January SCWLA President’s Letter 2025
January SCWLA President’s Letter 2025
What a lawyer looks like…
Dear Sisters in the Law,
Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you well as we start another new year! I am grateful to be starting this new year as President of our beloved South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, and am looking forward to sharing special moments with each of you throughout our bar term.
We all have our story. The one in which we have on our nicest suit, finest shoes, and shiny lawyer bag. Often with an undeniable lawyer file in hand. The one in which we fought past our imposter syndrome to gear up to put up our best lawyer fight, and… we are asked if we are the court reporter or the paralegal. Despite the unique brilliance we bring to the legal arena, women still make up only 38% of lawyers nationwide. That statistic drops to less than 18% if you are a woman of color, and 5% if you are specifically a Black woman lawyer.
One of my goals this year is to highlight all the different images of what South Carolina women lawyers look like each month. Young lawyers, “seasoned” (not senior ;)) citizens, moms, dog moms, differently abled, non-traditional careers, you name it, we are going to highlight it! Because after all, it is each of our unique differences that make us amazing!
This year - we will show South Carolina what a lawyer looks like!
First up, Id like to highlight a dedicated public servant, Jean Popowski. Jean has dedicated her career to service in the criminal justice sector. Having served as an Assistant Solicitor for the First Circuit, as a federal prosecutor as an Assistant United States Attorney, and now as the Deputy Public Defender for Lexington County, Jean has demonstrated a clear desire to use her legal acumen to serve others. Jean is also a frequent lecturer graciously and courageously sharing with fellow members of the bar her story of overcoming substance abuse. Jean is an example of grit, servanthood, and what an awesome South Carolina Woman Lawyer looks like!
