Our Lawyers

Patrick J. McLaughlin


Patrick J. McLaughlin was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina. Upon graduating from the University of South Carolina in 1997, Mr. McLaughlin continued to work in management for a company that operates several family entertainment centers in North and South Carolina, living in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville in that role. 

In 2002, Mr. McLaughlin enrolled at the University of South Carolina School of Law, graduating in December 2004. Mr. McLaughlin returned home to Florence and began his legal practice with his childhood friend, Stephen J. Wukela, at the Wukela Law Firm.

Mr. McLaughlin’s practice focuses primarily on representing plaintiffs in personal injury, civil rights cases, and wrongful death cases.  He also practices criminal defense, defending those accused of crimes and DUI violations in South Carolina.

Mr. McLaughlin has tried jury trials in both state and federal courts.  He has represented clients on civil appeals before the South Carolina Court of Appeals, South Carolina Supreme Court, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. McLaughlin has been certified as an expert and provided expert testimony at trial in South Carolina Circuit Court.

Mr. McLaughlin enjoys duck hunting with his Wirehaired Vizsla, LaPorte; traveling wherever his fiancé, Von, tells him they are going to travel; and having his heart broken repeatedly by the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.


BAR ADMISSIONS:
South Carolina, 2005
United States District Court for the State of South Carolina, 2005
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2014


EDUCATION:
University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina, J.D.
University of South Carolina, B.A.


SPECIFIC TRAINING RELATED TO LEGAL PRACTICE:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) certified training in the following:

  • DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST)
  • Advanced Roadside Impairment Driving Enforcement (A.R.I.D.E)
  • Drug Evaluation and Classification (DECP)/ Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)


PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:

South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: member, Past President & former Board of Directors
Florence County and South Carolina Bar: member, Past President, and former officer
South Carolina Association of Justice: member and Chair of Criminal Law section

DUI Defense Lawyers Association: member and Board of Directors


SPEAKING/TEACHING:
Presented at legal CLEs, seminars and trial advocacy clinics in South Carolina, Ohio, Arizona, Illinois, Tennessee. Participated in annual domestic violence training for magistrate/municipal judges. Lectured in academia on legal topics, constitutional law, and trial advocacy.


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