J. Benjamin Connell is an associate in Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough's Charleston office, where he practices in litigation. He is admitted to practice in all South Carolina state and federal courts and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Connell formerly worked at another South Carolina law firm, where he handled all aspects of general practice. In Spring 2010 he was a judicial extern for the Honorable W. Earl Britt, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of North Carolina in Raleigh, N.C., where he provided legal research and assisted in drafting opinions. He also has experience as a summer associate at several law firms, including Nelson Mullins.

Mr. Connell also has business experience, having engaged in various entrepreneurial ventures. He also has served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Boston, Massachusetts. A varsity wrestler throughout high school and recipient of the Kehaya leadership award as an NCAA Division I athlete for the Tar Heels, Mr. Connell is a part of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill, N.C., in May 2010, where he was managing editor and staff member of the North Carolina First Amendment Law Review. He also served as a defense counsel on the UNC Honor Court and was a LEAP Honors Scholar. He received the Gressman-Pollitt Award for Outstanding Oral Advocacy, Best Overall; an Honor Certificate for Highest Grade in Legal Writing and Oral Advocacy; and the James E., Jr., and Carolyn B. Davis Scholarship.

Mr. Connell is also involved in the community as he performs with the Charleston Men's Chorus as well as the Renaissance Vocal Group and volunteers with The Citadel wrestling team.

Mr. Connell earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School with a double major in Economics in May 2007.