Direct Phone: 803.799.5205

Direct Email:bea@aikenandhightower.com

Education

University of South Carolina, School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1989.
University of South Carolina, Bachelor of Arts (Political Science), 1986.

Memberships

South Carolina Bar, 1989.
Richland Count Bar.

Ms. Hightower is a founding partner of the firm and was born in Aiken, South Carolina. All three founding members went to law school together and have known each other for over twenty-five years. Each partner brings his/her particular talents and perspectives to the practice of law. Ms. Hightower has a tremendous criminal and litigation background having worked in the Berkeley County Deputy Attorney’s Office, Richland County Public Defender’s Office, as well as the Richland County DSS Child Support Enforcement Office. As a result, she fully understands how to both prosecute and defend criminal charges. Ms. Hightower now takes her experiences to defend clients who have been accused of driving under the influence (DUI), Driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration (DUAC), drug charges (possession, distribution), marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, criminal domestic violence (CDV), credit card fraud, financial transactions, bad checks, and more. Please call our office if your particular charge is not listed here.

Ms. Hightower is also a strong advocate for children having served on the South Carolina Bar Children’s Law Committee. And, she has lectured and presented at various Bar Association Continuing Legal Education seminars addressing Guardian ad Litem issues. Her passion in this area makes her a very strong advocate for children who have been harmed or injured in automobile accidents, large truck accidents, school bus accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents.

Ms. Hightower is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. She teaches a course on the American Criminal Court Systems to undergraduate college students at USC.

Ms. Hightower is a member of the South Carolina Women’s Law Association and additionally serves on the Bar Association’s Judicial Qualifications Committee, helping to research and screen potential judges. She and her husband Art (also a partner in the firm) live with their two children in Columbia, South Carolina.