South Carolina lawyer relishes an array of legal, life challenges

By Brian Cox

Attorney Justin Lawlor jokes that he was born and raised on a construction site.

He spent most summers in his youth working for his father, building houses, restaurants, and commercial buildings.

“I can dig a hole pretty well,” he says, adding that his father instilled in him a strong work ethic. “My grandma came over on a boat from Ireland when she was 16, and I think the immigrant mindset was deeply impressed on my dad. He raised us as if we were starting at the bottom and had to work for everything, just like he was raised.”

Born in Rockaway Beach on Long Island, N.Y., Lawlor moved to South Carolina with his family when he was 4 years old. His parents were convinced to make the move after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11 and the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 only blocks from their home two months later.

The family settled in Goose Creek, just about 30 minutes outside Charleston, where Lawlor grew up spending a lot of time on the water – fishing, sailing, surfing, and wakeboarding. From as early as kindergarten, he was active in the Cub Scouts and then Boy Scouts, eventually attaining the rank of Eagle Scout after putting his construction skills to work renovating a church’s Sunday School building that was in bad shape. In the fifth grade, he discovered lacrosse, which he would play all through high school. His team won the South Carolina Independent Lacrosse League championship in 2014.

Justin Lawlor

Justin was active in Boy Scouts growing up in South Carolina. When he first expressed interest in becoming a lawyer, one of the dads in the troop introduced him to an IP attorney who encouraged Lawlor to pursue an engineering degree.

Despite his childhood exposure to construction and the trades, Lawlor knew early on that he wanted to be a lawyer. It was through Boy Scouts, actually, that he received his first guidance on how to make that dream happen.

One of the dads in the troop put Lawlor in touch with an intellectual property (IP) attorney, who also happened to be an Eagle Scout. He told Lawlor there was a large demand for attorneys with an engineering background, advice that appealed to Lawlor who enjoyed science and math.

After high school, Lawlor heeded the IP attorney’s words and pursued a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of South Carolina.

Lawlor stayed at USC for law school, finding an affinity – maybe not surprisingly – for both construction and IP law. Nonetheless, he kept his mind open to pursuing other fields of law.

“One of the reasons I don't have any tattoos is because I know the way I think is going to change in five years,” he jokes.

When he learned that there were only a handful of law firms in South Carolina that specialized in IP law and that he would likely have to leave the state to gain experience before they would consider him, Lawlor turned his attention elsewhere and discovered he enjoyed litigation.

“I really enjoy creative problem solving and I think litigation gives you plenty of opportunities for that,” he says.

He obtained an internship at Collins & Lacy, P.C., one of South Carolina’s most respected law firms, concentrating on defense litigation. Founded in 1984, the firm includes attorneys with experience in several different practice areas, including commercial transportation, construction, employment law, insurance coverage, products liability, professional liability, and retail/hospitality/entertainment law.

Now an associate in the firm’s Retail, Hospitality and Entertainment Practice Group, Lawlor is immersed in attending hearings, holding depositions, and arguing motions. He has found that litigation presents countless opportunities to leverage his unique background, especially when dealing with experts or explaining complex issues to clients. Working under the guidance of one of the group’s team leaders, Andy Smith, Lawlor says he enjoys being challenged every day.

As a Boy Scout, Justin enjoyed meeting challenges, including taking part in the Maine High Adventure program where he scaled Mount Katahdin and completed a 150-mile canoe trip along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

Justin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law. He served as an intern, law clerk and paralegal at Collins & Lacy prior to being admitted to practice.

“He’s a great mentor and a great boss,” he adds.

Lawlor plays on the Collins & Lacy’s law league softball team, which he says has been “incredibly fun and a great way to get to know a lot of the attorneys we work with around town.”

“I was terrible at baseball as a kid, so I’ve really enjoyed actually being able to hit the ball now,” he adds with a grin.

He recently attended the Primerus Young Lawyers Section Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. The event offered substantial programming with insightful sessions that provided valuable learning opportunities and fostered meaningful discussions. He found it an excellent chance to connect with industry experts and peers. He looks forward to attending future Primerus events.

Lawlor and his girlfriend, Savannah, who he met while still in law school, recently bought a house in Columbia. She is a commercial property manager. The young couple enjoy spending time in nature, playing golf, traveling, and attending USC football and baseball games.

As Lawlor builds his practice at Collins & Lacy, he is reminded of a moment from his childhood when he started riding a bike without training wheels at the age of 2. After watching his older brother struggle to learn, Lawlor begged his mother to let him try. She did, though she was certain he would fall over. Instead, he stunned her and his brother when he kept his balance and rode off.

Lawlor has always been up for a challenge.