RICHLAND COUNTY CRIMINAL CHARGES? Protect Your Future - Elite Defense Attorney Available 24/7: 888-499-5738

Richland County Criminal Defense Attorney

Matthew M. McGuire - Defending All Richland County Municipalities

RICHLAND COUNTY CRIMINAL CHARGES REQUIRE EXPERIENCED LOCAL DEFENSE. From Columbia to the smallest municipality, criminal charges in Richland County can destroy your career, family, and future. Attorney Matthew M. McGuire has defended serious charges throughout Richland County for over 35 years with proven results.

Richland County Defense: 888-499-5738 Free Consultation

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 STAR GOOGLE RATING - RICHLAND COUNTY'S TOP CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Trusted by families throughout Richland County - from Columbia executives to small-town residents, our clients know they're getting elite legal representation with personal attention that big firms can't match.

RICHLAND COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM EXPERTISE

General Sessions Court

Location: Main Street Courthouse, Columbia

Jurisdiction: All felony cases county-wide

Our Experience: 35+ years appearing before Richland County judges

Magistrate Courts

Multiple Locations: Throughout Richland County

Jurisdiction: Misdemeanors, preliminary hearings, bond hearings

Coverage: All magistrate courts in the county

Municipal Courts

City of Columbia: Downtown municipal court

Other Municipalities: Forest Acres, Irmo, West Columbia

Local Knowledge: Established relationships with municipal prosecutors

Federal Court

US District Court: District of South Carolina, Columbia

Federal Crimes: Drug trafficking, white collar, firearms

Admitted: Federal court practice since 1989

Complete coverage of all Richland County criminal courts with deep knowledge of local procedures, prosecutors, and judges.

All Richland County Municipalities Served

Columbia Criminal Defense

Columbia Police Department, USC Police, Richland County Sheriff

  • DUI defense and license protection
  • Drug crimes and trafficking charges
  • Violent crimes and assault charges
  • White collar crime defense

Columbia DUI Attorney | Columbia Personal Injury

Forest Acres Criminal Defense

Forest Acres Police Department, Richland County Sheriff

  • Forest Drive traffic violations and DUI
  • Residential area criminal charges
  • Trenholm Road enforcement issues
  • Municipal court representation

Irmo Criminal Defense

Irmo Police Department, Richland/Lexington Counties

  • St. Andrews Road criminal charges
  • Harbison area DUI and traffic crimes
  • Multi-county jurisdiction cases
  • Lake Murray area violations

West Columbia Criminal Defense

West Columbia Police, Lexington/Richland Counties

  • Multi-jurisdictional criminal charges
  • Congaree River area violations
  • Cross-county prosecution issues
  • State government employee cases

Cayce Criminal Defense

Cayce Police Department, Multi-County Jurisdiction

  • Complex jurisdictional criminal cases
  • Federal court proximity advantages
  • Interstate criminal charge defense
  • Professional license protection

Blythewood Criminal Defense

Fairfield County Sheriff, Multi-County Cases

  • I-77 corridor drug trafficking defense
  • Fairfield County court representation
  • Multi-jurisdictional coordination
  • Rural area criminal charge defense

Arcadia Lakes Criminal Defense

Richland County Sheriff's Office Coverage

  • Exclusive community criminal defense
  • High-profile case discrete handling
  • Professional reputation protection
  • Serious felony charge defense

Eastover Criminal Defense

Richland County Sheriff, Rural Law Enforcement

  • Rural community criminal defense
  • Agricultural and farming community cases
  • Small-town reputation protection
  • Interstate corridor enforcement defense

All Richland County Areas

Complete County Coverage

  • Unincorporated Richland County areas
  • Multi-agency investigation defense
  • State and federal coordination
  • Comprehensive county-wide representation

Comprehensive Criminal Defense Throughout Richland County

🚔 Serious Felony Defense

  • Drug trafficking and conspiracy charges
  • Violent crimes including armed robbery and assault
  • Property crimes: burglary, larceny, arson
  • White collar crimes: fraud, embezzlement, money laundering
  • Weapons charges and firearm violations
  • Domestic violence and family court coordination

🛣️ DUI & Traffic Crime Defense

  • Richland County DUI defense and license protection
  • Multiple DUI and habitual offender charges
  • CDL protection for commercial drivers
  • Reckless driving and excessive speeding
  • Hit and run and leaving the scene charges
  • Vehicular homicide and DUAC defense

