Best Criminal Lawyer in South Carolina

Jack B. Swerling

Criminal Lawyer

Jack B. Swerling is an active Columbia criminal attorney, litigator, writer, and lecturer. He focuses his legal practice on criminal cases in state and federal courts and a select group of civil cases. Mr. Swerling has been a member of the South Carolina Bar and licensed to practice by the Supreme Court of South Carolina since 1973.

In recognition of his work, he has been honored by election to several prestigious organizations that only invite attorneys into their ranks who have been subjected to a rigorous investigation of the lawyer’s experience, demonstrated skill, and character.

  • He has been selected to be a Fellow in the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Litigation Counsel of America.
  • He was named a South Carolina Super Lawyer (Top 10) in criminal defense and is also listed in Naifeh and Smith’s The Best Lawyers in America in the area of criminal defense.

Mr. Swerling is one of only 70, South Carolina lawyers who are Fellows in the American College of Trial Lawyers, which is limited to the top five percent of trial lawyers in the United States. He is one of only five lawyers in South Carolina in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, one of only three lawyers in South Carolina in the American Board of Criminal Lawyers and one of only five South Carolina Lawyers in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. The International Academy is limited to 600 lawyers worldwide.

Mr. Swerling lectures frequently at continuing legal education programs for lawyers and judges, and speaks at schools, civic organizations, and professional groups. He has written several books on criminal practice. (For additional information on Mr. Swerling’s publications click here.)

Previous Work

Prior to establishing his current law firm in 1991, Jack Swerling was a partner in the law firm of Swerling, Harpootlian and McCulloch. Prior to that he practiced law for ten years with his former partner and mentor, the late State Senator Isadore Lourie.

Teaching, Presentations & Seminars

Throughout his years of practice as a Columbia criminal attorney, Jack Swerling has made more than 250 presentations in the areas of criminal practice and criminal law.

  • Bridge The Gap is a program developed by the Supreme Court of South Carolina and the South Carolina Bar in the early 1980’s. It was the first of its kind in the nation. The program is mandatory for every lawyer prior to admission to the Bar. The program lasts 3 days and is held twice each year. Over the course of the three days, the new lawyers are exposed to 25-30 experienced judges and lawyers who speak to them about various aspects of practicing law. Jack Swerling has participated in the program since its inception and speaks on criminal law. Since the early 1990s, he has been honored to be the coordinator and moderator of the entire program.
  • For 25 years Jack Swerling has been honored to coordinate, moderate, and speak at the South Carolina Bar’s Annual Criminal Law Update. The full-day legal education program is held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the South Carolina Bar and is the largest continuing legal education program put on by the Bar. This is also a mandatory judicial continuing legal education seminar. Each year Mr. Swerling also invites a nationally known lawyer to be the keynote speaker. Among his guests have been F. Lee Bailey, Barry Scheck, David Rudolph, Joel Hirschhorn, Mark Geragos, and in 2008, Joe Chesire and Wade Smith, the lawyers who defended the Duke LaCrosse players. At the 2010 meeting of the Bar at Kiawah Island, Mr. Swerling was recognized by the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court for his 25 years of service to the Bench and Bar.
  • Several times each year Mr. Swerling participates in other continuing legal education programs for the South Carolina Bar, speaking on either criminal law, procedure, or technique.
  • Jack Swerling has spoken at continuing legal education programs for the South Carolina Solicitors Association, South Carolina Public Defender Association and the Federal Public Defender Office.
  • Mr. Swerling has spoken to various classes at the University of South Carolina School of Law and was a member of the Adjunct Faculty from 1985 to 1989.
  • Since 1987, Mr. Swerling has served on the Adjunct Faculty at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry. Each year he helps conduct a mock trial and delivers a lecture to the staff.
  • Mr. Swerling has made presentations at classes designed for Assistant United States Attorneys by the National College of District Attorneys at the National Advocacy Center located in Columbia, South Carolina.
  • He has made seminar presentations on criminal law and practice at conferences of United States Postal Inspectors and Criminal Investigators for the Internal Revenue Service as well as the Bureau of National Affairs seminars held in Vail, Colorado and Washington, DC.
  • On several occasions, Mr. Swerling has been honored to address the South Carolina Judicial Conference on the subject of criminal law.
  • Mr. Swerling is frequently asked to address various classes at the USC School of Law.
  • Jack Swerling has been an annual speaker on criminal trial practice to Leadership Columbia, a group selected from the Columbia business community for their future leadership potential.
  • Mr. Swerling makes regular presentations about criminal practice for civic organizations and various other non-legal groups.
  • Jack Swerling was honored to be the commencement speaker at the University of South Carolina School of Law in December 2003.

