Meet the team at Baxley, Wells & Benson, P.A.

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Retired

Charles B. Baxley

Charles Baxley joined Baxley, Wells & Benson law firm in 1977, where he has practiced law ever since. Charles’ primary focuses are on Business law, Estate Planning and Estate Administration, though he also practices in various other areas of law.

When not practicing law, Charles' hobbies include history, travel, aviation, and woodworking. He is the editor and publisher of the on-line magazine, Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution, and gives battlefield tours and military staff rides.

Charles lives in Lugoff, South Carolina with his wife, Judy Carol Duncan of Greenville, South Carolina. They have one daughter, Caroline Baxley Chambers (Geoff Chambers), and three grandchildren, Skye, River, and Cedar.

  • Previously served for fifteen (15) years as a Judge for the City of Camden, SC.
  • Previous Adjunct Professor of Law, Limestone College and American Management College
  • Served as a Captain in United States Airforce Reserves
  • Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Kershaw County Education Foundation, Inc. for twenty-five (25) years
  • Past Officer and Member of the Executive Board of the Indian Waters Council, Boy Scouts of America
  • Past Chairman of the Kershaw County Public Defender Corporation
  • Previous President of the Lugoff Optimist Club
  • Previous President of the Kershaw County Bar Association
  • Previous President of the Kershaw County Forest Landowners Association
  • Previous President of the Kershaw County Historical Society
  • Past Trustee and Chairman of the Kershaw County School Board
  • Silver Beaver award from Boy Scouts of American
  • Order of the Palmetto from the State of South Carolina
  • Chairman of South Carolina Revolutionary War 250th Anniversary Commission, 2019
  • University of South Carolina, B.A. (1974)
    • Political Science
  • University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D. (1976)
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Partner

John W. Wells

John Wells joined Baxley, Wells & Benson in 1981. John’s primary focuses of law are personal injury litigation, estate administration, estate planning, and real estate transactions.

John is an experienced litigator who has practiced in both civil and criminal trial courts in the State of South Carolina for over forty years. His litigation practice is now primarily focused on personal injury litigation.

John lives in Elgin, South Carolina with his wife, Sherry of Mullins, South Carolina. They have one son, Harrison, who is a Corporal for Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department.


[email protected]

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  • Chairman of the South Carolina Election Commission, 2018-present
  • Town Attorney for the Town of Elgin, 1981-present
  • President of the Kershaw County Bar Association, 1983
  • Chairman of the Kershaw County Chapter of the American Red Cross, 1989
  • Member of the Kershaw County Bar Association, 1980-present
  • Member of the Kershaw County Council, 1994-2008
  • Board member of the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce, 2014-2017
  • President of the West Rotary Club, 1992-1993, 2016-2017
  • Furman University (1977)
    • Business Administration
  • University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D. (1980)
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Partner

Jessica LeGrand Benson

Jessica LeGrand Benson joined Baxley, Wells & Benson as an attorney in November 2019. Jessica started working for Baxley, Wells & Benson, P. A., then Baxley, Pratt & Wells, P. A., as a runner in high school. Throughout receiving her college education, Jessica continued to work for the firm part time as a legal assistant and law clerk.  These years helped her to gain the practical knowledge and experience necessary to provide her client with excellent representation.

Jessica graduated from Wofford College, cum laude, with a Bachelor’s of Arts in History and Government. Jessica then went on to attend law school at the University of South Carolina, where she graduated in the top 10% of her class.

During law school, Jessica went on to receive four CALI Awards, which are used to recognize students for achieving the highest grade in their class. Jessica’s CALI Awards are in Civil Procedure, Poverty Law and Policy, Law and Economics, and Estate Planning. Jessica was further inducted into two honors societies: Order of the Wig and Robe (2018) and The Order of the Coif (2019).

Jessica’s primary focuses are in estate administration, estate planning, guardianships and conservatorships, and real estate transactions.

Jessica is a Kershaw County native, and currently lives in Camden, South Carolina with her husband, Luke E. Benson, and their daughter, Cassandra.


[email protected]

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  • Current Chair of the Board for United Way of Kershaw County
  • Past President of the Kershaw County Bar Association (2021)
  • Former Board Member for Santee Lynches Regional Development Corporation
  • Former Board Member for Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce
  • Member of the Order of the Coif, inducted May 9, 2019
  • Member of the Order of the Wig and Robe, inducted June 4, 2018
  • CALI Award for Poverty Law and Policy, Spring 2019*
  • CALI Award for Law and Economics, Spring 2019*
  • CALI Award for Estate Planning, Fall 2018*
  • CALI Award for Civil Procedure, Spring 2017*

*The “CALI award” is given to the student with the highest grade in a class, as determined by the professor or registrar.

Organized in 1935 as a local legal scholastic organization, the Wig and Robe recognizes students with the most outstanding scholastic records. Second-year students are admitted after attaining a ranking in the top 10% of their class. Third-year students are admitted after attaining a ranking in the top 15% of their class.

The Order of the Coif is a national legal honor society, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement. Students in the top 10% of their graduating class are eligible for membership.

  • Wofford College, B.A. (2016)
    - Government
    - History

  • University of South Carolina School of Law
    - Juris Doctor, May 2019

Our Staff

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Real Estate Legal Secretary

Rhonda J. Catoe

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Legal Secretary to John Wells

Jessica F. Clyburn

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Legal Secretary to Jessica L. Benson

Emily D. Catoe