Callicoat, Troy A.

James D. "Jim" Callahan is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law.  While there, he was selected to the South Carolina Law Review, and was elected President of the Student Chapter of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association (now known as the South Carolina Association for Justice.)  He was chosen by Professor David G. Owen to serve as his chief assistant in the production of Professor Owen’s prestigious textbook on tort law.

A native of North Carolina, Jim had earlier received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Campbell College (now University).  He had also attended Georgia State University where he was awarded the Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in organizational development.

Jim proudly served in the United States Army.  Among his assignments, he was the Military Personnel Officer at a military base, where he made decisions involving soldiers who had medical issues affecting their assignments or ability to stay in the military, and possible medical retirement.   While stationed in Germany, he was the Commanding Officer of the postal services unit that served the headquarters of the United States Army in Europe and surrounding communities.  After the Army sent him to graduate school, Jim worked as a consultant to help the leadership of National Guard and Army Reserve units be more effective.  Jim then served as the Commanding Officer of a military organization responsible for soldiers and their families while on transition from assignments throughout the United States en route to assignments in Europe, often providing assistance with various medical, financial, and family emergencies.

After leaving the Army, Jim worked as the business manager and a legal assistant for a law firm in eastern North Carolina that was dedicated to representing military personnel worldwide.  He was directly involved in cases of soldiers, sailors, Marines, Air Force members, and Coast Guard members seeking or facing medical discharge or retirement due to their disabilities.   This job inspired him to go to law school.

After completing law school, Jim initially worked for a law firm handling a variety of actions on behalf of injured persons, including workers compensation and personal injury.  However, he developed a passion for disability benefits cases.   Wanting to focus in that area, Jim joined a law firm that limited its practice to disability benefits.  Then, in 2004, Jim set up his own law firm dedicated exclusively to helping disabled persons to obtain the disability benefits that they need and deserve.   From its office in North Charleston, Jim’s law firm represents  clients throughout eastern and coastal South Carolina in claims for Social Security disability, long-term disability insurance, and disability retirement.

Jim has frequently taught day-long seminars to other attorneys on Social Security disability law, and has made disability benefits presentations to civic groups, medical support/advocacy groups, and other professionals. Jim is trusted by other attorneys who refer disability claims to him, when they want to assure that their clients are provided experienced, dedicated, and compassionate service.

Jim is a Sustaining Member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), and a member of the National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR), the Federal Bar Association, the American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America), and the South Carolina Association for Justice (formerly the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association).  His law firm is a member of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

Jim is married to Marsha Callahan, a pediatric physical therapist. They are both active in Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, where Marsha is a member of the choir and Jim serves as an usher and a lector (lay reader).  Jim is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Mt. Pleasant/East Cooper, where he has served as club President.  They live in Mt. Pleasant, along with Skye, their black lab-mix.