Lander Establishes Curtis G. Shaw Pre-Law Society to Honor Public Service, Leadership

Lander University has formally established the Curtis G. Shaw Pre-Law Society, honoring the late Greenwood native and distinguished jurist whose career exemplified public service, integrity and a lifelong commitment to the law.

The society’s inaugural event featured South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice John W. Kittredge as the keynote speaker, who reflected on his longtime friendship with Shaw and credited him as an influential mentor in both his personal and professional life.

Kittredge spoke not only about the path to his career in law but also talked about the character required by members of the legal profession to sustain it. He shared personal stories from his decades-long friendship with Shaw, describing him as a steady presence and trusted mentor whose counsel extended far beyond the courtroom.

“I never planned to be a lawyer,” said Kittredge, noting that he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement. “I was encouraged to go to law school and as a result I continued on in a legal career.”

Kittredge said that in his practice as a young lawyer he often found himself in Shaw’s courtroom. “I greatly admired him for his civility and kindness,” he said.

Then, when Kittredge was elected to serve on the South Carolina Family Court bench in 1991, he said he went to Shaw for advice. “We became great friends, and I had dinner with him and his wife, June, on many occasions. Judge Shaw was committed to fairness and justice, and he had a tremendous influence on all who knew him.”

For Kittredge, Shaw remained a close friend through his service on the South Carolina Court of Appeals and then as an associate justice to the South Carolina Supreme Court.

A Commitment to Public Service

Kittredge said his own life in public service was not something he planned from the outset, but he discovered a calling through his work as a lawyer. “The desire to commit yourself to a life of public service is either in your DNA, or it’s not. And although it was not something that I had in my youth, circumstances occurred … doors were opened for me, and I realized that this is what I was supposed to do,” he said.

The program at Lander’s Abney Cultural Center Auditorium was attended by members of the state’s legal profession and the South Carolina General Assembly, including South Carolina Rep. John McCravy, Shaw’s son-in-law, and Sen. Billy Garrett, a Lander alumnus and lawyer, as well as Lander students, faculty and staff, and the Greenwood community.

Dr. Lucas McMillan, dean of Lander’s College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, said, “Tonight is about honoring public service. We see this in the impactful life of Judge Curtis G. Shaw – a devoted citizen who was of service to his city, our state and our nation.  We thank members of the Shaw and McCravy families for the gift of Judge Shaw.”

He added, “And then there is Chief Justice Kittredge: a distinguished jurist on our state’s highest court but – perhaps most important from my perspective – a dedicated public servant on our state’s courts for 35 years.”

The importance of the pre-law society, McCravy said, is the introduction that Lander students will have to the law profession and the opportunity to learn from the state’s leaders who embody a commitment to public service and a desire to shape the profession with dignity and humility.

“Curtis G. Shaw gave me the vision to go to law school, and that is what I want to pass on,” he said.

A Society Recognizing Legal Leadership

Establishing the pre-law society represents a meaningful investment in Lander’s future because it reinforces the University’s mission to educate ethical leaders and support students with aspirations in law and public service. It also positions Lander as a growing contributor to the region’s legal and civic landscape.

This is “a special day in the life of Lander University as we work to enhance the preparation we provide our students,” McMillan said. “The society’s work will build upon mentorship by faculty and the internships provided in law firms and in courts by members of the Greenwood Bar and other lawyers in our area.”

While it is common for colleges and universities to have pre-law societies, the naming of the society underscores the University’s desire to recognize Shaw’s impact on the law and the community. “This society will give our pre-law students a role model whose career reflects ethical leadership and public service,” McMillan said.

An Impact Beyond the Classroom

Garrett, who came to Lander in the 1970s to study political science, said the pre-law society is a gift to students who are interested in legal careers. “I wanted to be a lawyer when I began studying at Lander,” said Garrett, who juggled a full-time job at the local Piggly Wiggly store as a student.

“I didn’t even know a lawyer or what being a lawyer might be like, so having a pre-law society for Lander students is exciting to me,” he said. “Lander will be able to prepare students for meaningful careers in the legal profession while strengthening access to legal education and mentorship across the region.”

Lander student Ronnie Hipp, a sophomore from Lexington, hopes for a career in law and is a member of the pre-law society. “This is an opportunity to learn in an environment that specifically is designed for students interested in law and to take advantage of connections with those who are practicing law. This is going to be a great benefit to me and other students as we plan our careers.”