Mary Jane Goodwin

M. J. Goodwin has been a practicing Family Court lawyer in Anderson, South Carolina, and the surrounding counties, since 1991.   M. J. Goodwin is a 1987 graduate of Clemson University.  She graduated from the School of Law at the University of South Carolina in 1991.  She was admitted to the South Carolina Bar that same year.  She began her career in Anderson as a prosecutor with the Tenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.  After establishing herself as familiar figure in the Family and Criminal Courtrooms in Anderson, she opened her own firm in 1994.  M. J. Goodwin believes that everyone should have competent, zealous representation when facing any situation involving a Court.  Family Court is the most emotional, stressful Court that any litigant can face.  It is crucial to have an experienced attorney who can give solid legal advice and temper it with common sense. 

M. J. Goodwin's achievements include:

• M. J. Goodwin wrote the article “Homicide” that was published in South Carolina’s Legal Encyclopedia, Jurisprudence.  Volume 23, Pages 184-215.
• She is a former faculty member of the American Institute for Paralegal Studies, where she taught the Family Law segment of the program to aspiring paralegals.  October 1994 through January 1995.

• She was the teacher of the “Legals” section of the SLED Security Officer Training Course, Level 1.  Tri County Technical College, Pendleton, SC.  October 1991 through September 1994.  This course covered the law of Arrest and Search and Seizure.

• She was a guest speaker for the American Horse Protection Association, Inc. in April 1994.  The seminar was for law enforcement officers and animal protection volunteers.

• She has served as a presenter for the South Carolina Bar Continuing Legal Education Division.  She lectured on Guardian ad Litem work at the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013  and 2017 Guardian ad Litem Update program.  She has served as presenter at Seminars for DSS Attorneys and Caseworkers, dealing with hearsay exception cases.
• M. J. Goodwin worked as a DSS Contract Attorney in Anderson County, SC for approximately 5 years.
• M. J. Goodwin worked as an Assistant Solicitor in Anderson County from 1991 through 1994.
• After working as a prosecutor, M. J. Goodwin opened her own firm on September 19, 1994.  She has represented hundreds of people in Family Court and Criminal Court since that time.
• M. J. Goodwin  regularly writes a column, “Legal Pad“, in the online newspaper The Anderson Observer, informing the community on important legal issues that may affect readers.