Practice areas: Family Law
Licensed in South Carolina since: 1976
Education: University of South Carolina School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2025 McLaren & Lee
1508 Laurel StreetPO Box 11809
Columbia, SC 29211 Phone: 803-799-3074 Email: James T. McLaren Visit website
Details
JAMES T. McLAREN, McLAREN & LEE, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, 1508 LAUREL STREET (29201)POST OFFICE BOX 11809, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA 29211-1809 TELEPHONE (803) 799-3074 FACSIMILE (803) 252-3548E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.mclarenandlee.com Jim McLaren maintains a statewide family law practice emphasizing complex marital litigation in Columbia, South Carolina. He is a partner in the law firm of McLaren & Lee. He has served the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in various capacities since becoming a Fellow. He currently serves as a Vice-President and is on the Executive Committee. He received the Fellow of the Year from the Academy in 2007. He serves on the Board of Directors of the AAML Foundation. He chaired the Chair of the Law Office Management Committee and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Website Committee. For the South Carolina Chapter of the Academy, he has served as President and National Delegate. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers. He is currently the Chapter President for the International Network of Boutique Law Firms. Mr. McLaren has been named in the Best Lawyers in America, Family Law Designation, from 1993 through 2010, received an "AV" designation from Martindale Hubbell since 1996, and was named in the South Carolina Super Lawyers publication. He is a contributing author to the South Carolina Equitable Apportionment Act (§20-7-741, et. seq., S.C. Code of Laws) and the South Carolina Alimony Statute (§20-3-130, South Carolina Code of Laws). Mr. McLaren received his Bachelor of Arts (1973) and Juris Doctorate (1976) degrees from the University of South Carolina. He was admitted to practice in 1976 and has maintained a private practice in Columbia, South Carolina since that time. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, US. District Court, South Carolina District, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a frequent speaker on various family law topics for the South Carolina Bar, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, American Bar Association, South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Mandatory Judicial and Continuing Legal Education Seminars. 9/1/09
First Admitted: 1976, South Carolina
Professional Webpage: http://www.mclarenandlee.com/attorneys/james-mcLaren/
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Bar and Professional Memberships: ■ American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Certified Fellow■ American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Diplomate■ International Network of Boutique Law Firms, Member ■ American Bar Association, Family Law Section■ American Association of Trial Lawyers, Family Law Section■ South Carolina Bar Association, Family Law Section■ South Carolina Trial Lawyers, Family Law Section■ Richland County Bar Association, Family Law SectionOffices Held: ■ American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, National (Board of Governors, 2005-2009; Vice-President, 2008/09; Secretary, 2007; AAML Foundation, Board of Directors, 2007-09; Executive Committee, 2007-2009; Chair, Law Office Management Committee, 2005-2008; Member, Admissions Procedures Committee, 2006; Co-Chair and Member, Website Committee, 2005-2009; Member, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2006-2007; Member, ALI Commission, 2006-2008; Sales and Marketing Committee, 2007-2008; Executive Committee Sponsorships Committee, 2008; Nominating Committee, 2008/09.) ■ American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, South Carolina Chapter (President 2001-2002; President-Elect, 1999-2000; Vice-President, 1997-98; National Delegate to Board of Governors, 2005-2006) ■ International Network of Boutique Law Firms (Chapter President, 2007-2009). ■ South Carolina Bar, Family Law Section (Chair, 1991-92; Chair-Elect,1990-91; Secretary, 1989-90; Section Delegate, 1995-96; Council, 1988-95) ■ South Carolina Bar, Practice and Procedure Committee (Chair, Family Law Sub-Committee, 1989-1995; Chair, Sub-Committee on Jurisdiction in the Family Courts, 1979-80) ■ South Carolina Bar, Lawyer-Accountant Relationship Committee (Chair, 1998-99) ■ South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Family Law Section (Co-Chair, Family Court Judicial Liaison, 1983-1986; Chair, 1983-84; Vice-Chair, 1982-83; Secretary, 1981-82; Treasurer,1980-81)
