The South Carolina Association for Justice (SCAJ) Presidents’ Council today awarded Spartanburg attorney Gary W. Poliakoff the Mullis Award of Excellence, a top honor recognizing service, commitment and education in the protection and promotion of justice. SCAJ has over 1300 members and is a leading advocate for matters related to an accessible judicial system and fairness under the law. The award was presented during their Annual Advanced Trial Lawyer College in Atlanta, Georgia, where lawyers from around the nation gather for training and education seminars.
“Gary is an example to all of us in the legal profession and embodies the core elements of commitment and education represented by this award. He has taught and shared his unique knowledge in environmental law for decades, an area in which he is one of South Carolina’s top experts,” said Hugh McAngus Jr., a Midlands attorney and Chairman of the SCAJ President’s Council.
Gary is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and received his J.D. in 1977 from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Since then he has been an advocate for victims’ rights, receiving the Victims’ Voice Award from the South Carolina Jury Trial Foundation, and has distinguished himself as a top trial attorney over his four decades of practice. He is perhaps most well-known for his work in environmental law, where along with being one of the top South Carolina attorneys in the field, he has also volunteered to share his expertise with lawyers both young and old for over twenty years. Gary also regularly volunteers for environmental causes and has served as Commissioner and Vice Chair of the South Carolina Forestry Commission under both Governor Jim Hodges and Mark Sanford.
Recipients of this award are selected by the Presidents’ Council, a group comprised of all the past presidents of SCAJ. The Council created the award in honor of J. Marvin “Bo” Mullis. For over three decades, Bo was committed to helping lawyers expand their knowledge base through educational seminars. He was instrumental in the formation and growth of the Advanced Trial Lawyer College, which is now a leading annual seminar for a wide array of continuing legal education (CLE) topics. When he passed away in 2012, the President’s Council created the award to honor Mullis and future individuals who share his commitment to “education, service, and excellence.”
SCAJ
The South Carolina Association for Justice was founded in 1957 to serve as advocates for those who are harmed by the actions of others and to strengthen the justice system through education and action. With membership from all across South Carolina, SCAJ is a strong and growing organization fighting for fairness under the law. Visit SCAJ.com for more information on the Association.