After fourteen years of representing corporations and government entities, Joel decided he needed a change, as he was being called to help people in need. After switching to the personal injury plaintiffs’ side, Joel quickly understood what his practice would offer for the first time in his career: an opportunity to help regular people at their most vulnerable stage.
Joel worked for a premier personal injury practice in Columbia, SC for over four years and handled a vast array of claims, including motorcycle crashes, car wrecks, DUI crashes, tractor trailer collisions, premises liability claims, and wrongful death matters. Joel also represented victims of police and correctional misconduct and other areas of governmental negligence. Joel started The Hughes Law Group to continue to expand his ability to help folks who have been injured and are looking for guidance through the roughest parts of their lives.
At The Hughes Law Group, Joel initiates each case by taking the time to understand what truly matters to the client. He recognizes that every client and case is unique and approaches each one with the personalized care and attention it deserves. Joel recognizes that the path to a successful resolution is rarely straightforward. By fostering meaningful relationships with his clients, Joel is able to gain a deeper understanding of their needs, enabling him to help them achieve the closure they deserve following their injury.
Like a country music song, Joel’s daddy was a preacher and his mama was a teacher. Joel grew up in a small town in Williamsburg County where hard work and small town values were the guideposts of his family. He graduated from Wofford College before attending the University of South Carolina Law School. After law school, Joel spent a year clerking for a long tenured Circuit Court judge watching trials and confirming his instincts that he wanted to be a trial lawyer.
When Joel left his clerkship, he worked with two local insurance defense firms that primarily defended state and local governments. During that time, Joel gained experience in automobile accidents, slip and falls, contractual disputes, land use disputes, construction defects, police misconduct claims, civil rights cases and so much more. Over the course of his practice, Joel continued to hone his skills as a trial lawyer and brought numerous cases to verdict. Joel has continued to try cases and earned a $4,000,000.00 verdict in his first trial as a Plaintiff’s lawyer.
Not every case needs to go to trial, but when it does, Joel is fully prepared to stand before a jury with confidence. He is a staunch advocate for every citizen’s Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial and is committed to securing justice for his clients. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, Joel knows how to present a compelling case, ensuring the jury has the information they need to deliver a just verdict.
When not practicing law, Joel is likely somewhere with his family. Joel and his wife, Allison, have two children and are active members of Shandon United Methodist Church. You can always find “Coach Joel” at the baseball field, basketball court, soccer field, USC games or the neighborhood pool. Joel’s family also has two golden retrievers, Biscuit and Honey, who keep the whole family on their toes at all times. Once the kids are in bed, Joel can be found in the kitchen exploring new ways to use cast iron while listening to music that generally makes his kids complain. While appreciating the mountains, Joel is a “beach guy,” and is more likely to be in the ocean than on the sand when he gets the opportunity.
Listed below are Joel’s primary practice areas, but he is dedicated to assisting every potential client who reaches out. When needed, he goes above and beyond by helping clients connect with the right lawyer for their specific legal needs.
This website is designed for general information only. The information should not be construed to constitute formal legal advice or the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. The results listed on this website are specific to the facts and legal circumstances of specific cases and should not be used to form an expectation that the same results could or would be obtained for other clients in similar matters. Each case is unique and will be treated as such by The Hughes Law Group. These results are not intended to compare one lawyer’s services with other lawyers’ services.
Joel is a certified mediator in South Carolina who has helped many lawyers bring their cases to resolution through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process. He has a proven record of being a hard-working and successful mediator. With experience presiding over hundreds of mediations and serving as an attorney in just as many, Joel has an in-depth understanding of the mediation process. He firmly believes in the power of resolution through collaborative engagement between opposing parties. The mediation process tests many litigator’s skills, including patience, creative thinking, listening, advocacy and determination. As a mediator, Joel works tirelessly to navigate through complex arguments and often heated disagreements while making certain that parties and their counsel focus on the ultimate goal of the process: resolution.
Joel mediates cases state-wide and offers half-day and full-day options, remote mediations via Zoom, or in-person mediations at mutually convenient locations. If you are involved in a complex litigation and are in need of a mediator who will draw from his experience and creativity to find a path towards closure, please reach out to Joel.
To book a mediation, please email Joel directly at joel@hugheslawsc.com with your preferred available date(s). We will contact you upon receipt of your message.
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