History

On November 1, 1957, South Carolina claimants’ attorneys met in Columbia and agreed to establish an organization that would be known as the South Carolina Plaintiff’s Attorney Association. This was the first meeting of what has now become the South Carolina Association for Justice. Over the next half century, the Association has served as a leading force fighting to protect justice for all.

The by-laws of the Association were incorporated in January, 1958, beginning with approximately seventy-seven (77) members. Since that time, SCAJ has grown to well over 1000 members and is one of the most respected, influential and oldest professional organizations in the State. Almost immediately, the Association had a major impact on the legal profession by helping draft the basis of the language that now serves as the Workers’ Compensation Commission Guidelines for Attorneys’ Fees.

Throughout the years,  the Association's name has changed from the South Carolina Plaintiff's Attorneys Association to the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association to what is now the South Carolina Association for Justice, but the mission of the organization has stayed the same.  SCAJ has helped successfully fight various efforts to reduce the rights of victims through litigation, lobbying, and awareness. As the organization has grown, so has the service it provides its members, including legislative monitoring, newsletters on important information for lawyers, and a liability insurance program. The Association also serves as an indispensable resource for its members, providing regular continuing legal education opportunities and popular, member-only online knowledge forums.

SCAJ, thanks to its history of strong leadership and conscientious efforts of its officers and staff, is now stronger than ever in membership, finances, services and recognition. The issues which prompted the organization of the South Carolina trial bar in 1958 are still with us, though much progress has been made. With trial lawyers across the state standing together, SCAJ will continue to be a strong organization serving as advocates for fairness under the law.