DAYNE PHILLIPS

Criminal Lawyer

Dayne is focused on one goal in every case: To achieve the best possible result by providing passionate and personalized representation. This is accomplished by placing an emphasis on open and constant communication with his clients. Mr. Phillips also firmly believes that success is a result of having a diligent work ethic—including working long hours on nights and weekends—and a client-focused approach to every case. His mission is to defend every case as if it was one of his family members or friends on trial.

Dayne Phillips is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, the National Criminal Defense College, and the National Forensic College. He has experience successfully defending the accused by receiving numerous not guilty verdicts in felony jury trials, as well as successfully arguing before the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of South Carolina.

In law school, Dayne worked as a law clerk for John Delgado—a prominent criminal defense and death penalty defense attorney. After assisting Delgado in several murder trials and high-profile cases, criminal defense quickly became his life’s calling. This incredible experience made him passionate about challenging the government and defending the underdog. In short, he learned the true meaning of zealous advocacy from his mentor and is forever grateful for Delgado teaching him to how “fight the good fight” in every case.

Mr. Phillips is a proud native of South Carolina. Born and raised in Lexington County, he graduated from Airport High School in 2003 and the University of South Carolina in 2007. He then earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2010. The three pillars of Dayne’s life are his family, friends, and faith.  Dayne grew up in Pine Ridge where his family taught him work ethic and unconditional love.  His amazing wife is a public school teacher and is a two-time Teacher of the Year for her school, and District Teacher of the Year.  His spunky daughter keeps him on his toes and is the greatest thing to ever happened to him.  He is also blessed with incredibly supportive parents and in-laws who are the cornerstone of his family.

Notable Experience

Dayne Phillips began his professional career as an Assistant Appellate Defender in the Appellate Division of the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense (SCCID). He managed a large and diverse caseload that included convictions for murder, drug trafficking, burglary, and felony DUI. Notably, he has obtained numerous reversals on appeal for his clients and has successfully argued to create laws that protect the rights of South Carolina citizens.

Mr. Phillips then joined the Eleventh Circuit Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender, where he defended all types of felony and misdemeanor offenses, including—but not limited to—Murder, Attempted Murder, Burglary, Armed Robbery, Drug Trafficking, Criminal Sexual Conduct, Domestic Violence, and DUIs.

CHRISTOPHER L. JONES

Criminal Lawyer

From Easley, South Carolina, Christopher L. Jones received his J.D. from Charleston School of Law in 2010 and has since been a member of the South Carolina Bar. He spent his early career clerking for the Honorable Michael G. Nettles in Florence, where he researched civil and criminal legal matters. He went on to become a prosecutor in the Pee Dee region, York County, and finally here, in the 13th Circuit, where he gained valuable experience trying criminal cases from beginning to end. Over his career, Chris’s trial conviction rate was over 92%.

Chris graduated from Presbyterian College cum laude with a B.A. in philosophy and religion in 2007. While a student, he was elected as Chairman of the Honor Council in 2006 and served as President of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Order.

When he’s not at the firm, Chris remains involved in the community, mentoring with Fostering Great Ideas, where he offers guidance to children in foster care, and is on the Mental Health Board for Pickens-Oconee-Anderson Counties. Chris and his family are active members of First Presbyterian Church in Greenville.

Marion M. Moses

Criminal Lawyer

Marion M. Moses has been practicing law throughout South Carolina’s Midlands region since 2001 — first as a criminal prosecutor in Lexington, and now as a criminal defense and personal injury lawyer in Columbia. During his legal career, he has handled a multitude of cases in a wide range of practice areas, including criminal law and defense, DUI Defense, civil litigation, personal injury, wrongful death, Business Law, and workers’ compensation, to name a few.

