Austin Thomas

J. Austin Thomas is a partner at Grooms & Thomas, LLC in Myrtle Beach, focused on personal injury and criminal defense in Horry County, along with select business litigation matters.

A native of Pawleys Island, SC, Mr. Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law. Before co-founding Grooms & Thomas, LLC, Mr. Thomas served as a law clerk to the Honorable Benjamin H. Culbertson, 15th Judicial Circuit, with responsibilities spanning Georgetown and Conway, SC.

Following his clerkship, Mr. Thomas ventured into private practice with a Pawleys Island firm, known for its civil litigation services. His legal journey continued as an assistant solicitor in the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, initially serving as a designated DUI prosecutor and later handling various felony offenses in both Horry and Georgetown Counties.

With an Avvo rating of “Superb” and boasting 13 years of legal experience, Mr. Thomas is a respected member of the legal community. His dedication and accomplishments have earned him several honors and awards, including the Best of the Beach - Law Office recognition by the Myrtle Beach Sun News in 2018 and the Top 10 Under 40 Attorney Award by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys in 2017. Mr. Thomas was also honored as Prosecutor of the Year in Magistrate Court by the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office in 2013 and received the Excellence for the Future Award from The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction in 2010.

Mr. Thomas maintains active involvement in professional associations, including the South Carolina Association for Justice, where he has been a member since 2017.