Law Office of Kenneth Berger
Joel Hughes

Joel Hughes

Attorney
  • Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger
  • 864-501-5619

Like a country music song, my daddy was a preacher and my mama was a teacher. I grew up in a small town in Williamsburg County where I learned to pull for the Gamecocks and to pull pork from a whole hog on a spit. I attended Wofford College and then went to the University of South Carolina Law School. After law school, I spent a year clerking for the late and honorable J. Ernest Kinard, Jr, watching trials and confirming my instincts that I wanted to be a trial lawyer.

When I left my clerkship, I worked with a local insurance defense firm that primarily defended state and local governments. During that time, I gained experience in automobile accidents, slip and falls, contractual disputes, land use disputes, construction defects, civil rights claims and so much more. Over the course of my practice, I continued to hone my skills as a trial lawyer and brought numerous cases to verdict. I also became a certified mediator, and I have helped many lawyers bring their cases to resolution through the ADR process. After fourteen years on the defense side of the bar, I decided I needed a change. When I met Kenneth Berger, I quickly knew his practice would offer me, for the first time in my career, an opportunity to help people at their most vulnerable stage. I have always been passionate about giving back to the citizens of South Carolina, and I am excited to explore the ways I can serve my clients.

attorney joel hughes

When I am not practicing law, I am with my family. My wife Allison and I have a son, Cohen, and a daughter, Holland. When not in school, they are at the baseball field, the park or the neighborhood pool while we struggle to catch up to them. We also have a golden retriever who keeps us on our toes at all times. Once the kids are in bed, you can find me in the kitchen where I explore new ways to use cast iron while I listen to music that generally makes my kids complain.

Areas of Practice

  • Catastrophic Injury
  • Wrongful Death
  • Government Liability
    • South Carolina Tort Claims Act
    • 42 U.S.C. 1983

Education:

  • Wofford College, B.A., English, 2002
  • USC School of Law, J.D., 2005

Professional Organizations:

  • South Carolina Bar
  • Richland County Bar Association
  • South Carolina Association of Justice

Certifications:

  • Certified Mediator in South Carolina

Community Involvement:

  • South Carolina United Methodist Credit Union – Former Member of the Board of Directors
  • Palmetto Baseball League – Division II Coach, Board Member