💊 Drug Crime Defense

  • Possession with intent to distribute (PWID)
  • Manufacturing and cultivation charges
  • Prescription drug trafficking
  • Federal drug conspiracy cases
  • Asset forfeiture and property seizure defense
  • Drug court and alternative sentencing

👨‍💼 Professional & Career Protection

  • State employee and government worker defense
  • Healthcare professional license protection
  • Teacher and educator criminal defense
  • Security clearance preservation
  • Professional board investigation defense
  • Expungement and record sealing

🏆 NATIONAL RECOGNITION & RICHLAND COUNTY TRUST

Elite National Recognition

  • The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • SuperLawyers Recognition
  • The National Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • American Association for Justice
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Local Professional Standing

  • 5.0 Star Google Rating
  • BBB Accredited Business A+ Rating
  • Richland County Bar Association
  • South Carolina Association for Justice
  • South Carolina Bar (Licensed 1989)

Educational & Professional Excellence

  • University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D.)
  • University of North Carolina (Undergraduate)
  • 35+ Years Richland County Experience
  • Third Generation Attorney
  • Continuing Legal Education Leader

Professional Recognition:

Featured Media Coverage:

Why Richland County Residents Choose McGuire Law

Unmatched Local Knowledge

35+ years practicing exclusively in Richland County courts. We know every judge, prosecutor, court clerk, and procedure. This local knowledge translates into strategic advantages that out-of-town attorneys simply cannot provide.

Direct Attorney Access

Work directly with McGuire Law throughout your case. No case shuffling, no paralegal handling - when you call with concerns, you speak with the lawyer defending you. Personal attention that TV law firms cannot match.

🏠 Convenient Local Service

We come to you throughout Richland County. Home visits, office consultations, jail visits - whatever is needed. From downtown Columbia to rural Richland County, we provide convenient service where you need it.

⚔️ Aggressive Defense with Proven Results

National recognition with local roots. We combine big-firm legal expertise with small-town personal service. Bespoke legal strategies, not assembly-line defense. Your freedom is our priority.

Richland County Criminal Defense Frequently Asked Questions

Do you handle cases in all Richland County municipalities? +
Yes, we defend criminal charges throughout all of Richland County. From Columbia's downtown courthouse to rural magistrate courts, from Forest Acres municipal court to federal court in Columbia. 35+ years of experience in every Richland County jurisdiction.
What makes Richland County cases different from other areas? +
Richland County is South Carolina's judicial center with unique prosecutor practices, federal court proximity, and multiple law enforcement agencies. We understand these complexities and use our local knowledge to build stronger defenses tailored to Richland County procedures.
Can you handle multi-jurisdictional cases involving other counties? +
Absolutely. Many Richland County cases cross into Lexington, Fairfield, or other counties. We're licensed statewide and federal court, allowing seamless representation regardless of where charges are filed or investigations lead.
Why choose local representation over a large regional firm? +
Local knowledge and personal attention. We've practiced exclusively in Richland County for 35+ years. We know the judges, prosecutors, and court staff personally. You work directly with McGuire Law - not paralegals or junior associates like at big firms.

⏰ RICHLAND COUNTY CRIMINAL CHARGES WON'T WAIT

Every hour you delay gives prosecutors more time to build their case against you. Evidence disappears, witnesses forget, and defense opportunities vanish. Don't let the state gain an advantage while you hesitate.

Call Richland County criminal defense attorney Matthew M. McGuire immediately - 35+ years of proven success defending serious charges throughout Richland County.

Richland County Defense: 888-499-5738

What Our Clients Say

"Mr. McGuire and his team got me out of jail, period."

-Becky M., Columbia, SC

"McGuire Law is not like the law firms advertising on TV that run an assembly line. They are available all day, every day, home or office."

-Darrell M., Orangeburg, SC

"Responded not only the same day, but within the hour on a Sunday. Amazing, five stars."

-Jordan D., Spartanburg, SC

"If you need the best personal injury attorney in South Carolina, you call McGuire Law right now. I talked to an attorney with one call."

-Hilary A., Columbia, South Carolina

"I got a DUI in college and Mr. McGuire fixed it. One thousand stars!"

-Logan R., Lexington, South Carolina

"I have sent Matt more referrals than I can count at this point. Everyone is always astonished at the effort Matt and McGuire Law put into every case."

-Dan V., Sumter, South Carolina

"McGuire law does not play around. Don't think you can handle something like court yourself. You can't, so hire Mr. McGuire."

-Xander H., Spartanburg, S.C.