Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881. Libby Anne stated the relief offered by the American Red Cross has expanded over time, and it now encompasses help in five major areas: (1) Biomedical Services (including the delivery of medical supplies), (2) International Disasters (recent examples include Japan and Haiti), (3) Local Disasters (relief from apartment fires and other events, which occur locally every eight hours), (4) Services to the Armed Forces, and (5) Health, Safety, and Youth Education Programs (including a training program for babysitters, CPR instruction, and swimming lessons). The American Red Cross still oversees the vital function of blood donation, and Libby Anne gave a very moving account of how one of her sons was saved by blood donations. He is now healthy and is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina, where another son plays football for the Gamecocks. She noted the Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders helps support the humanitarian mission of the American Red Cross.

Libby Anne was a very gracious speaker and the perfect representative for such a worthwhile organization, which has touched lives in this community and beyond. For more information on the programs and services of the American Red Cross and how you can help, please contact Libby Anne at InabinetLib@usa.redcross.org, (803) 540-1220 (business) or (803) 309-3069, or at P.O. Box 91, Columbia, SC 29202 (the physical street address is 2751 Bull Street). Happy Holidays!

-Karen Huelson, S.C. Supreme Court

2011 Bissell Award Winner Martha Dicus

Remarks given by Martha Dicus, Bissell Reception on October 21, 2011, Columbia, South Carolina

Hosted by South Carolina Women Lawyers Association at Nexsen Pruet Law Firm

Thank you everyone for your kind introductions. My friend Anne Bryan taught me what to say when you are introduced like this, with so many compliments: “Taint so, but how I do love to hear it. So, taint so, but I do love to hear it.”

For this award, for this lovely event, thank you to SCWLA and its President Liz Zeck, and its officers/board members, to members of the Bissell Award Committee, and to sponsors. Thank you all, SCWLA members, and my friends and colleagues, guests, for coming.

I am in such awe of the people here and didn’t know quite how to properly address it. I am not in the same league with many people here and I feel like when I name off people here and the prior Bissell winners, I sound like I am playing that word game of “What is Wrong with this List?” You give a list of words and all of them go together but for one word: pink, aqua, fuchsia, teal, lilac, azure, bacon. Which one doesn’t fit?!

Here it is more like – important woman, brilliant person, internationally-known lawyer -and then after including Martha Dicus on the list of prior winners, a clown horn blows. But I have readjusted my thoughts and taken the point of view that you all present, and that you all who are prior winners, rather than making me look out of place, make me look like I am in your league. That is how I am going to play my name being on this list!

I also want, in these preliminary remarks, to recognize a couple of people who will remain unnamed but they know who they are. They are several of my friends who pushed very hard for me to receive this award. And to them I want to say, “Thank you.” And I will make it my mission to make sure you each win a prestigious award, with a reception in front of internationally-known people and judges, in a ceremony where you have to make remarks, and I will make sure this happens for you in the month you have lost all your hair. That is my promise to you!

Everyone has been very complimentary on my wig. And people say, your hair will grow back prettier, and thicker, and curlier. But since I have been trying to still rock the dyed blonde look for about 30 years, I always say back, “Well, yes, maybe. But will it grow back blonde? That is what I really need.”

I have been nervous about accepting this award as my contributions are really modest compared to many in this room. Especially when the emphasis is on women lawyers. My interest has been the poor in SC. If we put the emphasis on the poor in my state, I can at least point to 30 years of being a legal aid lawyer or a Public Defender, not a brilliant appellate lawyer who may change the law for many, but just a front line “represent you in your shoplifting case, try to get your refrigerator back” lawyer.

Cam Currie wrote me a congratulatory letter and made me feel more comfortable accepting the Bissell Award and I am going to use what she said to speak a few minutes. Judge Currie said you have spent your life serving the needs of the least of us, and in doing that you have shown young women that it is a valuable, rewarding, worthy, and now very recognized career path. I hope my remarks convey the value of working in SC poverty law and sustain women lawyers in similar fields, and inspire other women lawyers to try my path.

The Bissell Award is the cherry on the sundae. To be a public interest lawyer – a lawyer for the poor of South Carolina – is treat enough. To be recognized and praised for it is more reward than one person should get.

I have a full speech I have given before on the joys of being a public interest lawyer. It takes the Aristotelian definition of happiness, weaves it together with Presbyterian theologian Frederick Beuchner’s discussion of vocation, and then intertwines several Joseph Campbell myths – all done in such a way as it becomes obvious that being a Public Defender or Legal Aid lawyer is the only thing anyone could logically want to do with one’s life. In my mind the speech makes the CEO of Coca Cola leave his corporate boardroom immediately for Atlanta Legal Aid, which, by the way, the Georgia Governor Roy Barnes did. This isn’t the forum for me to give that full talk but let me pull two highlights from that speech and tell you why it is especially wonderful to be a poverty public interest lawyer.

