From Prosecutor to Practice Owner: Erin Bailey Law Celebrates 10 Years in Georgetown

In 2016, Erin Bailey did something that shocked herself and others. After nearly seven years as a prosecutor, she stepped away from a secure career and took time off - no plan, no fallback job. Just space to catch her breath and think about what she really wanted.

“I had been putting so much of myself into that job that I was behind on life,” she says. “I hadn’t been to the dentist in three years. I just needed to catch up, put myself first for a little bit, and spend some time thinking about exactly what I wanted to do with my career.”

After three months of rest, reflection and a few unsolicited job offers, Erin made her decision. She wasn’t going back to work for someone else.

“I really wanted to go my own way. I wanted to build a firm from the ground up. I wanted to practice law in the way that felt right for me... and build my own brand around my own values.”

Built Different

That decision shaped everything - from the clients Erin serves to the way her office feels when you walk through the door.

“I knew from the beginning that the branding and marketing of my law firm was gonna center around me,” she says. “Because if you need a criminal lawyer, you don't want to call a law firm where you don't know who your lawyer's going to be. You want to call the individual lawyer - the one you're gonna trust.”

From day one, Erin set out to create a space that was approachable, not intimidating.

“I believe in dignity first. Every client, no matter how they walk in my door - dirty from a long day at work, in active addiction, or even in active psychosis - they’re gonna be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

And while it might be easier in this business to see people as files, Erin never has.

“It’s not just a file. That’s a person with hopes and dreams and family. They might have children. They probably have a career. And those are all things that need to be put to the forefront of what we're gonna do with that case.”

Why Georgetown

She could’ve started her firm anywhere. But Erin knew from day one: she wanted to be a Georgetown lawyer.

“There are too many lawyers in Charleston. There are plenty in Myrtle Beach. Georgetown’s an underserved area,” she says. “In my time as a prosecutor here, I made meaningful connections - with the prosecutor's office, with law enforcement, with business owners, and with many victims I helped get justice for.”

And Georgetown left its mark on her.

“If you’ve never been to Front Street, you really need to check it out. It looks like it’s straight out of a Hallmark movie. All the stores are local. The shop owners work together. They throw street festivals. It’s wholesome. It’s a throwback. And it’s a great place to own a business.”

Almost ten years later, that love for Georgetown runs even deeper.

“I’ll be in Georgetown for the long haul,” she says. “This is a community that helped support my business and grow it. And in return, I’ve tried to give back - to coach mock trial, do book bag giveaways, support school projects. Every opportunity I see to give back, I try to take.”

Laying the Foundation

“If I had the ability to talk to myself in 2016, I would say: You are building a foundation. You may not see immediate success, but you're doing it brick by brick.”

That foundation, Erin says, goes beyond dollars.

“It looks like community connections. It looks like giving back. It looks like being an engaged and involved business owner in a very small town.”

$10K for 10 Years

To celebrate the milestone, Erin isn’t making it about herself. She’s turning it into an opportunity to give more.

“In 2026, I want to give away $10,000 to a local nonprofit that is doing good work in our community,” she says. “It’s enough to start a new project or do a big renovation. We’re going to take submissions, highlight the top three and announce the award in 2026.”

The application process is simple: tell Erin what the project is, share a bit about the organization, and submit online. 

NOMINATE NOW

“This community helped build my business,” she says. “I’m proud to invest back into the people and projects that make Georgetown what it is.”

From The Ground Up, Celebrating a Decade in Georgetown

Ten years in, Erin Bailey Law is still standing on the same foundation it was built on - brick by brick, case by case, client by client, on her time and her terms.

And best believe, she’s just getting started.

Know an organization doing meaningful work in our community?

Working on a project that could use a boost?

Nominate your local organization or a nonprofit you love through our 10-Year Anniversary page.We’ll highlight three standouts on social media, then award one local group with a $10,000 grant early next year to help bring their project to life.

Follow along @erinbaileylaw on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook as we celebrate a decade of doing things differently and showcase a few of the organizations making an impact here in Georgetown.