Designated Funds

Donors to the Foundation may give to one of our designated funds or may permit the Foundation to use the funds where needed most.

Brewer Professionalism Fund
In May 2006, the Wilburn Brewer Jr. Professionalism Fund was created. Honoring long-time mentor and Nexsen Pruet attorney, Wilburn Brewer, the fund allows the Foundation to add yet another layer in its structure – that of promoting professionalism projects among the Bar. The fund was supported with initial contributions from Nexsen Pruet, LLC, ALPS as well as friends and colleagues of Mr. Brewer. A significant subsequent contribution was from Sowell Gray Stepp and Laffitte, LLP in September 2006. The fund will be used to sponsor future professionalism-related projects in conjunction with the chief Justice’s Commission on the Profession.

The Children’s Fund
By contributing to the Children’s Fund, your gift will support law-related projects that improve the welfare of children. In 2011, the fund was used to help support a volunteer coordinator for Richland County CASA. The new position helped transition the organization as it accommodated the changes in Rule 608.

Disabled Lawyers Fund
The Disabled Lawyers Fund enables the Foundation to assist permanently disabled colleagues suffering financial hardship as a result of accident or illness. In recent years, the fund’s purpose was expanded to work in conjunction with the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Program of the South Carolina Bar. Through this collaboration, lawyers who enter rehabilitation can apply for loan assistance to cover expenses of the treatment or with expenses related to maintaining his or her law practice.

If you are a lawyer in need of assistance through Lawyers Helping Lawyers, please contact LHL Director J. Robert Turnbull at 1-866-545-9590 (toll free helpline); (803) 799-6653, ext. 181 (office); (803) 603-3807 (cell) or via e-mail at rturnbull@scbar.org


“I need to express my appreciation for the help that I received through the partnership of the SC Bar Foundation and the Lawyers Helping Lawyers program. These programs made financial assistance available to me through the Disabled Lawyers Fund. They were there to help in my darkest hour. I received compassion; never judgment. I was afraid to call about my substance abuse problem because I feared my license would be in jeopardy. But, it was the best call I ever made. The funds allowed me to receive the rehabilitation treatment I needed and my law practice did not dissolve. I am in recovery, practicing law and have my life back. I am deeply grateful to the Lawyers Helping Lawyers program and the Disabled Lawyers Fund.”