Public defending is such a gratifying profession. Public Defender clients are the most powerless people in our nation. Likewise their family and friends are the most powerless people in the nation. They were born with the smallest slice of the American pie. By the very nature of qualifying for a Public Defender, they fall below established poverty guidelines. They have no access to the halls of power. They may tell us sometimes they are going to write the Governor, or someone they believe to be equally powerful, about this or that injustice but no Governor or Senator I know of, except maybe Jimmy Carter, has really ever received a letter from a county jail and gotten interested.

It is only YOU, the Public Defender, sitting with your client in a county jail looking into his eyes, hearing his story, it is you who is the one person who gets the client’s story heard. And you probably don’t do it in a dramatic courtroom revelation, in a suspense-filled trial like some television shows would have you believe. It is more likely you get the client’s story heard in quieter, more every-day work ways like meeting with the prosecutor and humanizing your client, softening the police officer up by telling the police office your client’s story, or using your client’s life story as mitigation in a plea with the judge. Regardless of how you use your client’s story, you are the one who gets his story out and you are the only one with the ability to make others care about him. That is such a responsibility and such a privilege.

I had a client who was older (not older than me though!), from Wadmalaw Island, and had a long history of mostly petty, all most exclusively non-violent crime. When I was with him, getting his plea ready, I knew the State, as the solicitors are charged to do, would tell the bad parts about my client, so I worked with him on painting a picture of the more good parts, the more interesting parts – what it was like to grow up on a sea island in the 1950s, to leave school in the second grade to work with mother and father on the farm, what the sea islands were like then and the changes he had seen over the past 50 years of living in this unique place. I told him here is what I am going to say, and while, of course, speaking to his current shoplifting crime – but mostly painting a picture for the judge of the life he had growing up in the Gullah culture. My client listened intently to my sanitized version of his life. When I finished he said, like a child hearing a fairy tale, he said softly – “Tell it again, Miss Dicus, Tell it again.” He liked the story of his life with the bad parts soft peddled and the unique parts emphasized. It is the PDs job to get that side of the story out. To be the one trusted with getting a client’s story out is humbling, it is rewarding, it is a privilege, it is powerful. Hundreds of PDs statewide sit with clients in lonely county jails cell, listen to their stories and are given this trust by the client of getting their whole story out to the world, of telling their story in such a way as to make others care about the client.

From one of the loftiest reasons for being a Public Defender to one of the most lighthearted.

It is just an out and out fun job. Philip Simmons, who recently died, was a ninety- something year old nationally-known gate maker and blacksmith in Charleston. He said he started out when he was just a young boy by working in the blacksmith shop. It was where he wanted to be because it was where the action was. Sparks were flying, horses were kicking, carts and folks were coming in all day. It was the meeting hub of Charleston in the early 1900s. As a Public Defender, you are in the courthouse all day. It is the modern day hub of a community’s life. People, events, bustle, reporters, sparks flying. A Public Defender is where the action is.

Along the same line, it is fun because the Public Defender’s Office is a gathering place of new young lawyers and fresh ideas. New lawyers are still excitedly idealistic and enthusiastic in their pursuit of justice. All day in PD offices you hear heels clicking hurrying down the hall and you see people running out office doors with ties flying, saying, “Can you come help me argue this motion?” Subpoenas are being served, alibi witnesses are coming in drunk, offices are filled with clients, witnesses and loud voices proclaiming innocence. Snatches of conversations float between offices: “Mr. Dunaway, you’ve been such a good Public Defender for me. I sure hope it helps you get into law school.”

All this meaningful work, all this fun. And now, I am being recognized and praised for it. The Bissell Award is surely the cherry on top of the already overflowing, delicious sundae of being a Public Defender.

I want to depart these previous subjects and say one more thing. This has little to do with being a PD, or even with being a lawyer. In fact, what I am going to say sometimes is hard to square with being a lawyer. To be a good attorney one is always concerned with what happened yesterday on a case, and with planning for what will go on tomorrow. These following comments are more about what I have tried to do my whole life but what I have especially and ardently tried to do now, facing my illness: live in the moment; enjoy each moment; don’t let regret about yesterday or worry about tomorrow rob you of happiness in the present. My sister, brother, sister-in-law and Rhett have helped me do this very important thing – but it is a very hard thing to do too. But the present is all each of us know that we have.

Many people talk about living in the moment. The writers who write about this principle of living range from the most trite advice givers to the great philosophers to rock and rollers. Norman Vincent Peale writes (I hate to say this; I put him in the trite writer category, but remember, trite can also be true) that you need to live in “day tight compartments.” Rocker Warren Zevon writes, “Enjoy every sandwich.” Playwright Thornton Wilder in The Skin of Our Teeth has a character say, “My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate.” The loveliest way of expressing this thought is ee cummings’ “Wherelings, Whenlings.” In case you are like me and it takes a few readings of a poem to get it, let me help. I am prone to going, “I will be happy if…” and “I could be happy but for…” Well, let me tell what ee cummings says:

wherelings, whenlings
(daughters of if but offspring of hopefear
sons of unless and children of almost)
never shall guess the dimension of

him whose
each
foot likes the
here of this earth

whose both
eyes
love
this now of the sky

I wish you all, I wish me, the appreciation of the here of this earth, this now of the sky.