Ellen Hines Smith Award

The Ellen Hines Smith Legal Services Lawyer of the Year Award was established in 1989 and is named in memory of Ellen Hines Smith of Spartanburg. Ellen was the founding director of Piedmont Legal Services. She served as a member of Spartanburg City Council and a municipal court judge. Her entire legal career was devoted to the creation and provision of legal services to the citizens of South Carolina. Her commitment and leadership were recognized both in South Carolina and across the nation.

The award is presented to recognize a lawyer who has demonstrated long-term commitment to legal services to the poor in South Carolina.

Eligibility and Criteria

• Demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services to the poor through a Legal Services program;
• Quality and creativity in the delivery of legal services to the poor;
• Successful litigation that has benefited significant numbers of indigents or favorably affected the provision of other services to indigents or other innovative actions;
• Commitment to the goals of Legal Services;
• Other public service for the community or the Bar.

Previous Recipients