An award-winning attorney, James Galyean is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of South Carolina and the Supreme Court of the United States. James Galyean obtained his law degree in 1998 from the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Furman University.

Mr. Galyean spent a decade as a partner with Nexsen Pruet, LLC, specializing in federal regulatory compliance and defense representation for numerous clients. He is skilled in various areas of law, including banking and finance, antitrust, employment and labor, estate planning, and business litigation. His law career also encompasses over two years as an Assistant United States Attorney where he successfully prosecuted numerous cases. James also served as chief counsel for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs.

Aside from his career in law, Mr. Galyean has founded successful charter schools in South Carolina. He founded Reason & Republic, an educational management organization currently operating the SC Preparatory Academy and the SC Preparatory Leadership School. Mr. Galyean also founded the Belton Preparatory Academy and Summit Classical School, which Reason & Republic operated through 2023. The schools are highly ranked at local and state levels, with Belton Preparatory Academy being named the number one charter school in South Carolina under Mr. Galyean's leadership, and receiving the Diamond School of Excellence Award from the Charter Institute at Erskine. Reason & Republic is now focused on the virtual charter school sector, operating SC Prep and SC Leadership as its two flagship schools, providing a rigorous, classical education environment where students are challenged to reach their full potential and receive the individualized attention needed to make that happen.

James is an active member of the Anderson community and has served as a board member for numerous organizations, including the Tri-County Technical College Foundation, Upward Sports Foundation, and the Session at Christ Reformed Presbyterian Church, where he and his family are members.

James Galyean