Contact Information
116 Church Street, Third Floor
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
Phone:
Fax:
843.853.3310
843.853.3390
Attorney Tim Kulp Bio
- B.A., University of South Carolina 1975
- J.D., University of South Carolina 1978
- Former Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami, Florida Division
- Former Assistant Solicitor, Fifth and Ninth Judicial Circuits
- Former Municipal Judge, Isle of Palms, South Carolina
- South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (founding member)
- South Carolina Bar
- Charleston County Bar
- National College of DUI Defense (founding member)
- Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- South Carolina Super Lawyer 2010 - DUI
- National Board of Legal Specialty Certification in Criminal Trial Advocacy
I am a native of South Carolina, born and raised in Columbia. I am a former Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and I was also formerly an assistant solicitor in the Fifth and Ninth Judicial Circuits. I was the Charleston City Prosecutor for three years, and the Isle of Palms Municipal Judge. I was active in the formation of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
The National Bureau of Legal Specialty Certification, establishes criteria for certification including, but not limited to:
- 40 minor jury trial appearances, documented
- 20 major jury trial appearances, documented
- Recommendations from opposing trial counsel
- A day long examination in the areas of ethics, criminal law and evidence
- Maintenance of liability insurance
- Submission of legal writing sample
- Recommendation from other lawyers in the field
I have argued before the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the South Carolina Court of Appeals. Being certified by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification in Criminal Trial Advocacy, I am permitted to represent myself as a specialist in this area.
I practice in summary, state and federal courts in South Carolina. I have represented clients in federal court in Charleston, West Virginia, in a major drug trafficking conspiracy case (Southern District of West Virginia-admitted pro hac vice) and in federal court in Atlanta, in a major mortgage banking fraud conspiracy case (Northern District of Georgia).
I have presented lectures to other lawyers at Continuing Legal Education Seminars in Columbia, South Carolina; Litchfield Beach, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Las Vegas, Nevada; Greenville, South Carolina; Hilton Head, South Carolina, and other locations.
I have been counsel in five death penalty cases. In those cases, I was appointed by the courts in Dorchester, Calhoun and Beaufort Counties to represent the defendants.
For a criminal defense lawyer, nothing is more serious than a death penalty case. Rarely does a person accused of crime punishable by death have the financial resources to cover the costs and fees of representation for such a serious matter. Fortunately our government has recognized the gravity of this situation and has established procedures for a lawyer to be appointed to represent the person accused.
But as one of my favorite circuit judges once told me, while a lawyer appointed in a death penalty case is to be compensated for his time and the loss of income as he devotes his practice to the death penalty client, he should have no expectation of making a profit from the case as he or she is performing a public service in representing the interests of a client who the state seeks to put to death.
My wife Katie and I are blessed with two boys. Katie helped me build my practice from the start and I am grateful to her for her devotion and contribution to our success. Katie has a great understanding of people and I rely on her for help and advice in all areas of my practice.
