Michael F. Gillen is an experienced family law attorney who has helped hundreds of clients resolve their conflicts in the Family Court for well over two decades.  Michael is one of the few South Carolina domestic/family law practitioners admitted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, generally recognized by judges and attorneys as preeminent family law practitioners with a high level of knowledge, skill, and integrity.  He has also achieved an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the premier attorney rating service.  His work is well respected by other attorneys and judges.

Michael has been a member of the York County Bar since 1993 and served as its president in 2008.  He is very active in the South Carolina Bar and currently serves as a Delegate for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit in the South Carolina Bar House of Delegates and also serves as a member of the South Carolina Bar Judicial Qualifications Committee which helps determine the qualifications of judicial candidates as well as judges who are up for reelection.

Michael was raised with great respect for hard work and family. He grew up in the construction industry and worked for many years as a stone and tile mason and continued that work throughout his education to help pay for school expenses.  He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of South Carolina and graduated with honors in 1988 and then graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1991.  While completing his undergraduate studies, Michael was very active in Student Government, as well as Mortar Board, and Omicron Delta Kappa, both leadership and academic honors societies.

After graduating from law school, Michael spent approximately two years as a prosecutor with the Sixteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office before moving into private practice as an associate attorney. After working for two private firms doing criminal and family law, he opened his own practice in 1998.  In 2001 Michael decided to focus exclusively on family law/divorce.

• 1993, South Carolina

Law School Attended

• University of South Carolina School of Law
  Class of 1991
  J.D.

University Attended

• University of South Carolina
  Class of 1988
  B.A.