Practice Areas

  • DUI Defense
  • Traffic Violations
  • Drug Offenses
  • Violent Offenses
  • Domestic Violence
  • Theft Crimes
  • Personal Injury
  • Wrongful Death 

Licenses

  • South Carolina, 2001
  • U.S. District Court District of South Carolina

Memberships

South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Past President 

Selected Super Lawyers 

South Carolina Association for Justice, Member

Selected to Columbia Business Magazine as Legal Elite of the Midlands

Employment

Past Employment Position

  •  Honorable Thomas W. Cooper, Jr., Circuit Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, Law Clerk
  •  Honorable Donald V. Myers, Solicitor of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Prosecutor

 

Education

J.D.University of South Carolina School of Law – Graduate School

2001
  • B.S., Honors: cum laude, Major: Business EconomicsWofford College – College
    1997
  • Honors: Gold StarsThe Citadel – The Military College of South Carolina – College

Brian Shealey

Criminal Lawyer

Brian Shealey has spent the majority of his legal career defending the most violent charges, including clients charged with murder, armed robbery, rape and burglary.

Brian began his career at the Richland County Public Defender’s Office and spent 5 years there before founding the Shealey Law Firm in 2013. The core of Brian’s practice at Shealey Law is centered around defending those charged with the most serious crimes, and he enjoys being in the trenches of trial with his brother, Luke, as well as pursuing a growing focus on litigating 1983 Claims.

Throughout his career, Brian has achieved an impressive number of acquittals at trial, but he always attempts to use his courtroom success in an effort to shield clients from the risks of trial by getting favorable results before ever entering a courtroom. The time spent fighting for his clients’ rights in trial has given him a unique set of experiences that he enjoys putting to work in his everyday practice.

Brian has lectured and taught trial practice and techniques throughout the State.

Mr. Shealey is admitted to practice in all South Carolina State and Federal Courts.

John W. Molony

Criminal Lawyer

Charleston criminal defense attorney John W. Molony defends clients arrested for DUI and criminal charges. Attorney Molony is the owner and sole managing member of John W. Molony Law Firm, LLC and personally handles every aspect of each case. Attorney Molony is a Charleston native and graduated from Porter-Gaud School, where he was a member of the 12 Year Society. Attorney Molony then earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Clemson University, double majoring in English and History. While an undergraduate at Clemson, Attorney Molony studied at Universite Catholique de l’Ouest in Angers, France. Immediately after college, Attorney Molony earned his Juris Doctor from Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity.

John W. Molony Law Firm, LLC is located in Charleston, South Carolina and defends the rights of clients arrested for DUI and criminal charges in Charleston, Berkeley, Beaufort, Dorchester, Georgetown, Jasper, and Colleton County. John W. Molony Law Firm, LLC represents clients who have been charged with DUI and all criminal offenses, including domestic violence, disorderly conduct, drug charges, open container, shoplifting resisting arrest and traffic tickets. Have you been arrested for domestic violence in James IslandFolly Beach or Johns Island? Were you arrested for DUI in Isle of PalmsWadmalaw or Sullivan’s Island? Have you been charged with theft in Bluffton? Call Charleston criminal defense attorney John W. Molony now and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and your legal options.

Bar Admissions

  • South Carolina (Licensed To Practice In All South Carolina State Courts)
  • United States District Court for the District of South Carolina

Professional Memberships

  • South Carolina Bar
  • American Bar Association
  • Charleston County Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • National College for DUI Defense 
  • DUI Defense Lawyers Association
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • South Carolina Bar Criminal Law Section
  • American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section
  • Federal Bar Association Criminal Law Section
  • NORML Criminal Defense Section
  • South Carolina Bar Practice and Procedure Committee
  • South Carolina Bar Wellness Committee
  • Federalist Society

JAMES R. SNELL, JR.

Criminal Lawyer

As a lifelong resident of South Carolina, Attorney James R. Snell founded the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC in his home state. Since opening his office in downtown Lexington, South Carolina, Mr. Snell has represented clients throughout South Carolina in felony as well as misdemeanor criminal cases. Additionally, he has tried cases to verdict in all types of courts, including:

  • General Sessions
  • Common Pleas
  • Probate
  • Family Court
  • The Administrative Law Court

Before founding the firm, Attorney Snell attended Limestone College, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree, graduating with honors. Following the completion of his undergraduate coursework, he attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where he graduated with his Juris Doctorate. James Snell recently released the 3rd edition of his book, “Challenging CDV”. First published in 2014, this is the book written on the topic of South Carolina domestic violence law and defense strategies. It has now been expanded and updated for 2022.

Due to his tremendous efforts and diligence, Attorney Snell has received a 10/10 “Superb” rating from Avvo and has been recognized by Super Lawyers.

NEAL D. TRUSLOW

Criminal Lawyer

Neal was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, where he attended Cardinal Newman High School. He is a graduate of both The Honors College of the University of South Carolina (with Honors) and the University of South Carolina School of Law.

