A Second Chance

Becoming a lawyer and judge wasn’t Erin Dean’s plan.

At University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she studied in the department of radio, television and motion pictures with visions of a career in public relations or journalism. But three years out, in 1989, while working in the retail and food and beverage industries, Dean began to see a new vision.

“My family always said that I like to argue,” she says with a laugh. So she applied for law school at the University of South Carolina, and immediately felt the pressure. “Most of my first year, I was terrified. Back in the ’80s you had to wait, go to the school and look at a wall where they posted grades by number to know if you passed or failed. I was convinced over Christmas break I had not answered any of the questions right.”

It wasn’t the answers that were wrong, but Dean’s assessment of herself. Now, 32 years later, she’s a Multi-Jurisdictional Court judge in Beaufort as well as an insurance defense litigator at Tupper, Grimsley, Dean & Canaday. She hopes to inspire others in her profession to look to their communities to see where they can help.

“My mother was a social worker. She instilled in us from a very young age that public service is something that you do,” Dean says.

She has served as president and executive officer of the Beaufort County Bar Association, and member of the executive committee for the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association, South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, Defense Research Institute, and Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. She has also served on the boards of the Citizens Against Domestic Abuse, Hope Haven, and United Way of the Lowcountry.

“What I like most is that it’s never static,” Dean says. “The law is constantly evolving. The opportunity to continue to grow and learn is really what keeps me going.”

Combining her passion for the law with her desire to do good in the community, Dean has served as the judge for Adult Multi-Disciplinary Court, part of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, for the past 12 years.

When someone with substance abuse and/or mental health issues is recommended for her court, they have already pleaded guilty to a non-violent crime. The 12-to-18-month program consists of regular court appearances and abuse counseling sessions. Upon graduation, depending on the charge and if they complete treatment, a person’s crime can be expunged from the record.

“The motto is rehabilitation over incarceration. That is the process behind treatment courts across the country. You take people in the throes of substance use disorder and give them opportunities and resources to get better, so they become law-abiding adult citizens,” Dean says. “I have seen friends and family who have either succumbed to substance use disorders or turned their lives upside down. I had a personal interest in helping people have a second chance.”

The court has a current recidivism rate of 74%, and Dean has seen 161 individuals graduate the program since she was appointed by former Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal in 2011.

“We recently graduated a young man who came to us with several charges for substance abuse. He came into the program very headstrong … just trying to avoid going to prison. He turned his life around and is substance free currently and now mentoring youth,” Dean says.

Another graduate has since joined the police, she adds. “It’s amazing what challenges they’re able to overcome. It can be frustrating and it can be sad when people who are doing well [regress]. But the rewards are much greater.”

Dean has come a long way in the three decades since waiting with bated breath to see whether she passed her first semester of law school. She encourages her peers to think differently and, if they have an opportunity, take a role that helps improve their communities. “Our roles are attorneys and counselors. I think sometimes we forget the second half of that,” Dean says. “Sometimes that gets a little lost in the day to day. Even though our profession is very stretched for time between work, family and friends, I think there’s always room to do a little bit in your own community. Look to see something in the community you are passionate about. Don’t forget that part of the equation.”