About

Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, and Professional Licensing Attorney in Columbia, SC

Meet Attorney Harrison Saunders

Diverse Knowledge Across Several Practice Areas

Harrison Saunders is a personal injury, criminal defense, and professional licensing attorney. He was born in Columbia, South Carolina and has lived in Columbia for most of his life. Mr. Saunders received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre from the University of South Carolina in 1996. After working as an actor in New York City, he returned to Columbia to pursue his legal education at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Throughout law school, Mr. Saunders worked as a law clerk for prominent criminal defense attorney, Jack B. Swerling. Upon graduation from law school, he worked as an associate for Mr. Swerling’s firm gaining invaluable experience in the field of criminal law. Mr. Saunders handled matters at the trial and appellate level involving racketeering, tax fraud, healthcare fraud, firearm offenses, attempted murder, drug trafficking, armed robbery, criminal sexual conduct, and domestic violence.

Having a desire to work in the field of civil litigation, Mr. Saunders formed the partnership of Reeves and Saunders with his friend, Paul Reeves. This practice focused on personal injury matters such as workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, premises liability, automobile and trucking accidents.

Expansion to Professional Licensing Matters

In 2009, Mr. Saunders went into private practice as a sole practitioner expanding his practice to include professional licensing matters. As a professional licensing attorney, he has handled several SCLLR matters including those pending before the medical board, veterinary board, nursing board, and board of podiatry. Mr. Saunders further expanded to handling federal criminal appeals pending with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Involvement in the Legal Community

Mr. Saunders is a member of the South Carolina Bar, South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, South Carolina Association of Justice, and the Richland County Bar Association. For the RCBA, he formerly served as the General Sessions Liaison and is now the Immediate Past President. He also served as the Mentor Coordinator of the USDC Bridge Program, the federal version of “drug court.” He now serves on the South Carolina Bar House of Delegates.

He is a frequent participant in continuing legal education seminars with the SC Bar presenting on topics of criminal and civil law. He is co-creator of Sidebar SC, a unique format of presenting legal education produced by the SC Bar.

He was admitted to practice by the South Carolina Supreme Court in February, 2003, to practice in all South Carolina State Courts. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court, and United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Extracurricular Activities

Mr. Saunders served six years on the Trustus Theatre Board of Directors. He was Board President for four years.

In his free time, he enjoys doing theatre, spending time at the beach with his family, and hunting and fishing with his three sons.