
Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr., Civil Rights Attorney in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Over 28 years of legal practice · 4.4/5 rating from 1 verified client review
Member and General CounselatMotley Rice Llc
Mount Pleasant, SC
Practicing civil rights in Mount Pleasant since 1998.
- 28+
- Years practicing
- 4.4 ★
- 1 client review
- 3
- Bar admissions
Practices in
Are you Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr.?
This profile was built from public bar records and is still unclaimed. Claim it free to control your photo, bio, and fees — and get client inquiries sent straight to you.
Quick answer
Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr. is a member and general counsel based in Mount Pleasant, SC. The practice focuses on Civil Rights. Samuel has over 28 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Motley Rice Llc. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 1 client review.
- Based in
- Mount Pleasant, SC
- Experience
- over 28 years
- Known for
- Civil Rights
- Handles Civil Rights matters from Mount Pleasant, SC.
- Over 28 years of practice as a licensed attorney.
- Recognized with BV Distinguished.
About Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr.: Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr. is a member and general counsel based in Mount Pleasant, SC. The practice focuses on Civil Rights. Samuel has over 28 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Motley Rice Llc. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 1 client review.
Areas of practice
Practice areas handled by Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr.
Samuel concentrates on civil rights. Each area below outlines the kind of case Samuel handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
Civil Rights cases in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Samuel takes civil rights matters in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Samuel agrees to represent you.
Biography
About Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr. — Over 28 years of South Carolina civil rights experience
Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr. is a member and general counsel based in Mount Pleasant, SC. The practice focuses on Civil Rights. Samuel has over 28 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Motley Rice Llc. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 1 client review.
Since the firm’s founding more than 20 years ago, Sam has led its in-house legal department and provided steady guidance in a dynamic environment as the firm has tripled in size.
Sam’s practice encompasses a broad range of matters impacting the firm, including risk management, professional ethics, contracts, employment, regulatory compliance, tax, governance, financing, intellectual property, marketing, and operations. He regularly advises the firm’s Executive Committee, Practice Group Leaders, and Directors of Accounting, Client Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Marketing.
Sam’s early career included stints as a CPA with an international accounting firm and a financial manager with several Fortune 1000 companies. After returning to school to earn his MBA and JD, he began practicing law with Motley Rice attorneys.
Honored as a Carolina Legal Scholar, Sam was inducted into The Order of the Coif and The Order of the Wig and Robe. He served as Managing Editor of the South Carolina Law Review and authored Dischargeability of Consumer Credit Card Debt in Bankruptcy After Anastas v. American Savings Bank, 48 S.C.L. Rev. 915 (1997).
Active in his community, Sam served on the Board of Directors for the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center.
Blog Posts
November 11, 2024
A Thank You for Our Veterans
by: Joseph F. Rice
February 26, 2020
Decade in Review: Plaintiffs’ Litigation Highlights Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Joseph F. Rice
May 28, 2019
SCOTUS preemption ruling good news for drug and device plaintiffs Causes, Not Just Cases
by: Louis M. Bograd
News
April 28, 2025
The history and legacy of Workers’ Memorial Day
by:
M. Nolan Webb
December 20, 2010
New Members Announced: Motley Rice grows and expands litigation efforts
by: Motley Rice
Samuel's approach to civil rights cases
Since the firm’s founding more than 20 years ago, Sam has led its in-house legal department and provided steady guidance in a dynamic environment as the firm has tripled in size. Sam’s practice encompasses a broad range of matters impacting the firm, including risk management, professional ethics, contracts, employment, regulatory compliance, tax, governance, financing, intellectual property,…
Clients Samuel works with
Samuel reviews new inquiries case-by-case for civil rights matters in Mount Pleasant and the surrounding South Carolina area.
Credentials
Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr.'s legal education and bar admissions
University of South Carolina School of Law
J.D. · 1998
University of South Carolina
B.S. · 1981
Jurisdictions
Samuel's state bar admissions
North Carolina
1998 · ACTIVE
SC U.S. District Cou
1998 · ACTIVE
North Carolina
1998 · ACTIVE
Samuel studied at J.D. in University of South Carolina School of Law and B.S. in University of South Carolina.
Law school and academic background
Samuel completed J.D. in University of South Carolina School of Law and B.S. in University of South Carolina. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Samuel runs in South Carolina is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Awards, publications, and recognition of Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr.
Samuel has received 1 formal recognition from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
BV Distinguished
Legal awards and honors
BV Distinguished.
Affiliations
Samuel's professional memberships and bar associations
Associations •American Bar Association •Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers •American Institute of Certified Public Accountants •South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants
membership
Locations
Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr.'s office in Mount Pleasant
Samuel's primary office is at 28 Bridgeside Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC, 29464. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Client feedback
Client reviews of Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr. — 4.4/5 rating from 1 verified client review
Every review below is from a verified client of Samuel. Reviews cover communication, case outcome, and value — the three signals that matter most when comparing civil rights attorneys in Mount Pleasant.
4.4
1 client review
Client ratings are sourced from public records and editorial research. Reviews on LawyersListed are accepted from verified clients once Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr. claims this profile.
Read all reviewsHiring guide
How to hire Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr. — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new civil rights attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Samuel usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Samuel charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Samuel's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Samuel will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a civil rights attorney in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
A short list to run through before you commit: How many civil rights matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Samuel
Samuel discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in civil rights practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every civil rights matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Samuel confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Samuel's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many civil rights practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Samuel Bynum Cothran, Jr.
How much does it cost to hire Samuel for a civil rights case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Samuel walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Samuel offer a free consultation?
Samuel charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Samuel's office. Some civil rights attorneys offer free consults — check Samuel's current terms during booking.
How long do civil rights cases in South Carolina typically take?
Simple civil rights matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Samuel gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Samuel take my case if I'm outside Mount Pleasant?
Samuel is licensed in South Carolina. Matters governed by South Carolina law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Samuel will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Samuel?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Samuel will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Samuel accepting new civil rights clients right now?
Samuel's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
Civil Rights attorneys serving Mount Pleasant, Columbia and Charleston in South Carolina
Samuel handles civil rights matters throughout South Carolina. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified civil rights attorneys in that community.
- Mount Pleasant1,100 attorneys
- Columbia4,189 attorneys
- Charleston2,702 attorneys
- Greenville2,449 attorneys
- Spartanburg583 attorneys
- Myrtle Beach506 attorneys
- North Charleston476 attorneys
- Lexington379 attorneys
- Rock Hill372 attorneys
- Hilton Head Island347 attorneys
- Florence335 attorneys
- Summerville299 attorneys
More counsel
Other top-rated civil rights attorneys in South Carolina
If Samuel's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these civil rights attorneys in Mount Pleasant handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.

Jack E. Cohoon
Columbia, South Carolina
5.0· 22

Michael B. Smith
Rock Hill, South Carolina
5.0· 16
-Act-Tighe-105212.jpg)
J. Hagood Tighe
Columbia, South Carolina
5.0· 14

Jonathan Brooks Davis
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
5.0· 11

Thomas Whitfield Dunaway IV
Anderson, South Carolina
5.0· 11

Dale Ernest Akins
Bluffton, South Carolina
5.0· 10