Gary I. Finklea was born and raised in Pamplico. He gained a strong work ethic growing up on a farm and working in construction through school. He attended Francis Marion University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1990. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina in 1993 where he graduated with honors as a member of the Wig and Robe. Following law school, he clerked two years with the Honorable Ralph King Anderson, Jr. in the Circuit Court. Gary has been in private practice since 1995. In 2004, he established the Finklea Law Firm. Gary has five children: Jacob, Gabriel, Chapman, Bennett, and Crawford, and is married to Ashley Hoffman.

Gary is a member of the South Carolina Bar, the Florence County Bar Association, the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, the American Society for Justice, and Christian Legal Society. In addition, Gary is a member of the Realtor's Association of the Greater Pee Dee, Homebuilders Association of the Pee Dee, Florence Chamber of Commerce, and the Florence County Economic Development Partnership. Gary is active in several local civic clubs and organizations while also and volunteering his time at his children’s school organizations. He is a member of the Florence Baptist Temple. Gary’s character is influenced by daily Bible reading and prayer.

Gary loves the courtroom and passionately represents his clients' causes. He is a very humble person, easy to speak with, and diplomatic; however, when a client's cause demands a trial, he has been described as very "knowledgeable and prepared" and a "bull" in the courtroom. While Gary’s practice is broad after practicing for over 25 years, he typically handles Personal Injury cases, such as automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, agricultural injuries, trucking accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, and wrongful death. Gary also litigates probate cases, business disputes, construction claims, real estate disputes and general litigation.