He was commissioned as a Logistics Officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard in 2006, and has served as a JAG Officer with the South Carolina Army National Guard since 2009. Neal also works with the South Carolina National Guard’s State Partnership Program with the Republic of Colombia, where he collaborates with the highest levels of Colombian defense forces to enact a comprehensive, transparent military justice system. In 2009, he joined his father at Truslow & Truslow.

Since 2009, Neal’s practice is primarily focused on DUI defense, though he has handled numerous cases in the areas of serious personal injury, criminal defense, business disputes, Court-Martial proceedings, and domestic relations. He represents individuals, service members, and small businesses throughout the State of South Carolina.

In his free time, Neal enjoys Gamecock athletics, hunting and fishing, traveling, and spending time with his wife, 4 children, and golden retriever.

Navigating the Palmetto State’s Legal Maze: Why You Need a Top Criminal Lawyer in South Carolina 

South Carolina, with its beautiful beaches and historic charm, can feel far less welcoming when facing criminal charges. The legal system, while striving for fairness, can be complex and unforgiving. Here’s why securing a top-tier criminal lawyer in South Carolina is crucial for protecting your freedom and achieving the best possible outcome:

1. Unmatched Expertise in South Carolina’s Legal Landscape:

South Carolina has its own unique set of criminal codes, statutes, and court decisions. A top-tier criminal lawyer licensed in South Carolina possesses in-depth understanding of these nuances, allowing them to:

  • Navigate Legal Complexities: They can meticulously analyze your case within the framework of the South Carolina Code of Laws (SC Code) and interpret key court rulings that may influence the prosecution’s strategy and your potential defenses. 
  • Stay Current on Legal Developments: The legal landscape is constantly evolving. Your lawyer actively monitors changes in South Carolina criminal law, ensuring your defense strategy reflects the most up-to-date legal principles and leverages any recent rulings that could benefit your case.
  • Identify Location-Specific Issues: South Carolina counties or cities may have their own local ordinances or procedures. Your lawyer’s deep understanding of the state’s legal landscape allows them to identify any potential location-specific issues that could impact your case.

2. Masters of Criminal Defense:

Top criminal lawyers in South Carolina dedicate their practice to criminal defense and have a proven track record:

  • Extensive Case Experience: They have handled a wide range of criminal cases, from DUIs and drug offenses to violent crimes and white-collar crimes. This extensive experience allows them to identify potential strengths and weaknesses in your case and develop a winning defense strategy tailored to your specific situation.

3. Guardians of Your Constitutional Rights:

Your fundamental rights are paramount:

  • Protecting Your Constitutional Rights: The best criminal attorneys in South Carolina are dedicated to protecting your constitutional rights throughout the legal process. They ensure that law enforcement and prosecutors adhere to proper procedures, such as respecting your right to remain silent and the right to legal representation. They will challenge any violations of your rights and work to exclude any unlawfully obtained evidence from being used against you. (SC.gov)

4. Building a Strong Case Through Meticulous Investigation:

A top criminal lawyer in South Carolina doesn’t wait for the prosecution to make a move:

  • Thorough Case Evaluation: They will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your case, meticulously analyzing the evidence, witness statements, and police reports. They will investigate potential inconsistencies, weaknesses, or potential defenses in the prosecution’s case.

5. Strategic Negotiation for a Favorable Outcome:

Skilled negotiation can be a powerful tool:

  • Expert Negotiation Skills: A competent criminal attorney possesses excellent negotiation skills and can engage in plea bargaining with the prosecution. They will advocate on your behalf, aiming to reduce charges or penalties, and explore alternatives such as diversion programs or probation. This negotiation skill can help minimize the potential consequences of your case.

6. Powerful Advocacy in the Courtroom:

Skilled representation can make a significant difference:

  • Trial-Ready Attorneys: The best criminal lawyers in South Carolina have extensive courtroom experience, including knowledge of trial strategies, effective presentation skills, and the ability to cross-examine witnesses. They will fight vigorously to defend your rights and innocence throughout the trial process.

7. Support and Guidance During a Difficult Time:

The legal process can be emotionally draining:

  • Understanding and Empathy: The best criminal lawyers in South Carolina not only provide legal representation but also offer support and guidance throughout the process. They will explain the legal proceedings in clear terms, address your concerns, and help you make informed decisions about your case. Their support can provide you with peace of mind and alleviate some of the burdens associated with your legal situation.

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