Your Local Legal Advocates

Navigating Legal Challenges Together with Expertise & Care

My Purpose

My journey in the legal world has been defined by a deep-rooted commitment to justice and a genuine passion for connecting with people. My story begins in Vero Beach, Florida, a small coastal community on the east coast of Florida. I later pursued my college education at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where I served as the team captain for the men’s basketball team and spent time volunteering for Special Olympics. These experiences ingrained in me the values of leadership, teamwork, and service to others.

My quest for legal expertise led me to the University of South Carolina School of Law in Columbia, where I immersed myself in the study of law and further honed my analytical skills. During law school, I interned in the legal department at Special Olympics International in Washington D.C., and took part in various criminal defense externship programs.

In 2021, I was thrilled to be joined by my parents and sister, solidifying our ties to this remarkable city and region.

The driving force behind my career is rooted in a fundamental belief that justice is a right owed to every individual. Every day people are injured or wronged in our community, and often find themselves facing large corporations and insurance companies equipped with boundless resources. This stark reality fuels my determination to level the playing field, ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at justice and a chance to tell their human story.

Warm regards,

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James Leffew of Leffew Law Firm.

Meet Jessica Godwin

Jessica Godwin is a South Carolina native who grew up in a big family in the small town of Orangeburg, SC. In a small town, relationships are everything, and learning that early in life has helped Jessica develop her legal practice where she focuses on representing clients in both criminal and civil cases across the state of South Carolina in state and federal court.

Before entering private practice, Jessica honed her legal skills over nearly a decade working as a criminal prosecutor in several counties throughout South Carolina. During her tenure, she prosecuted a wide array of cases, gaining invaluable trial experience.  She tried many cases including Burglary, Murder, Attempted Murder, Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Weapons violations, Criminal Sexual Conduct cases (Rape), Drug Trafficking, and DUI, among others.  She successfully prosecuted thousands of cases as a criminal prosecutor.

While in Richland County, Jessica served as the lead prosecutor of Criminal Sexual Conduct cases for several years. In this role, she passionately pursued justice for survivors of criminal sexual conduct (rape) and child abuse, working closely with Special Victims Unit investigators and various law enforcement agencies across the state. Her collaboration with local and state-level law enforcement, as well as federal agencies like the ATF, the FBI, and the United States Secret Service, further enhanced her ability to navigate complex legal landscapes and ensure that justice was served.

Following her prosecutorial career, Jessica took on the role of Counsel to the Clerk in the South Carolina Senate where she provided legal counsel, drafted legislation, and represented the S.C. Senate in both Circuit Court and the Supreme Court of South Carolina. This experience deepened her understanding of the legislative process and the intricate relationship between law and public policy.

Jessica now uses her extensive background to advocate for her clients’ rights. She is committed to guiding them through their legal challenges with compassion, ensuring that their voices are heard and their stories are told. Jessica enjoys working with people and combines her passion for justice with her commitment to client advocacy to seek justice for her clients when they need someone to rely on.

Meet Jessica Godwin

Jessica Godwin is a South Carolina native who grew up in a big family in the small town of Orangeburg, SC. In a small town, relationships are everything, and learning that early in life has helped Jessica develop her legal practice where she focuses on representing clients in both criminal and civil cases across the state of South Carolina in state and federal court.

Before entering private practice, Jessica honed her legal skills over nearly a decade working as a criminal prosecutor in several counties throughout South Carolina. During her tenure, she prosecuted a wide array of cases, gaining invaluable trial experience.  She tried many cases including Burglary, Murder, Attempted Murder, Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Weapons violations, Criminal Sexual Conduct cases (Rape), Drug Trafficking, and DUI, among others.  She successfully prosecuted thousands of cases as a criminal prosecutor.

While in Richland County, Jessica served as the lead prosecutor of Criminal Sexual Conduct cases for several years. In this role, she passionately pursued justice for survivors of criminal sexual conduct (rape) and child abuse, working closely with Special Victims Unit investigators and various law enforcement agencies across the state. Her collaboration with local and state-level law enforcement, as well as federal agencies like the ATF, the FBI, and the United States Secret Service, further enhanced her ability to navigate complex legal landscapes and ensure that justice was served.

Following her prosecutorial career, Jessica took on the role of Counsel to the Clerk in the South Carolina Senate where she provided legal counsel, drafted legislation, and represented the S.C. Senate in both Circuit Court and the Supreme Court of South Carolina. This experience deepened her understanding of the legislative process and the intricate relationship between law and public policy.

Jessica now uses her extensive background to advocate for her clients’ rights. She is committed to guiding them through their legal challenges with compassion, ensuring that their voices are heard and their stories are told. Jessica enjoys working with people and combines her passion for justice with her commitment to client advocacy to seek justice for her clients when they need someone to rely on.

Jessica

Meet Kelly Forrester

Kelly Forrester was raised in the small town of Powdersville, South Carolina in the upstate region. As the daughter of a pastor, she had the values of compassion and helping others, no matter their status or background, instilled from birth. She understands that when a client has to seek the representation of a personal injury attorney, they are often experiencing one of the hardest times in their lives, and strives to help them as much as she can.

 As a seasoned Litigation Paralegal, Kelly brings a wealth of experience and understanding of Personal Injury matters. Prior to coming to Leffew Law Firm, LLC, Kelly worked at a prestigious local firm as a paralegal for over a decade. She has a thorough understanding of the personal injury process and has handled all kinds of personal injury cases from start to finish, from complex catastrophic injury and wrongful death matters to standard motor vehicle and premises liability matters. She believes that no matter the case value, each client is deserving of the same diligence.

Kelly obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Anderson University, where she majored in English. She came to Charleston in 2012 and has never left! She was lucky enough to land a position in a career that she loves, and to learn from some great minds in the legal field. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunities to participate in several continued learning seminars and training sessions in various systems used by those in the legal field. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunities to participate in several continued education seminars and training sessions in various systems used by those in the legal field. She has also had the privilege to train numerous other paralegals over the years; she is truly interested in the law and learning everything she can to increase her knowledge, and in helping others do the same. She is committed to the firm and its clients, always working to do her best for each.

Kely's

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Charleston, SC
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125 Wappoo Creek Drive,
Bldg G, Ste 102

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leffewlegal.com

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james@leffewlegal.com

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(843) 788-9332

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125 Wappoo Creek Drive, Bldg G,
Ste 102 Charleston, SC 29412
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*Disclaimer - The information presented on this website should neither be construed as formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney-client relationship. Please contact a South Carolina personal injury lawyer at Leffew Law Firm for a consultation on your particular legal situation. Verdict and settlement information presented on this website reflect gross numbers, before attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses are deducted. Any result the lawyer or law firm may have achieved on behalf of one client in one matter does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. Cases will be handled by a lawyer at Leffew Law Firm, who practices at 125 Wappoo Creek Drive, Bldg G, Ste 102.

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