Nexsen Pruet Named SC Bar Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year

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The South Carolina Bar honored Nexsen Pruet as the 2018 Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year on May 15 at the House of Delegates meeting at Winthrop University.

According to the organization, “SC Bar Pro Bono Awards are presented annually to a lawyer and/or law firm that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services for the poor and disadvantaged. These services ensure that representation is provided to individuals and families in need of free civil legal assistance.”

Nexsen Pruet’s attorneys have long understood the importance of choosing to support the communities in which they live and work. It is a commitment that dates back to the firm’s early years, when Julian Nexsen, for whom Nexsen Pruet is named, provided legal services free of charge to a wide range of charitable and nonprofit organizations in South Carolina.

Our attorneys provide pro bono services to citizens throughout the Carolinas and to
organizations dedicated to delivering legal services to those less fortunate. Through our revitalized pro bono program, we aim to identify pro bono clients who have both great limited means to hire legal counsel or may be facing insurmountable obstacles as they seek access to justice. Cases and matters span a wide range of practice areas and are handled by teams from all eight firm locations.

^{William Floyd III and Peter Santos receiving the SC Bar Pro Bono Firm of the Year Award on behalf of Nexsen Pruet.}

Highlights of Nexsen Pruet’s 2018 South Carolina Pro Bono Efforts

• Mike Scott – Through his first project with the South Carolina Appellate Practice Project, Mike secured the release of an individual who was originally accused and convicted by the court of drug trafficking in Spartanburg County and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Click here to learn more.

• Melissa Spence – Melissa has focused her pro bono efforts in representing an indigent criminal client in front of the state appellate courts, as well as addressing legal issues that arise from her service as a board member for a local nonprofit organization. Click here to learn more.

• William Floyd III – In early 2018, the SC Attorney General launched the Veterans Active/Reserve Legal Outreach (VALOR) program, which works to provide free legal services to veterans and their families. COL William Floyd, a member of the firm’s Employment & Labor Law Group, in his role as Commander of the South Carolina State JAG Corps Detachment, worked with a group to assist nearly 60 veterans, and their spouses, with personal legal matters. Judge David G. Guyton, who conducted the inaugural event, summarized his praise of the program, saying, “Gentlemen, simply put, you positively changed lives for a lot of Veterans and their families yesterday.” Nexsen Pruet also supplied IT support for the event.

Highlights of Nexsen Pruet’s 2018 Pro Bono Efforts Across the Carolinas

• David Garrett – David, an employment and immigration attorney based in Raleigh, North Carolina, earned the first-ever Julian Nexsen Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award for his outstanding dedication to pro bono efforts. Named for Julian Nexsen, this award was established to honor Mr. Nexsen’s commitment to legal excellence and public service through pro bono works. David spent hundreds of hours, in conjunction with Advocates for Human Rights, advocating on behalf of individuals seeking asylum protection in the United States. The cases he has worked on, while extraordinarily complex due to complicated processes, language barriers and fearful witnesses, have saved lives. David’s tireless efforts and resolute advocacy on his clients’ behalf serves as a model for attorneys across the United States when arguing similar cases.

• Margaret Burnham – Using her legal knowledge and real estate experience, Margaret helped create and support the Francis Springs Prayer Center, Inc., an interfaith retreat center in Rockingham County, North Carolina, that also houses a peace and justice program.

• David Robinson – For the last five years, David Robinson has been working to support the Veterans Life Center, a 100+ bed facility for homeless and at-risk Veterans in Butner, North Carolina. Upon completion of the facility, the Veterans Life Center will work with Veterans to help them from falling into crisis, which among other things, can include chronic homelessness, incarceration, suicide or premature death.

• Lisa Sumner – Lisa volunteers for Legal Aid of North Carolina’s “Lawyer on the Line Program,” helping one client each month. The program gives private attorneys an easy way to provide basic legal advice and service to Legal Aid clients.

Pro bono work is a fundamental part of the firm's culture, just as Mr. Nexsen intended.
To learn more about Nexsen Pruet's pro bono efforts, click here.

Nexsen Pruet is one of the largest law firms in the Carolinas, with more than 180 attorneys and offices in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as well as Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1945, Nexsen Pruet provides a broad range of legal services to the business community and represents companies and other entities in local, state, national and international venues.