Scott Joseph Hayes

Attorney Scott J. Hayes has been practicing law in South Carolina since June of 2006.  Upon receipt of his South Carolina Bar License, Scott went to work as an Assistant Solicitor in Richland County.  Scott spent the next two years prosecuting individuals charged with crimes in Circuit Court.  During those two years managed hundreds of pending criminal charges that were brought against individuals by local law enforcement officers.  Scott presented on behalf of the State of South Carolina in hundreds of preliminary, motion, and plea hearings during his time as a Prosecutor.  Further, Scott actively participated in nearly twenty (20) Jury Trials.  These twenty Jury Trials included charges of Murder, Armed Robbery, Burglary, Aggravated Assaults and Criminal Domestic Violence gaining valuable trial experience.

Following the two years that Scott spent as an Assistant Solicitor in Richland County, Scott was hired as the Staff Attorney for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  Scott served the Richland County Sheriff’s Department in the capacity of an In-House Counsel from June of 2008 until May of 2015.  At the time of his resignation, Scott was one of the longest tenured In-House Law Enforcement Lawyers in the State of South Carolina. 

During his time as the Staff Attorney for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Scott had many job responsibilities. One of the primary responsibilities assigned to Scott was Supervisor of Internal Affairs. Internal Affairs essentially attempts to police the Police and serves as the quality control mechanism for law enforcement to ensure that all Professional Standards are being respected and maintained.  Scott was also responsible for spearheading the defense of any employee that was sued for actions allegedly occurring on the watch of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  During his seven years at the Sheriff’s Department Scott spearheaded these defenses in countless civil actions including alleged Civil Rights violations of excessive force and false arrest, and claims arising from car accidents, among others.  Additionally, Scott represented the interests of the men and women in law enforcement involved in a critical incident, such as an officer involved shooting. 

Scott also served as a Special Prosecutor for the Fifth Judicial Circuit while employed by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  As a Special Prosecutor Scott tried several smaller yet very meaningful cases in front of Richland County Juries with great success. 

Some of Scott’s day to day activities while at the Sheriff’s Department included advising law enforcement officers on their criminal investigations and overseeing information compliance efforts, along with many others. 

Currently, Attorney Scott J. Hayes has his own law practice in Columbia, South Carolina.  Scott enthusiastically represents the legal interests of South Carolinians here in the Midlands and those throughout the Palmetto State.   Scott puts his unique employment experience to work for people who are in need of responsible legal representation. Call, click, or come by today to communicate directly with Scott and let him put his experience to work for you.