Top best Criminal Defense Lawyers Near me in ZIP 29201

William Hodge is an experienced attorney who practices in the areas of criminal defense, juvenile defense, and personal injury.

Richard “Dick” Ara Harpootlian is one of South Carolina’s leading courtroom advocates with 30 years of trial experience as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and civil litigator. Mr. Harpootlian’s dynamic and persuasive advocacy style and record of success has earned him a reputation amongst South Carolina’s legal community as a lawyer who can get results.. Mr. Harpootlian began his career as a prosecutor in the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Within two years, he was named Deputy Solicitor and tasked with the administration and supervision of over 20 prosecutors and staff members. As the Fifth Circuit’s chief homicide prosecutor, Mr. Harpootlian personally prosecuted hundreds of murder cases, including 12 death penalty cases.. He defended one of those convictions on appeal before the United States Supreme Court. In 1983, Mr. Harpootlian earned a conviction in the prosecution of Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins—South Carolina’s most notorious serial killer. Mr. Gaskins was sentenced to death. In 1990, Mr. Harpootlian was elected as Fifth Circuit Solicitor, winning by a margin of almost 2-1. He served from 1991 until 1995. As Solicitor, he personally prosecuted and obtained convictions in a number of high-profile murder, drug, and public corruption cases. In 1991, Mr. Harpootlian prosecuted and convicted ex-University of South Carolina President Jim Holderman for public corruption charges arising from the abuse of his office for personal gain.. For the last 20 years, Mr. Harpootlian’s private practice has earned him state and national recognition for his efforts on behalf of civil litigants and criminal defendants, including a number of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements, some of which are listed here.. In addition to his law practice, Mr. Harpootlian has been active in South Carolina politics. He was popularly elected and served on Richland County Council from 1986 to 1991. He served as Chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2011 to 2013. During his first tenure as Chair, the Party elected Governor James Hodges, the first candidate to unseat an incumbent South Carolina governor, and five other Democrats to statewide office.. Mr. Harpootlian’s views as a commentator on law and politics are regularly sought by national news programs. He has appeared on 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, ABC Nightly News, NBC Nightly News, Dateline NBC, and various CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and Fox News broadcasts. He is also frequently quoted in local, state, and national publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, and TIME Magazine.. Mr. Harpootlian has been invited to share his experience with bar colleges as a lecture for the South Carolina Bar Association on topics including class action litigation and criminal defense. For the last 20 years, he has lectured newly barred South Carolina lawyers during the Bridge the Gap Program. He is a former chair of the Criminal Law Section of the South Carolina Bar Association and a past member of the South Carolina Bar Board of Grievance and Discipline. He has served on the South Carolina Chief Justice’s Blue Ribbon Committee on Docketing and he is an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Randolph “Randy” Hough has practiced law for over 25 years, both as a prosecutor and as a criminal defense lawyer. He knows how the criminal justice system works from the inside out, and leverages that knowledge to help build a better defense for you. He has personally handled more than 2,000 DUI cases alone, and has represented clients in municipal, state, and federal courtrooms.

Preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of SC and the United States of America is my pledge to each and every one of my clients. My clients depend on me to stand up for them in times where they need a strong voice. I have dedicated my life to helping others in their times of struggle and injustice. In order to accomplish my goal of helping others, I stay motivated by the trust they put in me to keep their confidences and secrets.

My name is Lacey Thompson, and I am a criminal defense attorney in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina.  I started my career in criminal defense at the Frederick Law Office, and I have been hooked since my first day.  I never wanted to practice criminal defense, but as the saying goes, tell God your plans and He’ll laugh.  While it was not what I originally wanted to do, it was where I ended up, and I am so glad I did.  I get to help people every day I come into the office.  Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else, and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.  While this job can often be a struggle with what criminal defense attorneys face, those clients that I have helped and are helping make it worth it.. Any result that Lacey Thomspon achieved on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.

