Ray Lord is a native of Savannah, Georgia, having grown up in Savannah, Charleston, and Columbia, South Carolina. He is a 1988 Graduate of the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Ray then worked for a decade in law enforcement mostly investigating homicides and other major crimes. He received his J.D. degree from Mercer University in 1998, where he was a member of the Mercer Law Review. After graduating law school, Ray served as an Assistant Public Defender, and then as an Assistant Solicitor (prosecutor) for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Charleston. In September of 2001, Ray opened his own law firm and practiced for more than 20 years as a sole practitioner, while continuing as a volunteer in law enforcement. After 23 years as a practicing lawyer and 33 years in both paid and volunteer law enforcement, Ray sold his full-time law practice, opting for a part-time flexible consulting practice and a better quality of life. Ray lives on the shores of Lake Murray in Chapin, South Carolina with his wife Ashley Lord and minor children. Ray enjoys spending time with his wife and seven children (the oldest of whom is a practicing attorney) and is also active in the Baptist Church. In his spare time, Ray volunteers at the “Harvest Hope” food bank and “We Are Sharing Hope SC” facilitating life-saving organ and life-enhancing tissue donation across the state.
