Lawyer’s passion brings recognition

Ginny Nissen Waller has been a champion for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Her passion for those victims and her love of the law have distinguished the Columbia attorney among the state’s best.

Waller recently was named Young Lawyer of the Year by the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division.

“It’s one of those awards that you never think you’re deserving because you work with so many other wonderful people,” said Waller, who was formally honored last week during the Bar’s House of Delegates meeting at Francis Marion University.

The Young Lawyer of the Year award annually recognizes a young lawyer who most exemplifies excellence in practicing law and public service.

Waller is noted both for her work in the area of aiding victims of sexual trauma and for her service to the Young Lawyers Division.

She most recently worked in construction litigation at Ellis, Lawhorne & Sims law firm until leaving private practice earlier this year. Since then, she has maintained long-held service roles with Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands, including as a volunteer advocate, a speaker’s bureau representative and most recently a fundraising volunteer for the charity’s annual golf tournament.

“Ginny’s heart truly lies in her service,” said Venus Poe, Greenville attorney and president of the Bar’s Young Lawyers Division. “She has single-handedly spearheaded fundraisers that benefit access to legal services to low-income South Carolinians and support services to sexual trauma victims.”

Herself a survivor of sexual assault, Waller said her passion is driven largely by a desire to help others overcome as she has.

“There is comfort in knowing that you can help someone get past what you have been going through,” she said.

Waller graduated in May 2003 from the USC School of Law. After graduation, she served as law clerk to Steven H. John of the 15th Judicial Circuit, as a staff attorney with the S.C. Court of Appeals and as law clerk to Jasper M. Cureton of the S.C. Court of Appeals.

Waller has served in a variety of leadership roles in the Young Lawyers Division, including as chairwoman of the YLD Done in a Day Committee; Community Law Week Committee; and Justice Jam Committee.

In addition to her YLD involvement, she has served as a member of the Bar’s Pro Bono and Law Related Education Committees; as guest speaker for Irmo High School’s Career Day; and as judge for numerous middle and high school mock trial competitions.

She is a member of the Richland County Bar Association, South Carolina Bar, S.C. Women Lawyers Association and the American Bar Association.

“Her passion for what she does and how she does it is evident from the biggest picture to the smallest detail,” said Tiffany Spann-Wilder, president-elect of the S.C. Bar Young Lawyers Division. “She is the team player who will never let you down.”