Joseph O. Burroughs, Jr. is a 1972 honors graduate of Clemson University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He was awarded a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1978. He has practiced law in South Carolina since 1979, and is a longtime member of the Family Court Advisory Committee. He is also a certified, experienced Family Court mediator with more than 15 years of experience in mediation. In addition to being an experienced mediator, he has served as a Guardian ad litem in numerous domestic cases. He holds the AV ® Preeminent rank from Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Ratings, which is the "highest level of professional excellence."

Born on September 16, 1950, he is native of Conway. He is a member of the Horry County Bar Association and the South Carolina Bar Association, in which he serves as a member of the family court section. He is also licensed to practice law in U.S. District Court.

He presently serves on the board of the Horry County Higher Education Commission and the Conway Advisory Board of Crescent Bank. He is also a former member of the City of Conway’s Board of Zoning Appeals and a former member of the City Planning Commission. He is a founding member of the Waccamaw Sertoma Club, and is a former board member and president of the club. He is also a lifetime member of Kingston Presbyterian Church, where he has served as deacon, elder and trustee. He and his family live in Conway.