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Bar Admissions: ■ South Carolina Bar, 1976 ■ U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, 1976 ■ U.S. District Court, South Carolina District, 1976 ■ U.S. Supreme Court, 2005
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Medical University of South Carolina, Board of Visitors, 2000-2004 ,
Honors/Awards:
- Distinctions: ■ Named, The Best Lawyers in America, Family Law designation, 1993 through 2010 Editions. ■ Named, 2007 Fellow of the Year, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. ■ Named, South Carolina Super Lawyers, Family Law Designation, 2008-09. ■ Matrimonial Mediation Trained, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1995. ■ Certified Family Court Mediator, SC Bar and Dispute Resolution Services, 1995. ■ Certified Matrimonial Arbitrator Trained, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2000. ■ Supreme Court Appointee, South Carolina Symposium - Families In Court, sponsored by National Association of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 1991. ■ Lecturer, New Family Court Judges Orientation School, 2004-2006 ■ Received "AV" designation from Martindale Hubbell, 1996. ■ Medical University of South Carolina, Board of Visitors, 2000-2004
Educational Background:
- University of South Carolina, BA 1973University of South Carolina School of Law, JD 1976
White Papers:
- Contributing Author: ■ South Carolina Equitable Apportionment Act, §20-7-471, et. seq., S.C. Code of Laws ■ South Carolina Alimony Statute, §20-3-130, S.C. Code of Laws ■ South Carolina Family Court Handbook, 1992, 1993 and 1996 Editions
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Speaker: Various Family Law topics, South Carolina Bar, South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, ABA Family Law Section, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Arizona Bar Association, Cleveland, Ohio Bar Association, and Mandatory Judicial and Continuing Legal Education Seminars, including: ■ Instructor, ABA Family Law Section, Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute, Denver, CO, May 2009 ■ Speaker, SC Bar Family Court Bench Bar Seminar, Blended Mediatin & Arbitration, Columbia S.C. December 2008 ■ Speaker, SC Bar Hot Tips Seminar, The AAML, SC Bar, 2008 ■ Speaker, Determining the Marital Standard of Living, 2008 AICPA/AAML National Conference on Divorce, Las Vegas, May 2008 ■ Speaker, Copyrights - Are They Divisible in Divorce Proceedings?, Hot Tips from the Coolest Domestic Relations Practitioners, Speaker, S.C. Bar Association, CLE Division, Columbia, SC, September 2007 ■ Speaker, Arbitration - The South Carolina Experience (The Evolution from the Dark Ages before divorce was allowed, to a period of enlightenment in which arbitration is allowed and encouraged.), Cleveland Bar Association, Cleveland, Ohio September 2007 ■ Speaker, Arbitration, You Can Do It Now, Speaker, S.C. Bar Association, CLE Division, Charleston, South Carolina, January 2007 ■ Speaker, Hot Tips from the Coolest Domestic Relations Practitioners, Moderator, S.C. Bar Association, CLE Division, Columbia, SC, September 2006 ■ Speaker, Fee Agreements: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly-Nuts and Bolts of Fee Agreements and Ethical Requirements for Lawyers-What A Lawyer Should/Should Not, As well as Can/Cannot Do, AAML Mid-Year Meeting, Cabos San Lucas, Mexico March 2006 ■ Speaker, Hot Tips from the Coolest Domestic Relations Practitioners, Moderator, S.C. Bar Association, CLE Division, Columbia, SC, September 2005 ■ Speaker, Family Law Practice with a Case Management System and Support 60 Tips to Build a Successful Family Law Practice, S.C. Bar Association, CLE Division, Columbia, SC, April 2005 ■ Speaker, Challenging Child Support Jurisdiction Hot Tips from the Coolest Domestic Law Practitioners, S.C. Bar Association, CLE Division, Columbia, SC, September 2004 ■ Speaker, Legal Issues for Law Practice Evaluations South Carolina Trial Lawyers Annual Convention Hilton Head, SC, August 2004 ■ Speaker, Resurrecting COBRA Rights Terminated in Anticipation of Divorce Hot Tips from the Best Domestic Law Practitioners, S.C. Bar Association, CLE Division, Columbia, SC, September 