James W. Peterson, Jr.

Clarke, Johnson, Peterson & McLean, P. A.

Sumter, South Carolina 29150

843-669-2401

Business, Commercial, Construction, Contract, Discrimination, Employment, Insurance, Personal Injury, Real Estate, Sexual Harassment, Workplace, Wrongful Death


Experienced South Carolina Trial Attorney

James W. Peterson, Jr. Member

Born: Darlington, South Carolina; February 15, 1950

Education: Presbyterian College (B.S., magna cum laude, 1972) University of South Carolina (J.D., cum laude, 1975);  Society of Wig and Robe;  Member, South Carolina Law Review, 1973-1975; Co-Author, “Survey of South Carolina Practice and Procedure, 1974.

Bar Admissions: Admitted to South Carolina Bar, 1975 Admitted to U.S. Court of Military Appeals, 1976

Military Service: Captain, U.S. Army, JAGC, 1976 – 1979 U.S. Army Reserves, JAGC, 1980 – 2002, COL (Retired)

Professional Biographical Info: Served three years on active duty as a Captain with the U.S. Army, JAGC, 1976-1979; continued military service in the United States Army Reserves until retiring as a Colonel in 2002.

Served as Law Clerk to U.S. District Judge C. Weston Houck, 1979-1980.

Joined his present firm in 1981, and is involved in a general practice with emphasis on civil litigation, mediation, and municipal law.

Served as City Attorney for the City of Florence since 1994.

President of the South Carolina Municipal Attorneys Association in 2006.

Appointed by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a member of the initial Board for Certification of Mediators and Arbitrators and presently serves as Chair of that Board and as a member of the ADR Commission for South Carolina. 

Member, Board of Advisors for Charleston School of Law. 

Certified Civil Court Mediator for South Carolina.

Practice areas:
Municipal Law
Insurance Defense
Construction Litigation
Products Liability
Personal Injury
Probate Litigation;
Mediation and Arbitration

At the Florence, South Carolina  law office of, Clarke, Johnson, Peterson & McLean, PA we have the experience to help our clients with a variety of legal issues. We practice primarily civil litigation in all state and federal courts. We represent our clients professionally and personally with prompt, competent, and efficient service. We are a small firm, but with big firm results. Part of our success comes from stability and continuity. Finley Clarke and Brown Johnson have practiced together since 1972, Jim Peterson has been with the firm since 1981, and Joe McLean since 1988.

We offer free initial consultations. Call us at (843) 669-2401 or Toll Free at (877) 214-1987.

Since the firm’s establishment in 1971, the lawyers at Clarke, Johnson, Peterson & McLean have served as counsel to many individual, business, and insurance clients in the state of South Carolina. We are also the city attorneys for our hometown of Florence, SC. We are dedicated to high-quality legal services in a broad range of areas.

620 West Evans Street

Florence SC 29503

Phone: 1.843.669.2401

Toll Free: 1.877.214.1987

Fax: 843.662.1779

Email: [email protected]