White Named Legal Services Lawyer of the Year
February 23, 2010
COLUMBIA, SC – February 23, 2010 – Attorney Maureen White has been named the Ellen Hines Smith Legal Services Lawyer of the Year for 2009. She leads the bankruptcy practice group for South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS) and is responsible for instruction and resource to other attorneys on staff. Under her leadership bankruptcy cases have tripled as an important tool in SCLS’ quest to defend foreclosures, protect clients’ equity in their homes and prevention of homelessness.
Andrea Loney, SCLS Executive Director said, Maureen is an energetic, highly capable and admired attorney on our staff. She is responsible for improving the competency of scores of attorneys who otherwise would be reluctant to enter the difficult practice area of bankruptcy. Through her instruction to these attorneys, as well as her own personal advocacy on cases assigned to her, she has been instrumental in permanently improving living conditions for thousands of impoverished persons who entrust their legal work to SCLS. She carries out this difficult work with high ethical standards, diligence, commitment and a contagious attitude of service to our clients. We have many other excellent attorneys who will be recognized at some future date but I feel certain we will never find anyone who exceeds her combination of strengths in serving our clients. It is an honor to have her on staff and to have her as a friend.
White has practiced law since 1983, first in Ohio and then in South Carolina since 1996 after her marriage to Steve White and her move to Greenville. She has two daughters and is active in her church, Prince of Peace.
White, a repeat triathlon competitor, is an avid participant in her daughters’ school programming. White was born with congenital cataracts and, until an operation in recent years, was unable to drive. She completed nineteen years of formal education, including college and law school, prior to the surgery that improved her vision.
SCLS is a statewide law firm that provides free legal services in a wide variety of civil legal matters to eligible low income residents of South Carolina. SCLS is a non-profit corporation that serves residents of all areas of the state with field offices located throughout South Carolina.
The Ellen Hines Smith Legal Services Lawyer of the Year Award is presented jointly by the South Carolina Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission and the South Carolina Bar Foundation. White will receive the award on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the Bar Foundation’s annual gala.
