Sally Akins of Ellis Painter Ratterree & Adams LLP, Savannah (Courtesy photo)

Sally Akins completed a term as president of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association in 2018, the state's organization of civil litigation defense attorneys.

The group credited Akins for commemorating GDLA's 50th anniversary by producing a magazine that chronicled the history of the association, along with memories from past presidents about their tenure.

The role on the GDLA was a high point in a career of service to professional organizations, including the State Bar of Georgia. Last year, the General Practice & Trial Section gave her its  Tradition of Excellence Award for the defense, the section's highest accolade bestowed upon a litigator.

Akins also was appointed by the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia to its Local Rules Committee, and in 2017 the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit appointed her to the court's Advisory Committee, where she continues to serve.

Akins is a partner at Ellis, Painter, Ratterree & Adams in Savannah and a neutral for Miles Mediation & Arbitration.

What do you like about representing the defense side in civil cases?   The energy of defending my clients' interests in the courtroom, as well as the wonderful collegiality of the defense bar.

As a member of the Georgia Board of Bar Examiners, what is one of the biggest misconceptions people have about the bar exam?

Admission to the practice of law is not just the two-day bar exam. It involves an in-depth investigation into character and fitness along with measuring the competence of the examinees. The primary purpose is to protect the public.

Who was one of your mentors, and what did you learn from that person?

My father, Arden Brown, and my law partner of 25 years, Paul Painter Jr. These two incredible men instilled in me the value of treating all people with the same level of dignity and respect—whether chief justice or grocery clerk—and the importance of hard work and integrity. I lost both in the last couple years, and my daily hope is that I am always trying to emulate them.