GREENVILLE — Letitia Verdin, a 1988 graduate of Seneca High School, said she entered into law in order to help people. Though she now has a different vantage point, the goal remains the same.

Verdin, the daughter of Harry and Angela Hamilton, both retired educators in the School District of Oconee County, had practiced law for 11 years as a prosecutor in Greenville. Recently, the South Carolina State Legislature elected Verdin, who now resides in Greenville, as a family court judge.

“It’s definitely a change in that you want to make sure you look at things from all sides,” Verdin said during a recent interview. “While it has been a smooth transition, you do feel a greater responsibility to ensure that you give everyone, even those who do bad things, a fair shake.”

Following her graduation from Seneca High, Verdin attended Furman University and earned her bachelor’s degree in 1992. Verdin took some time off before entering law school, earning her degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1997.

Once she entered the legal profession, Verdin began work at a private practice in Greenville, practicing family law and insurance defense work.

“This primarily involved government liability work, such as representing police officers and teachers who were the subjects of lawsuits,” Verdin said.

While attorneys are often subjected to criticism, due to their willingness to defend individuals accused of all sorts of heinous crimes, Verdin said justice is non-exclusive.

“Law, when it’s practiced right, is whoever your client is,” she said. “You zealously represent that person while also maintaining respect for people and the profession itself.

“You would never want to do anything unethical, anything you wouldn’t feel good about, but you also try to balance that with doing what is in the best interests of your client.”

While practicing law in family court, Verdin said she attained a high respect for judges and how they affect the lives of individuals.

“I primarily prosecuted child abuse and domestic violence cases,” Verdin said. “Those issues are near and dear to my heart.”

The support of the Oconee County Legislative Delegation was crucial when Verdin made the decision to seek election for family court judge. Now that she sits behind the bench, Verdin feels fortunate to be able to remain in the Upstate areas of Oconee, Pickens, Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg for at least the next year. Verdin’s husband, Chuck, is a tax attorney in Greenville, and Verdin is the mother of twin sons, Zach and Eli, both 5 years old.

“I am very fortunate to have a (South Carolina Supreme Court) Chief Justice in Jean Toal, who feels that judges with young children need to stay close to home,” she said. “Every six months, you receive an assignment and know well in advance where you’re going.”

One of three female judges from Greenville, Verdin succeeded Aphrodite Konduras on the family court bench. After spending her first two weeks on the bench with veteran judges as part of the training process, Verdin assumed solo duties in late June.

Now, Verdin rules on motions made by attorneys who were once former colleagues, which is something she admits initially posed a concern. But that’s not longer the case.

“They have gone out of their way to make me feel very comfortable, yet very professional about it,” Verdin said.

Verdin credits her parents for providing the educational foundation that follows her and her sisters. One sister, Blythe works in the Foreign Service and is stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, while the other sister, Felicia LeRoy is assistant principal at Walhalla Middle School.

“They really taught and impressed upon me that doing something to help children, especially those in need, is a worthy goal,” she said. “I am particularly proud of my work with children.”

Though uncertain how long she plans to remain on the bench, Verdin said she is nonetheless “very content and very happy” to be a family court judge.

“I certainly never close myself off to anything happening in the future, but I have wanted to do this for so long,” Verdin said, adding, “I am fortunate to have reached my career goal at 38.”