From the Executive Director's Desk

• Citation: Vol. 37 No. 3
• Year: 2025

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S DESK

Vol. 37 Issue 3 Pg. 5

South Carolina Lawyer

December, 2025

Funnel Cakes, Folding Chairs, and the Ties that Bind

BY EMMA T. DEAN

Standing in the fairgrounds this fall, surrounded by turkey legs and funnel cake, I remembered. I remembered eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my car waiting to take the next session of the exam. I remembered folding chairs and tables, and being cold, but also so full of nervous energy. I remember scanning questions, frantically writing out key terms and tests, and gripping that pencil until it basically became part of my hand.

I was part of the last group who took the bar exam at the fairgrounds. Whether you took the exam there or at the Convention Center, whether you used a computer or a pencil, whether you remembered a jacket or froze in the massive room, we are all unified by that experience.

As part of my job, I speak with members at all stages in their legal career from iLs to retired attorneys, and I have heard similar themes when I listen to our colleagues. When speaking with law students, they still talk about the pages and pages ahead of them to read. Oh. how we all remember reading cases endlessly - page after page - before we knew how to spot the test and the key facts. They are learning a new way to write, a new way to think. We all remember those moments, and we remember the people that helped us along that journey.

This issue of "SC Lawyer'' focuses on how some members of our profession chose to become an attorney and now give back by developing the next generation of attorneys through mock trial. What other profession trains those that may one day become opposing counsel? Our profession's willingness to mentor and support future attorneys is incredible.

When thinking about mentoring new attorneys, I remember, years ago, meeting with a law student for lunch. We talked about what area of law interested her and people in those areas of law that she could meet. Towards the end of that lunch, she mentioned she needed help networking and finding mentors. I was struck by this because I realized I had always taken for granted that mentoring and networking as an attorney happens constantly. This was a watershed moment as I realized others may see mentoring and networking as going to an event that carries that name, but in South Carolina, mentoring and learning from other attorneys is a constant occurrence.

Whether you came to the profession through formal training and mentoring from a mock trial team or by talking with an attorney about a "Law and Order'' episode you saw. these moments happen constantly. We as attorneys may never know the role we play in building the next future attorney deciding to enter this honorable profession.

As we celebrate mentoring and networking within our profession, let us also remember the great impact mentors feel. I find myself learning from and being mentored by the very people I am mentoring. One of the unifying truths of attorneys is we all like to learn, that includes learning from our mentees and learning from each other.

Learning new things is a great part of this job as I get to learn what challenges each of you face. I am forever grateful to each of you who have reached out with information and ideas as you serve as mentors not only for me but for our entire profession as we all try to serve and improve our legal system.

Let us continue to mentor, network, and support each other, let us continue to connect on the stories of the past, and let us keep serving our profession with honor and hard work - and maybe grab a funnel cake together when the State Fair is in town.