Attorney Sydney Lynn joined Joye Law Firm more than 11 years ago. In 2016, she established the firm’s Columbia office where she has continued to offer assistance in personal injury and workers’ compensation claims – leveling the playing field for those injured.
AALM: You have described your entry into the legal practice as divine intervention. What do you mean by that? Is this also what brought you to practice personal injury law?
SL: I was lacking direction before law school. An underperforming science major, I appreciated the curriculum but did not feel emotionally fulfilled by career prospects. And well, I’m an emotional person. I need to love what I do in order to be effective. Learning of the newly formed Charleston School of Law created a swell of excitement.
Faith is part of my life. For me, I believe “divine intervention” refers to an abstract guide which is reflective of one’s virtues, strengths and weaknesses, and which is guided by the ultimate commitment to protection and defense of the human spirit.
We all deserve to feel worthy and valued, especially the underdogs. By standing up to predatory insurance companies that put profits before people, I help level the playing field for injured victims. The unique opportunity to advocate for real people during difficult times is what led me to personal injury law.
AALM: You have said that trust is one of the most critical aspects of your client relationships. Is there a common thread that you’ve seen in your cases?
SL: I should have said that trust is the most critical aspect of relationships with my clients…but it’s a two-way street. While the trust of my clients in me is paramount, so is my trust in them. In my experience, accountability and advocacy breed trust.
AALM: Can you tell us about any of your mentors and some of the best lessons they’ve imparted on you?
SL: I’ve had many mentors throughout my career, and I hope to have many more. The most impactful mentor/mentee relationships develop command and confidence, but they also reveal vulnerability and humility and necessitate mutual respect. The ability to discuss a concept or approach with someone of greater experience without fear of being labeled “wrong” is a special thing. Even more special is having the benefit of a mentor that genuinely believes in you, celebrates you, and urges you to ask yourself, “If not me, then who?” Great mentors have the ability to highlight one’s strengths while compassionately guiding to improve upon weaknesses. And, of course, a great sense of humor never hurts.
AALM: What are some of the challenges of being a woman in the practice of law?
SL: Women make up over half of law school enrollment. In South Carolina, the entering class at Charleston School of Law was 66% women in 2021 and 64% women in 2022. At the University of South Carolina School of Law, the entering class was 52% women in 2021 and 53% women in 2022. The numbers have been similar nationwide for more than 30 years. After law school, women are hired in law firms in roughly equal proportion to men. However, women make up only 24% of partners nationwide, and roughly 27% of partners or shareholders in South Carolina. I cannot adequately begin to answer this question within the framework of this interview because it is so incredibly and simultaneously nuanced and complex. However, I can confidently, comfortably, and optimistically say that we can do better.
AALM: How has your position as president of the South Carolina Association for Justice impacted your practice?
SL: Serving as president of SCAJ gives me the opportunity to outwardly solidify my commitment to my clients, and to injury victims across our state. The beauty of our state is directly related to the greatness of its people. I am devoted to helping our people achieve greatness.
AALM: How has being a mom influenced how you practice law or work with your clients?
SL: Being a mother is a beautiful and terrifying experience that mandates the development and trust of self-intuition and time management. Through motherhood, we learn to recognize and use our intuition to make choices that align with our goals and objectives. We learn to independently assess a set of circumstances and determine how best to manage each aspect in such a way that needs are identified and addressed with an eye toward maintaining developing a multi-faceted outcome. My personal experience in motherhood (and certainly everyone’s is different) has taught me the value of earning the trust of my clients by leaning into a strong maternal instinct.
AALM: Looking back on your career, is there anything you would change?
SL: We can all cite things we would do differently, right? Accepting that as a baseline tendency of human nature, I have truly tried to make the most of every opportunity. Sometimes we are more successful at this than other times, depending on a host of impactful factors. In other words, sometimes I’ve “nailed it” and sometimes I’ve wished I made a stronger showing in one way or another toward an ideal outcome. That being said, I am committed to learning and growing through every moment of the crescendo – I still have so much work to do.
