Caroline Lawson

Caroline Lawson was born in Savannah and raised in Easley, South Carolina. She attended Pickens County public schools, where she was active in sports, student government and worked at the famous Joe’s Ice Cream Parlor. She graduated from Clemson University cum laude in three years followed immediately by law school at the University of South Carolina. During law school, she served as head law clerk at the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Immediately after graduation, she served a year-long judicial clerkship with the Honorable George C. James, Jr., who is currently seated on the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Prior to joining the Swilley Law Firm, Caroline primarily practiced as a public defender in several counties, where she handled matters ranging from misdemeanors to murder charges. Her practice with the Swilley Law Firm focuses on criminal defense and personal injury matters, where she strives to provide zealous and compassionate representation for all of her clients. She is admitted to practice in state and federal court, and has successfully represented hundreds of individuals over the years of her practice. Caroline is an active member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Florence County Bar. In 2018, she received the President’s Award from the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for her service to her clients, and in 2023 the Young Lawyers Division gave her a Star of the Quarter Award. She has served as an instructor through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy as well as the South Carolina Bar Law Talks and Law School for Non-Lawyers programs. She serves on the State Board of Directors as Risk Management Chair for Salkehatchie Summer Service, a charity organization that repairs homes for the needy in every county in South Carolina. Through that program, she has helped gut and repair countless homes in Marlboro County, South Carolina during her service of over 20 years to the mission. In her spare time, Caroline likes to bake, fish (not always catch), exercise, read, bird hunt, see live music, travel, and spend time with her boyfriend Newman, rambunctious lab puppy Scout (named for the character in to Kill a Mockingbird) and well-fed cat Cheeseburger.