Meet Joel Hughes
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.