2003 ■ Speaker, Marital Law Update Family Court Bench/Bar Seminar, S.C. Bar Association, CLE Division, Columbia, SC, December 2002 ■ Speaker, Admissibility of Documents in Expert's File Hot Tips from the Best Domestic Law Practitioners, S.C. Bar Association, CLE Division, Columbia, SC, September 2002 ■ Speaker, Family Law Update SC Annual Judicial Conference Columbia, SC, August 2002 ■ Instructor, Reconciliation Agreements, Taking the Fifth, and Attorney Fees Orientation School for New South Carolina Family Court Judges Columbia, SC, July 2002■ Speaker, Settlement Negotiations -- Pitfalls and Problems Hot Tips from the Best Domestic Law Practitioners, S.C. Bar Association, CLE Division, Columbia, SC, September 2001 ■ Speaker, Financial Declarations South Carolina Trial Lawyers Annual Convention Hilton Head, SC, August 2001 ■ Speaker, Handling Your First Custody Dispute in South Carolina National Business Institute Columbia, SC, May 2001 ■ Speaker, Working With Experts, Consulting, Testifying, How to Engage Them, How to Find Them, How to Attack Them and A Compendium of Good Ones AAML Mid-Year Meeting Indian Wells, CA, March 2001 ■ Speaker & Coordinator, Stock Options and Management AAML, South Carolina and North Carolina Chapters Spring Retreat, Charleston, SC, March 2001 ■ Speaker, Family Law: Goodwill: Post-Filing Earnings Implications (Marital v. Non-Marital) Hot Tips from the Best Domestic Law Practitioners Seminar, South Carolina Bar and USC Law School, September 2000 ■ Speaker, Family Law: How to Approve and Award Attorney Fees at Temporary and Final Hearings South Carolina Bar Mid-Year Meeting, January 2000 ■ Speaker, Family Law: Depositions and Other Discovery South Carolina Family Court Bench/Bar Seminar, South Carolina Bar, December 1999 ■ Speaker, Family Law: Mind Maps for Trial Preparation Hot Tips from the Best Domestic Law Practitioners Seminar, South Carolina Bar, September 1999 ■ Speaker, Practical Divorce Practice Seminar: Family Law American Bar Association, General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section, Section of Family Law, October 1998 ■ Speaker, Family Law Program: Valuation of a Professional Practice South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention August 1998 ■ Speaker, Annual Family Law Seminar: Attorney Fees South Carolina Bar Annual Convention, June 1998 ■ Speaker, Analysis of the Law and Key Issues and Procedures in the Divorce Process South Carolina Family Law Practice for Paralegals HalfMoon, LLC, March 1998 ■ Speaker, Alimony South Carolina Bar, December 1997 ■ Speaker, Mediation of Children's Issues South Carolina E.T.V. and Flying Solo Life Management, May 1997 ■ Speaker, Preparation of the Expert American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, March 1997 ■ Speaker, The Use of Expert Witnesses in Family Court Hearings - A Hands-On Presentation Discussing the Practical Issues Regarding Expert Opinion Evidence South Carolina Bar, January 1997 ■ Speaker, Marital Tax, The Other Three Letter Word: Drafting Pleadings, Agreements and Orders SC Chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, October, 1996. ■ Speaker, Application of Minority and Marketability Discounts in Valuing Closely Held Businesses in Marital Litigation Cases 1996 CPAs, Lawyers and Litigation Conference South Carolina Bar and South Carolina Association of CPAs September, 1996. ■ Speaker Marital Litigation Update: The Fall 1995 Family Court Bench/Bar Seminar -- Income: Finding It and Imputing It South Carolina Bar, CLE in conjunction with the University of South Carolina, November, 1995. ■ Speaker, Nuts and Bolts of Running a Family Law Practice South Carolina Association of Legal Secretaries, October, 1995. ■ Speaker, Domestic Practice: The Continuing Saga of Hot Tips From the Experts - Wiretapping South Carolina Bar, CLE, July 1995. ■ Speaker, The New South Carolina Family Court Mediation Rules South Carolina Bar, CLE in cooperation with The SC Council For Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution and The University of South Carolina School of Law, June 1995 ■ Family Court Mediator Certification Training South Carolina Bar, CLE in cooperation with The SC Council For Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution and The University of South Carolina School of Law, June 1995 ■ Speaker, Family Law Practice: Where's It At and Where's It Going? Family Law Section of State Bar of Arizona, 62nd Annual Convention, Phoenix, AR, June 1995 ■ Speaker, Domestic Practice: Hot Tips from the Experts - Health Insurance - COBRA South Carolina Bar, May 1994. ■ Advanced Trial Techniques in Divorce Litigation - Direct Examination of a Party - Techniques and Philosophy ABA, Family Law Section, Spring Conference, April 1994. ■ Speaker, Domestic Practice: Hot Tips from the Experts - Avoiding Appeal Leverage and Other Transition Problems South Carolina Bar, CLE, May 1993. ■ Speaker, Health Insurance & Divorce Health Insurance Planning Service, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, January 1993 ■ Speaker, Custody & Visitation South Carolina Trial Lawyers, Annual Convention, August 1992 ■ Speaker, Domestic Practice: Hot Tips from the Experts - Melt the Ice Around Recalcitrant Litigants in Discovery South Carolina Bar, CLE, May 1992. ■ Speaker, Attorney Fees South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Convention, August 1991. ■ Speaker, Arbitration Tribunals & Forums for Domestic Issues South Carolina Bar, JCLE Family Law Seminar, July 1991. ■ Speaker, Bar Speaks to the Bench - Pendente Lite Hearings South Carolina Bar, CLE, May 1991. ■ Speaker, Family Court Summit Conference South Carolina Bar, September 1991. ■ Speaker, Domestic Practice: The Return of Hot Tips from the Experts Health Insurance - What to Do When COBRA Unavailable South Carolina Bar, CLE, May 1991. ■ Speaker, Alimony & 1990 Alimony Statute South Carolina Bar, CLE, November 1990. ■ Speaker, Alimony Update South Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Meeting, August 1990. ■ Speaker, Domestic Practice: Hot Tips from the Experts - How to Win Litigation Costs & Expert Fees at Temporary Hearings South Carolina Bar, CLE, June 1990. ■ Speaker, Tax Considerations from a Judicial Perspective & Technical Problems Pensions & Retirement Plans JCLE Commission of South Carolina Supreme Court, November 1989. ■ Speaker, Alimony Update South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Convention, August 1989. ■ Speaker, Alimony Update South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Convention, August 1988. ■ Speaker, The Trial of An Equitable Distribution Case South Carolina Bar, Bench Bar Conference, June 1988. ■ Speaker, Alimony Update South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Convention, August 1987. ■ Speaker, Hearsay-Evidence Statements of and by Children South Carolina Bar, CLE, July 1987. ■ Speaker, Legal Fees with An Emphasis on the Matrimonial Practitioner USC Law School, CLE, November 1986. ■ Speaker, Understanding Equitable Apportionment and Utilizing Depositions in the Family Court South Carolina Bar, CLE, October 1986. ■ Speaker, Evidence in Family Court - Hearsay Evidence - Statements of and by Children South Carolina Bar, JCLE, August 1986. ■ Speaker, Taxation as it Effects Divorce-DRTA Standard Federal Savings & Loan Association, CPE/CLE, May 1985. ■ Speaker, Family Law Seminar South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Convention, August 1984. ■ Speaker, Family Law Practice: Discovery & Agreements -The Wife's Case South Carolina Bar, CLE, September 1984. ■ Speaker, Family Law Practice II: Discovery & Agreements - The Wife's Case South Carolina Bar, CLE, August 1984. ■ Speaker, Taxation and Divorce Standard Federal Savings & Loan Association, CPE/CLE, May 1984. ■ Speaker, Family Law Update National Business Institute, CLE, March 1984. ■ Speaker, Mock Trial of Custody/Abuse Case South Carolina Bar, JCLE, December 1983. ■ Speaker, Equitable Division Update South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Convention, August 1983. ■ Speaker, Judicially Awarded Attorney Fees South Carolina Bar, CLE, June 1983. ■ Speaker, Basic Skills - Family Law South Carolina Bar, CLE, January 1983. ■ Speaker, Nuts and Bolts of Domestic Practice - Drafting Separation Agreements; Update on S.C. Domestic Law - Rules and Procedures of Family Court South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Convention, August 1982. ■ Speaker, Motions in Family Court South Carolina Bar, Mid-Year Meeting, January 1982. ■ Speaker, Rules and Procedures of the Family Court South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Convention, August 1981. ■ Speaker, Domestic Trial Advocacy - Mock Trial of Custody and Economic Phases of Divorce Case South Carolina Bar, CLE, March and April 1980. Updated 9/1/09
Office location for James T. McLaren
1508 Laurel Street
PO Box 11809
Columbia, SC 29211
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