USC School of Law Alumni Council honors Chappell with Compleat Lawyer Award
May 2, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Recognizing an attorney of extraordinarily high standards, Mark D. Chappell, Founding Partner of Chappell, Smith & Arden, was named a recipient of the 2015 Gold Compleat Lawyer Award by University of South Carolina School of Law Alumni Council.
Chappell received the award April 30 at the Annual Alumni Dinner on the university campus. Established in 1992, the Compleat Lawyer Award is the School of Law’s highest recognition of professional achievement and civic leadership by the school’s alumni. Award recipients are nominated by other lawyers, or by members of the public who are familiar with a lawyer’s work. The final selection is made by the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Court of Appeals, the President of the South Carolina Bar, the Co-chair of the Law School Council and the Dean of the Law School.
“When you are passionate about what you do, and you do it long enough, sometimes people notice. That’s how I feel about being an attorney,” Chappell said. “I had always wanted to help people and being fortunate enough to attend law school at the University of South Carolina and obtain an outstanding education has equipped me to do more for others than I ever could have imagined.”
Chappell was admitted to practice in South Carolina and in the U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit in 1985. He was admitted to practice in the District of Columbia in 1993. Chappell currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice and is a Past President of the South Carolina Association for Justice.
“We know that our graduates do incredible things, and it is gratifying to see how others, especially their peers, recognize their extraordinary work, and think so highly of them,” said USC School of Law Dean Robert Wilcox. “The accomplishments and character of this year’s recipients once again reflect the ideals of public service and professionalism that the University of South Carolina School of Law — and its alumni — are known for.”