Mr. Shealey attended the University of South Carolina and graduated with a BA in 2001. After finishing his undergraduate work and exploring what career paths excited him the most, Brian chose to study law in Boston, Massachusetts, and graduated from New England Law in 2007. Mr. Shealey worked for 5 years at the Richland County Public Defender’s Office before establishing the Shealey Law Firm, LLC. Mr. Shealey has spent the majority of his legal career defending the most violent charges, including clients charged with murder, armed robbery, rape and burglary. Throughout his career, Mr. Shealey has achieved an impressive number of acquittals at trial, but he always attempts to use his courtroom success in an effort to shield future clients from the risks of trial by getting favorable results before ever entering a courtroom. The time spent fighting for his client’s rights in trial has given him a unique set of experiences that he enjoys putting to work for all of his clients in his every day practice. Mr. Shealey is admitted to practice in all South Carolina State and Federal Courts.

Mr. Milling handles civil litigation, corporate litigation, criminal defense, white collar criminal defense and appeals in all South Carolina state and federal courts. He is a former criminal prosecutor and is a CJA Panel attorney for the District of South Carolina and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Milling is a member of the South Carolina Bar and licensed to practice before the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, DC Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Luke Shealey graduated from The University of South Carolina with a B.A. in 2001. After clerking for two years at a major Columbia law firm Luke decided to pursue the practice of law. Mr. Shealey graduated law school in Boston, Massachusetts from the New England School of law. While there he was elected to the Student Bar Association and invited to write for one of the school’s several journals.. In 2006 Luke moved back to Columbia, SC and began working as an Assistant Public Defender, where he would diligently represent indigent clients on criminal cases for almost seven years. Mr. Shealey was a tireless advocate for his clients, and for the majority of his time as a public defender he represented only the most serious crimes. Mr. Shealey has taken countless cases to trial with exceptional results, earning an uncanny amount of not guilty verdicts to include murder, all levels of assault, domestic violence, kidnapping and driving under the influence cases. Luke was a graduate of the National Criminal Defense College in Macon, GA in 2008, and in 2012 he taught trial advocacy to the inaugural class of the South Carolina Defense College. In 2013 Mr. Shealey was appointed to his first death penalty case. He and the other team members were tasked with literally trying to save this man from execution by the State of South Carolina. In 2015 Mr. Shealey and the other members of the team were able to secure a life sentence for their client. Mr. Shealey has trained in the Colorado Method of Captial Voir Dire at the Colorado School of Law and also in death penalty defense at the Santa Clara University School of Law. Mr. Shealey is a member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and active within his community. Mr. Shealey strives to provide powerful representation, and his vast courtroom experience allows him to achieve maximum results for his clients.. Mr. Shealey is admitted to practice in all South Carolina State and Federal Courts.

John Paschal Meadors is the criminal defense attorney for MBA, practicing primarily  in Columbia, Lexington, Camden, Orangeburg, Aiken and Newberry counties.. He received his B.A. from Wofford College in 1983, where he served as Student Body President.  John received his J.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1987 and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar.  He was admitted to the United States District court in 1995.. Mr. Meadors has spent over 28 years practicing criminal law in the courtrooms of this State.  He served as an Assistant Solicitor, First Assistant Solicitor and Deputy Solicitor for the Fifth Judicial Circuit for twenty-three years.  He has served as an Assistant Attorney General in the State Grand Jury Division for over five years, where he handled major drug conspiracies throughout the State. He was also appointed a Special Assistant United States Attorney.  Governor Sanford appointed him to the Child Fatality Review Board which he served on for 8 years.. John has been a speaker at numerous Continuing Legal Education courses and received the 2005 Ernest F. Hollings Award for Excellence in State Court Prosecution.  He has handled thousands of criminal cases including over 100 murder cases.  He has been representing clients for MBA for over 5 years.. John is married and has four children.  He is a member of Shandon United Methodist Church and   the Camden Rotary Club.  He is a member of the Richland County Bar Association and  the Kershaw County Bar Association.. If you are facing criminal charges in the Camden, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Columbia, or Aiken, South Carolina, area, please contact the criminal defense team at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, P.A. today.. Any result our firm may achieve on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.

In 2008 I graduated from the University of Miami's School of Law and immediately moved to South Carolina to practice criminal law.  Within my first two years of practice I argued before the Supreme Court of South Carolina and helped to change the law in South Carolina to the benefit of my clients.  After an additional five years of practice with larger firms and many more cases, I decided to open the Truluck Law Firm.  I am at all times committed to the practice of law and it is my goal to provide responsive representation to keep my client's informed of their options throughout the legal process.

