We had the honor of sitting down with Alice F. Paylor for our Supporter Spotlight and learning about her impressive past and what inspires her to be involved with Charleston Legal Access (CLA). Alice and her husband are founding donors of CLA with their support dating back to early 2017, just months after CLA’s launch.
Unsurprisingly, Alice, a respected attorney in Charleston and shareholder at Saxton & Stump, was introduced to CLA through another impressive, well-known attorney in South Carolina, Adair Ford Boroughs, CLA's Executive Director at the time and current U.S Attorney for South Carolina.
Alice has spent her entire life living in either South Carolina or North Carolina. She was born in Charlotte and grew up in Greenville. When deciding which career to pursue, she was told she needed to attend a junior college to become a teacher, which was the typical career path for women in the 1970s.
But Alice did not want to be a teacher. She wanted to be a lawyer, just as the generation of men in her family were before her.
Alice shared, “I was always interested in politics and civil rights. I was one of the first women allowed at the University of North Carolina for my undergrad.” Alice went on to attend law school at the University of South Carolina, where women only made up 15% of her graduating class. She soon moved to Charleston and worked at a major law firm for over 40 years before becoming a shareholder at Saxton & Stump.
Since the 1970s, Alice has paved the way for female attorneys in a male-dominated field. She has advocated for the rights of many and she continues to serve the legal profession through mentorships of associate attorneys. Alice acknowledges how fortunate she was to have had a family that valued education and the many people in her life who supported her dream of becoming an attorney.
Alice prioritizes giving back to the community whenever possible. When asked what her initial response was to a sliding-scale model, Alice shared she was having lunch with Adair and remembers saying, “This has been a long time coming. Many people cannot afford a lawyer… the sliding-scale model is fantastic. Why didn’t anyone come up with this sooner?”
“We have all been created equal, but we have not been treated equally.”
Alice shares, “The mission of CLA is important to me. My mother was always pro-civil rights and I was brought up to believe that we might have all been created equal, but we have not been treated equally. I believe that people should have opportunities, especially if they have not had the opportunities that others have, and that it should be a level playing field. CLA provides that to a lot of people. And CLA does it in a very efficient, cost-effective manner. I know CLA doesn't have a big budget, and nobody is making tons of money, but it's the passion of the people who work there. I think about Sally Newman (CLA Founder), then Adair, and now Lana Kleiman (current executive director) - all just incredible women who could have been making a lot more money if that was their goal but instead they chose to make a big impact through CLA.”
And finally, we had to ask Alice what she hoped CLA would look like in the future and she said, “What you are doing now is great. The more resources CLA can get… that would be good. Whatever we can do to keep the good energy going.” We agree with Alice and will continue to keep the good energy going!
Thank you, Alice, for all you do for our community and the legal profession. We are honored to have you as a founding supporter of CLA!
About Charleston Legal Access
Charleston Legal Access is SC's first and only sliding-scale, nonprofit law firm. We provide affordable legal services at a price that those of moderate means can afford. Hourly rates are determined on an individual basis by a client's income and family size. Our initial screening and phone consultations with an attorney are completely free. In-person, 1-2 hour case consultations and limited assistance sessions are available for a flat fee of $50-$100. For more information please visit www.charlestonlegalaccess.org.
With client fees only making up 15% of our operational budget and a rise in demand for services, we are seeking like-minded partners to support our cause. Help us expand access to justice and legal representation by making a tax-deductible donation below.