Emily B. Howard

Emily is a Columbia native who has lived and worked in the Midlands virtually all her life.  A proud graduate of Dreher High School, Emily chose to continue her education just a few short blocks down Devine Street by attending the University of South Carolina for undergraduate and law school. When not slinging sweet tea and STPs at Groucho’s in Five Points, during law school Emily clerked at Lewis Babcock & Hawkins in Columbia and at Hearn Brittain & Martin in Conway. She also served as a research assistant and editor for Professor David Owen while he drafted the first Products Liability hornbook and received the CALI award for Media Law. 

Upon graduation in 2006, Emily began her legal career in Conway as a law clerk for the Honorable John L. Breeden, Jr. until his retirement from the bench in late 2007.  Eager to return to the Midlands and practice criminal law, Emily spent many years as an Assistant Solicitor in Lexington County where she primarily prosecuted drug crimes and violent offenses. From there, she entered private practice and opened her own criminal defense firm in Lexington. After four years of hustle in private practice, Emily projected that hustle into a new realm as a Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual where she advised small business owners and young attorneys in matters of financial planning, business development, and insurance and investment strategies. 

In 2018, Emily resumed her legal career as a Staff Attorney at the South Carolina Administrative Law Court. Eager to return to a more client-focused arena of law, Emily joined the firm of Blair Cato Pickren & Casterline in 2020 and found her niche as a real estate attorney. She is the co-founder of Her Own – a unique program designed by women, for women to educate and empower female home buyers with support, celebration, and the steps to success.

With a background in criminal and administrative law, as well as experience as a financial advisor for small business owners and young professionals, Emily has developed the critical ability to gain trust and build strong relationships in the Midlands community while remaining professional, assertive, and focused. With such qualities, she adds great value to the Columbia firm as a “dirt lawyer.”