I joined Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, in 2019. Prior to joining Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, I worked for over 6 years with the Fifth Circuit Public Defender in Columbia, South Carolina. At the public defender, I focused on defending individuals charged with serious and most serious violent crimes. During the past 6 years, I have successfully defended every type of crime on the books, including Murder and Felony DUI involving Death. I have also successfully tried many criminal cases to verdict and am licensed to provide first-chair defense representation in death penalty cases.. During my tenure as a public defender, I was selected to attend the National Forensic College. This College is an invitation-only program designed to instruct supervisors, trainers, and experienced litigators who will become forensic science experts in their jurisdictions. The College is hosted on an annual basis by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Cardoza School of Law in Manhattan, New York.. Additionally, I was selected to attend the Trial Practice Institute at the National Criminal Defense College (NCDC). The Trial Practice Institute is the preeminent hands-on trial skills training program in the United States. The Institute lasts two weeks and is held annually in July. I also completed John E. Reid & Associates advanced interview and interrogation course. The course is devoted to providing advanced instruction on the Reid Technique. The Reid Technique is a controversial set of tactics that are widely used by law enforcement agencies when attempting to extract confessions from suspects and persons of interest.. I was raised in Orangeburg, South Carolina. I received my undergraduate degree from the College of Charleston in 2009, and my law degree from the Charleston School of Law in 2012. During law school, I worked in a plaintiff’s firm which focused on personal injury and disability claims, the Capital Trial Division of the Commission on Indigent Defense, and the Ninth Circuit Public Defender in Charleston County.

Former Prosecutor with over 25 years of experience in criminal law.  Former Adminsitrative Hearing Officer. Experience also as an Investigator for a State Agency. I love trying cases and get great satisfaction by working with clients and presenting their side to prosecutors or law enforcement to get great results without going to trial. Each client's case demands a unique approach, tailored to fit the situation. Clients deal directly with me, not a paralegal or answering service. Call me at to get a lawyer who works hard, knows the law, and a lawyer who cares.

For a Columbia, SC, criminal lawyer, work with Lir Derieg at Derieg Law Firm, LLC. We have the resources and skills to represent a variety of cases and legal needs. When you need a firm you can trust, we can protect your rights and best interests.. We represent criminal defendants. When you've been accused of committing a crime, we help you avoid unnecessary consequences by building strong defense cases that advocate for reduction or dismissal of your charges. We'll help you understand your rights under the law and your legal options, letting you make informed decisions.. We are proud to represent a wide variety of clients, both personal and commercial. We help you with everything from day-to-day operations to specific legal issue or disputes. We review and explain contracts, guide you through acquisitions and sales, and help you make plans for the future. You can trust that we'll provide knowledgeable advice and guidance that truly looks out for your business's bottom line.. We are also exceptional personal injury lawyers. We represent the needs of victims, helping you secure recovery and additional compensation so that you can get the care you need, pay your medical bills, cover your personal expenses, and move forward with your life. We will work aggressively to advocate for the maximum and work efficiently so that you won't have to wait.. As local Columbia, SC, personal injury lawyers, we want to make sure that you have high quality private representation. You have needs and we are here to meet them. To protect your rights, schedule your initial appointment today. We have flexible appointments available for your convenience.

Criminal defense attorney Taylor Bell serves as a crucial shield between individuals and the formidable government machinery, offering unwavering support to those facing legal challenges.. With a Bachelor's in business administration from UNC Wilmington and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law, Taylor Bell brings extensive expertise to his role. Formerly with the Richland County Public Defender’s office, Bell now excels at Jeffcoat Criminal Defense Lawyers, specializing in criminal defense, professional licensing defense, DUI defense, and domestic violence.. His relentless advocacy has led to numerous dismissals and sentence reductions, highlighting his commitment to justice.. Beyond his legal prowess, Bell's dedication extends to coaching wrestling at River Bluff High School and active involvement in the South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorneys’ Association, reflecting his holistic approach to positively impacting his community.. Contact Jeffcoat Criminal Defense Lawyers today for a free case evaluation.

