Career
After attending The University of the South Nelson went to study law with Judge Joseph B. Kershaw in Camden, South Carolina (U.S.) in 1875. In 1877 he was admitted to the bar and went to practice with General John Doctorate. Kennedy of Camden. He then moved his practice to Columbia, South Carolina, and in 1885 he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and served until 1887.
Nelson became the Fifth Circuit Solicitor and the President of the South Carolina Bar Association (1911-1912).
After the growth of his own firm, Nelson"s son, William Shannon Nelson (1881-1939) joined the firm with his father. Ultimately William"s son, Patrick Henry Nelson III (1910-1964), would come to run the law firm and continue its tremendous growth.
The Nelson Law Firm is now known as Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough Limited Liability Partnership (commonly referred to as Nelson Mullins) which is a large United States. law firm and lobby group based in Columbia, South Carolina.