Free Consultation | Columbia(803) 973-0304 | Charleston(843) 388-3368 | Summerville (By appointment only)(843) 388-3368
Free Consultation | Columbia(803) 973-0304 | Charleston(843) 388-3368 | Summerville (By appointment only)(843) 388-3368
Education
The Citadel
Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude
University of South Carolina School of Law
J.D.
Michael Burkett practices workers’ compensation and personal injury law. He currently lives in Columbia, SC with his family, but he grew up in Sumter, SC and continues to maintain strong ties to the Sumter community. His late father practiced law in Sumter for over 40 years, and his mother and brother are local real estate agents. Prior to attending law school, he taught Eighth Grade English at Hand Middle School in Columbia, and he is currently the Varsity Girls’ Soccer Coach at Dreher High School.
Michael earned his Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, from The Citadel in 1995 and his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1999. While in law school, he served as Chief Justice of the Moot Court Bar and captain for one of the school’s two American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition teams. He was named a member of the Order of Barristers in 1999, and he received Student Compleat Lawyer Award from the School of Law Alumni Association in 1999. He is the author of the Workers’ Compensation Chapter in the South Carolina Bar publication South Carolina Administrative Law Practice and Procedure. Michael is also a Certified SC Civil Court Mediator.
He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1999, and he is a member of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Educational Association. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and all South Carolina State Courts. Michael was also named to U.S. News Best Lawyers for Workers’ Compensation Law in 2018-2022. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Lexis Nexis Martindale-Hubbell, indicating the highest level of ethical and professional excellence.
Michael worked as an insurance defense attorney for twenty-two years, representing employers and their insurance carriers in workers’ compensation claims. He is ready to use his knowledge of the insurance industry to serve the needs of workers injured on the job.
Michael primarily handles workers’ compensation cases, but he is also involved in many personal injury cases involving motor vehicle accidents and slip and falls.
Michael has been practicing law for twenty-six years. For over twenty-years, he represented insurance companies and employers in workers’ compensation cases, and now he uses that experience to help his clients navigate the worker’s compensation system.
Michael is always willing to spend as much time needed talking to his clients and explaining their cases and the law that drives the cases. Understandably, clients who have never been involved in a workers’ compensation claim or personal injury matter often have a lot of questions, and Michael will always spend the time need to provide answers and explanations.
Michael is always willing to offer consultations on cases for free!
Based on his experience representing employers and insurance companies, he is uniquely situated to foresee problems and arguments before they become problems in a case.
In law school, Michael received the Compleat Lawyer Award, and in practice, he has been consistently named to Best Lawyers in America in the workers’ compensation practice area. He holds an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell which indicates his peers have ranked him at the highest level of professional excellence for both his legal ability and his adherence to the highest ethical standards.
During your first meeting with Michael, he will review the facts of your case and explain the next steps needed in your case. Depending on your preference, meetings can be done in-person, virtually, or over the telephone.