Bill Nettles possesses an extraordinary, almost unparalleled depth and breadth of experience. You cannot find an attorney who will be better equipped to provide you with the high-quality representation you deserve.. Mr. Nettles was appointed United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina by President Obama and was sworn into that office on May 3, 2010. As the US Attorney, he dramatically overhauled the office to focus on public corruption, fraud and white collar crime, while also greatly increasing resources to the extraordinarily important false claims whistleblower division. Under Mr. Nettles' leadership, the US Attorney's office made white collar crime and public corruption the highest priority of the criminal division's efforts He also earned national praise for the innovative and intelligent approach his office took to drug crimes.. Mr. Nettles was the longest serving US attorney since the 1960's, ensuring he had an extraordinary impact on the personnel and the policies of that important office. Because of his service as the United States Attorney for the entire state of South Carolina he has worked with the heads of the Department of Justice to help shape policy for the last 5 and a half years.. If you're looking for an attorney you know you can trust in Columbia, Greenville, Charleston or any other community in South Carolina areas, please call the Law Office of Bill Nettles at  for a free consultation.

Attorney Scott J. Hayes has been practicing law in South Carolina since June of 2006.  Upon receipt of his South Carolina Bar License, Scott went to work as an Assistant Solicitor in Richland County.  Scott spent the next two years prosecuting individuals charged with crimes in Circuit Court.  During those two years managed hundreds of pending criminal charges that were brought against individuals by local law enforcement officers.  Scott presented on behalf of the State of South Carolina in hundreds of preliminary, motion, and plea hearings during his time as a Prosecutor.  Further, Scott actively participated in nearly twenty (20) Jury Trials.  These twenty Jury Trials included charges of Murder, Armed Robbery, Burglary, Aggravated Assaults and Criminal Domestic Violence gaining valuable trial experience.. Following the two years that Scott spent as an Assistant Solicitor in Richland County, Scott was hired as the Staff Attorney for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  Scott served the Richland County Sheriff’s Department in the capacity of an In-House Counsel from June of 2008 until May of 2015.  At the time of his resignation, Scott was one of the longest tenured In-House Law Enforcement Lawyers in the State of South Carolina.. During his time as the Staff Attorney for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Scott had many job responsibilities. One of the primary responsibilities assigned to Scott was Supervisor of Internal Affairs. Internal Affairs essentially attempts to police the Police and serves as the quality control mechanism for law enforcement to ensure that all Professional Standards are being respected and maintained.  Scott was also responsible for spearheading the defense of any employee that was sued for actions allegedly occurring on the watch of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  During his seven years at the Sheriff’s Department Scott spearheaded these defenses in countless civil actions including alleged Civil Rights violations of excessive force and false arrest, and claims arising from car accidents, among others.  Additionally, Scott represented the interests of the men and women in law enforcement involved in a critical incident, such as an officer involved shooting.. Scott also served as a Special Prosecutor for the Fifth Judicial Circuit while employed by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  As a Special Prosecutor Scott tried several smaller yet very meaningful cases in front of Richland County Juries with great success.. Some of Scott’s day to day activities while at the Sheriff’s Department included advising law enforcement officers on their criminal investigations and overseeing information compliance efforts, along with many others.. Currently, Attorney Scott J. Hayes has his own law practice in Columbia, South Carolina.  Scott enthusiastically represents the legal interests of South Carolinians here in the Midlands and those throughout the Palmetto State.   Scott puts his unique employment experience to work for people who are in need of responsible legal representation. Call, click, or come by today to communicate directly with Scott and let him put his experience to work for you.

A lifelong resident of Columbia, South Carolina, Joe holds both a B.S. (2009) and a J.D. (2013) from the University of South Carolina. While attending law school, Joe served as a law clerk at the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office; after graduation, he began working as an Assistant Solicitor for that Office, trying cases in both General Sessions and Magistrate’s Court. Subsequent to his tenure in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Joe went to work for the Richard A. Harpootlian law firm, joining a team of other experienced litigators. There, he worked at the federal and state court levels handling a variety of criminal and civil litigation cases.. Joe aggressively seeks justice for his clients and is a tireless student of the law, leaving no stone unturned in his research and understanding of relevant case law that he can bring to bear in defending criminal clients and achieving a successful outcome for those with civil claims. He takes pride in finding solutions to complex problems and is passionate in his quest for justice for every client.