Turner Padget Mission:
“Turner, Padget, Graham & Laney is a client-focused law firm committed to providing efficient, exceptional legal services, and offering responsible leadership to our community.  Dedicated to the principles of excellence, integrity, loyalty and trustworthiness, we strive to enhance the economic well-being and quality of life of all we serve.  Building upon a tradition of high moral values, mutual respect and professionalism, we constantly endeavor to improve through innovation, shared vision and faith in one another.”

Core Values

1. Exceptional client service
2. Enhancing our quality of life through integrity, value, work ethic and dedication
3. Mentoring the next generation of Turner Padget.
4. Working cohesively to achieve firm goals.
5. Committed leadership roles in professional, trade and community organizations by firm attorneys.
6. Holding attorneys to measurable accountability standards that reflect the vision, mission and goals of the firm.

In the past 10 years, Turner Padget has grown exponentially in the number of attorneys and staff.  Superior client service; a commitment to support our number one resource, our people; and increasing work from new clients dictated our increase in numbers.

Turner Padget provides many exciting opportunities for employment and professional development. The procurement, training, and retention of our staff of attorneys, law clerks, paralegals, secretaries and administrative assistants continues to be a top priority of the firm.

Culture of Respect
Turner Padget’s culture can be defined as one of respect and professionalism.  Our commitment to client service does not start at the shareholder title.  Recognizing that each person in the firm is an asset in serving our clients, our management group and owners have created a culture where respect, listening, mentoring and service is expected.  Attorneys and staff at all levels will play critical roles on client matters and overall firm projects.

Diversity

The professionals that walk our halls, the clients that we keep and the communities in which we serve evidence Turner Padget’s commitment to diversity each day.  As the firm that touts the first and one of only two women presidents of the South Carolina Bar, Turner Padget’s dedication to creating a diverse work force has long been a foundation of our firm’s success.

With regional, national and international clients, Turner Padget professionals reflect the diversity of those that we serve.  From an attorney that comes to us from Zimbabwe, Africa to an attorney who was born and raised in the backyard of Columbia, South Carolina, Turner Padget understands that in order to best serve our clients from across the nation and globe, we must hire and retain professionals that bring diverse talents, backgrounds and life experiences to the board room and court room table.

Turner Padget’s ongoing mission is to recruit, retain and promote a diverse group of attorneys and staff throughout the firm. The firm welcomes those from different nationalities, races, genders, ages, creeds, and religions. We do this by promoting a workplace of inclusivity, using diverse talents to bring achievements to clients and the firm, and celebrating the work of diversity initiatives by firm professionals.

Turner Padget is proud of our commitment to building a workforce dedicated to all people, all clients and all communities.  Some examples of how Turner Padget promotes diversity both within the firm and in the community include:

• Turner Padget hosts an annual Women’s Leadership Conference for all female attorneys and directors.  This is a day and half retreat that focuses on women’s leadership issues, achievements, needs and goals for the following year.

• A Turner Padget shareholder was the first woman president of the South Carolina Bar and still serves in the promotion of woman as a member of the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association.

• Two attorneys are members of the National Bar Association; an organization began in 1925 by African-American attorneys.

• Turner Padget attorneys actively recruit at the Southeastern Minority Job Fair.

• Several female attorneys are members of the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association.

• A Turner Padget associate has served as a faculty member teaching a transnational dispute resolution course in London.  She is also an active member of the International Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation where she is a regular columnist for the American Bar Association International Law publication.

• As a member of the American Bar Section of Litigation, a firm shareholder actively participates in the Section's diversity initiative. In addition, as Co-Director of all Division IV Committees (procedural committees) he ensures the Section's diversity policy is adhered to, and particularly, that all program panels reflect the Section's diversity policy, and diversity is reflected in the make-up of the panels.

• A shareholder is the subcommittee chairperson for the Defense Research Institute Employment Law Section on Diversity.

• In 2006, a shareholder completed the Furman University Diversity Leadership Academy of the Low Country.  In 2007, we will nominate an associate for the program.

• A shareholder attends the American Bar Association Diversity Committee and the Minority Trial Lawyer Subcommittee of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section.

• Several firm associates are members of the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division.  The firm’s managing partner is a previous president of the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division.

• A shareholder serves on the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Counsel.  Six other firm members are also members of this organization and support events throughout the year focused on an international perspective.  The firm is also a Diplomat sponsor of the World Affairs Counsel Annual Dinner.

• Firm attorneys and directors participate in leadership programs, such as Leadership Columbia, Leadership Greenville, Leadership Florence and Leadership South Carolina, that commit a substantial amount of classroom time to addressing diverse issues within their communities and state.

• A shareholder serves on the Board of Directors for the Auntie Karen Foundation. The Foundation is a global charitable corporation with the mission of creating and implementing community outreach programs that will empower, enlighten and educate children through the arts.

• A shareholder serves on the Board of Directors at Allen University.  Allen University is the first institution of higher education in South Carolina founded by African Americans for the express purpose of educating African Americans.

• Turner Padget represents Columbia College, a private liberal arts women's college, with co-educational programs offered and students enrolled from 20 countries.  Further, the firm actively supports Columbia College by sponsoring speakers for the Leadership Institute of Columbia College.

• Turner Padget has actively supported the University of South Carolina School of Law Black Student Law Association and sponsors its annual dinner.

• In 2006, Turner Padget was the only law firm to host 14 judges from Azerbaijan.  The firm hosted the judges in both Columbia and Charleston.  The Azerbaijan judges toured the state’s judicial and legal education system during a 14-day visit.  The American Bar Association, Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative and the United States Agency for International Development sponsored the study tour.

• Turner Padget supports companies filing applications to be recognized as DBE (disadvantaged business enterprise) for a minority contract.

• Turner Padget enjoys relationships with Eagle International Associates, Inc. and Business Counsel, two global legal organizations focused on providing the highest level of service to clients through its network of national and international attorneys.  These two networks provide a level of resources and experience from South Carolina to the United Kingdom and beyond.