COMMUNITY RESOURCES
NEED LEGAL HELP?
LEGAL INFORMATION
FIND LEGAL RESOURCES
If you need assistance in locating legal help, use this SC Legal Resource Finder to help identify legal aid organizations you might be eligible for and self-help resources available to you developed by the South Carolina Access to Justice Commission.
FIND LEGAL ANSWERS
If you need an answer to a civil (not criminal) legal question, use this Fee Legal Answers program to submit an inquiry to a volunteer lawyer with the American Bar Association.
FEE FOR LEGAL SERVICES
FIND A LAWYER
If you need to hire a lawyer, use the Lawyer Referral Service for a referral by the type of law and by the area or location in which you need a lawyer. Each participating lawyer agrees to charge no more than $50 for a 30-minute consultation. If the consultation extends past the 30 minutes or you hire the lawyer to represent you, the lawyer will charge you his or her normal fees. NOTE: The lawyers do not take pro bono cases.
FIND A LOW COST LAWYER (LOWCOUNTRY RESIDENTS)
If you need to hire a lawyer at a reduced rate, complete this Charleston Legal Access intake form. Charleston Legal Access is a nonprofit law firm that provides quality and affordable legal services. Their hourly rates are determined by income and household size and range between $50-$100 per hour.
FREE LEGAL SERVICES
FIND A FREE LAWYER
If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, complete this South Carolina Legal Services online intake form to determine your eligibility for the legal assistance you need.
FIND A FREE LAWYER (LOWCOUNTRY RESIDENTS)
If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, complete this Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services online intake form to determine your eligibility for the legal assistance you need.
FIND A FREE LAWYER (CRIMINAL CASE)
If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime AND cannot afford to hire a lawyer, a Public Defender is appointed by the Court to represent defendants in criminal court. State and federal law provides that all persons have the constitutional right to be represented by an attorney if they have been accused of a crime and the punishment for that crime could be time in jail or prison. If that person is financially unable to hire an attorney, then the law provides that an attorney shall be appointed to represent them. All Public Defenders are attorneys who have been licensed to practice law in the state of South Carolina.
NEED A FREE WILL
If you need a will but cannot afford to hire a lawyer, register for a Free Wills Clinic hosted by the Center for Heirs Property Preservation.