Education and Philosophy
Dayne is focused on one goal in every case: To achieve the best possible result by providing passionate and personalized representation. This is accomplished by placing an emphasis on open and constant communication with his clients. Mr. Phillips also firmly believes that success is a result of having a diligent work ethic—including working long hours on nights and weekends—and a client-focused approach to every case. His mission is to defend every case as if it was one of his family members or friends on trial.
Dayne Phillips is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, the National Criminal Defense College, and the National Forensic College. He has experience successfully defending the accused by receiving numerous not guilty verdicts in felony jury trials, as well as successfully arguing before the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of South Carolina.
In law school, Dayne worked as a law clerk for John Delgado—a prominent criminal defense and death penalty defense attorney. After assisting Delgado in several murder trials and high-profile cases, criminal defense quickly became his life’s calling. This incredible experience made him passionate about challenging the government and defending the underdog. In short, he learned the true meaning of zealous advocacy from his mentor and is forever grateful for Delgado teaching him to how “fight the good fight” in every case.
Mr. Phillips is a proud native of South Carolina. Born and raised in Lexington County, he graduated from Airport High School in 2003 and the University of South Carolina in 2007. He then earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2010. The three pillars of Dayne’s life are his family, friends, and faith. Dayne grew up in Pine Ridge where his family taught him work ethic and unconditional love. His amazing wife is a public school teacher and is a two-time Teacher of the Year for her school, and District Teacher of the Year. His spunky daughter keeps him on his toes and is the greatest thing to ever happened to him. He is also blessed with incredibly supportive parents and in-laws who are the cornerstone of his family.
Notable Experience
Dayne Phillips began his professional career as an Assistant Appellate Defender in the Appellate Division of the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense (SCCID). He managed a large and diverse caseload that included convictions for murder, drug trafficking, burglary, and felony DUI. Notably, he has obtained numerous reversals on appeal for his clients and has successfully argued to create laws that protect the rights of South Carolina citizens.
Mr. Phillips then joined the Eleventh Circuit Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender, where he defended all types of felony and misdemeanor offenses, including—but not limited to—Murder, Attempted Murder, Burglary, Armed Robbery, Drug Trafficking, Criminal Sexual Conduct, Domestic Violence, and DUIs.
Successful Case Results
- Murder charge dismissed
- Murder convictions reversed on appeal
- Attempted Murder charge dismissed
- Voluntary Manslaughter charge dismissed
- Trafficking Cocaine charge dismissed
- Trafficking Cocaine conviction reversed on appeal
- Felony DUI, resulting in Great Bodily Injury charge dismissed
- Criminal Sexual Conduct charge dismissed
- Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC), third degree, not guilty verdict
- Hit and Run, duties of a driver involved in an accident with death charge dismissed
- Burglary, third degree, not guilty verdict
- Distribution of Crack Cocaine, not guilty verdict
- Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult, not guilty verdict
- Conspiracy, not guilty verdict
- Obtained numerous not guilty verdicts in felony jury trials
- Successfully argued before both appellate courts in South Carolina.
- Successfully defended complaints against professional licenses.
Trial Tested / Featured Attorney
Dayne’s cases have been featured in The State Newspaper, SC Lawyers Weekly, and local TV news stations. He has lectured on topics such as constitutional rights, motions practice, and preserving issues for appellate review at CLE training seminars. In short, he is a highly trained and experienced criminal defense lawyer and appellate litigator who has dedicated his life to defending the accused and convicted.
*Disclaimer: Any result the lawyer or law firm may achieve on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients.
- South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Eleventh Circuit Representative in the SC Bar’s House of Delegates
- South Carolina State Delegate for the National College for DUI Defense
- Founding Member – South Carolina Actual Innocence Justice Center
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), 2016
- National Trial Lawyers, 2017
- Lexington County Bar Association
- Richland County Bar Association
Bar Admissions
- South Carolina Bar, 2011
- Supreme Court of the United States, 2014
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2015
- United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, 2015
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law
- Juris Doctor, May 2010
- University of South Carolina
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, May 2007
- Voted as one of the best 3 criminal defense lawyers 2024
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers 2017-2024
- Co-Chair and Moderator, Criminal Defense 101 CLE 2017-2020
- 10.0 Rating on Avvo
- President, South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2018
- President-Elect, South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2017
- State Delegate, National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) 2017 – Present
- Representative, South Carolina Bar House of Delegates 2017 – 2018
- Founding Member, South Carolina Actual Innocence Justice Center 2017
- Member, South Carolina Bar Law Related Education Committee 2017 – 2018
- Nominated for “Best of” Contest, Attorney, The State Newspaper 2017
- Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers 2017, 2020
- Certified as Lead Counsel for Death Penalty Defense, Supreme Court of South Carolina 2016
- Vice-President, South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2016
- Nominated for “Best of” Contest, Attorney, The State Newspaper 2016
- Board of Directors, South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2014 – 2015
- AV Preeminent Peer Rating from Martindale Hubbell, 2018-2020
- Legal Elite for Criminal Law, Columbia Business Monthly, 2018, 2019, 2020
- Co-Founder of the Direct Examination: A South Carolina Lawyer Podcast
- Honorable mention, Best DUI Attorney, Free Times Best of Contest, 2018, 2020
- A User’s Guide to South Carolina Criminal Practice: The 2021 Pandemic Edition
Co-Planner and Panel Moderator
Prepared and organized legal training seminar
Moderated three panels during the CLE
- Magistrates Advisory Counsel Intensive Training Seminar
Speaker, 2016-2019
Presented on Hearsay and the Confrontation Clause to Magistrate Judges and Evidence. - Orientation School for Magistrate and Municipal Judges
Speaker, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2o2o
Presented on Constitutional Rights. - Criminal Practice Essentials
Speaker, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
Presented on motions practice in criminal cases
Presented on Bond Hearings, Preliminary Hearings, and Indictments - Criminal Defense 101 CLE
Co-Chair and Moderator, 2017 – 2020
Prepared and organized the training seminar
Speaker, 2015 and 2016
Presented on preserving issues for appellate review - Gun Law in South Carolina
Speaker, 2017
Presented on Firearms Dealers, Licensing Requirements, and Gun Ownership Legal Concerns - Palmetto Paralegal Association CLE
Speaker, 2019
Presented DUI Defense Case Review - Appellate Panel, SC Bar Young Lawyers Division Mentoring Lunch CLE, U.S. District Court
Speaker, 2019
Discussed appellate practice and issues - Expungement Law Issues in Richland County, SC Bar Public Services Project
Speaker, 2019
Presented on expungement law issues in SC - Obstructing Injustice: A Discussion on Criminal Justice Reform and Wrongful Convictions, Common Book Event at Winthrop University
Speaker, 2019 - Drug Litigation Seminar, SC Bar CLE
Co- Organizer and Speaker, 2019
Assisted in creating and organizing a CLE with the SC Bar
Presented a mock suppression hearing
- NACDL National Forensic College, Cardozo School of Law 2017
Founded and Organized by Barry Scheck of the Innocence Project Attendance is by invitation only for private attorneys - National Criminal Defense College, Mercer School of Law 2015
Trial Practice Institute (two-week long training seminar) - U.S. Supreme Court Institute/ Habeas Assistance Training 2012
Received Scholarship to attend this training.
Taught by nationally recognized law professors and death penalty appellate attorneys
John Blume and Anthony G. Amsterdam - Representing A Juvenile Facing Life Without Parole 2016
The training was limited only to defense attorneys who were currently representing clients requesting resentencing under Aiken v. Byars or representing juvenile offenders where life without parole is a sentencing option.