Event Information

Kharimah Roacher Dessow received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of South Carolina where she was a recipient of the Magellan Scholar Fellowship. After graduation, Kharimah matriculated at the University of South Carolina School of Law where she was a member of the Women in Law organization and the Pro-Bono Program. An ardent advocate for survivors of domestic violence and children, she completed an externship with the Lexington County Solicitor’s Office with their Special Prosecutor for Criminal Domestic Violence and completed extensive research on the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child sexual abuse.

Following her admission to the South Carolina Bar, Kharimah began her legal career with the South Carolina Legal Services Corporation where she represented  indigent citizens of South Carolina in housing disputes, access to education and special education hearings, consumer debt and consumer abuse cases, denial of public benefits appeals, wills, trusts, estates and family law matters. She then worked as an associate with the Brunson Law Firm, LLC where her primary areas of practice were social security and veteran’s disability, residential real estate transactions, personal injury, probate and family law matters. She later founded The Paraclete Law Center, LLC, a boutique law firm focusing on representing survivors of domestic violence and indigent families throughout the state of South Carolina. Her practice is largely concentrated in Family Court, where she helps clients with divorces, custody cases, adoptions and other related issues.

Kharimah is currently the Staff Attorney for the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) where she provides legal technical assistance and support to attorneys and other legal professionals representing survivors of domestic and sexual violence. In addition, she works to help identify and recruit pro bono and contract attorneys throughout the state. She also responds to calls from survivors of domestic and sexual violence and provides legal information and referrals to SCCADVASA’s 22 Member Organizations, legal services partners, and pro bono/low bono attorneys.

Kharimah is a licensed member of the South Carolina State Bar, the American Bar Association, and the Richland and Sumter County Bars. She is a graduate of the National Family Law Trial Institute and a member of the South Carolina Bar’s Young Lawyers Division and served on the Voices Against Violence committee. She was awarded the 2019 Judiciary Award for her service to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault by the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands and serves as a Guardian Ad Litem in highly contested domestic matters.

Led to become a lawyer because of her passion for helping survivors of domestic violence, Kharimah recognizes the need for a trauma informed and survivor centered approach to advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Lisa Martin is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law.  Professor Martin teaches a seminar on Gender-Based Violence and directs the Domestic Violence Clinic, a clinical training program in which law students gain advocacy experience by representing clients who have been subjected to gender-based violence.  Under Professor Martin’s close supervision, clinic student attorneys assist clients to obtain Orders of Protection, Restraining Orders, Permanent Restraining Orders, and affirmative immigration remedies. Professor Martin’s research focuses on issues relating to gender-based violence, the rights of adolescents, and access to justice. 

Prior to joining the University of South Carolina faculty, Professor Martin was a member of the faculty at The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, where she was the Co-Director of the Families and the Law Clinic, the Director of the Experiential Curriculum, and taught Gender, Law, and Policy.  Prior to teaching, Professor Martin was a staff attorney and co-director of the interdisciplinary Teen Dating Violence Program at Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE) in Washington, D.C. and a litigation associate at Arent Fox LLP. 

Professor Martin received her B.A., magna cum laude, from the College of William and Mary, and her J.D., cum laude, from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Olivia Hassler is originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania.  She holds two undergraduate degrees from the University of South Carolina and graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2019.  She is currently an attorney at the Strom Law Firm in Columbia, South Carolina.  As a survivor of domestic violence herself, she realizes how important it is to have legal representation and a voice. Olivia first shared her story, while competing as a Track and Field athlete at USC.  She quickly became involved with helping others deal with their own experiences and focusing on prevention within the community and South Carolina as a whole.  Her efforts earned her the Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award, which is awarded to 5 student athletes across the entire nation who characterize the utmost examples of resiliency and bravery and echoes Wilma’s famous quote 'The triumph can't be had without the struggle.'  Additionally, she was named the recipient of the University of South Carolina Athletic Department 2015 Inspiration Award, which is awarded to one student athlete a year, for her decision to share her story through Gamecock Productions and later the SEC Network and ESPNW.  Immediately when she began practicing, she became involved in the Voices Against Violence committee and is pleased to help people navigate difficult circumstances and advocate on their behalf.

Rebecca Lorick is the Executive Director for Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands (STSM).  STSM, a SC non-profit serving five counties, is dedicated to advocating and supporting survivors of sexual violence and abuse and to educating the community to identify and prevent sexual violence.  Ms. Lorick, a seasoned non-profit professional, brings to STSM more than 16 years of experience in serving vulnerable populations, particularly those who have experienced trauma. Utilizing her expertise in creating trauma-informed environments where individuals can achieve their greatest potential, Ms. Lorick advances the already transformational work performed by STSM.

Prior to joining STSM, Ms. Lorick was the Director of My Sister’s Place Women’s Center and Lodge, operated by Catholic Charities of Baltimore. Respected as a subject matter expert on poverty, behavioral health, and trauma, Rebecca has been featured as a panelist at a variety of events including the University of Baltimore School of Law’s 2019 Urban Child Symposium. Along with years of non-profit experience, Ms. Lorick has unending passion to serve those in need with compassion and excellence.