Self-help information through various links, documents, publications, etc. Check the Community Directory Channel for more resources.
There are 35 resources
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Getting Help
Free Legal Clinics
(Separate Website)
The South Carolina Bar sponsors free legal clinics around the state. Most involve a 30-45 minute lecture followed by either a question and answer or five minute one-on-one session with an attorney.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Legal Aid Services in South Carolina
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: Legal Services in non-criminal matters for people who cannot afford a private lawyer are provided by the South Carolina Centers for Equal Justice. Legal Services programs do not handle criminal law cases.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Legal Assistance for Military Personnel
(Separate Website)
Attorneys who have volunteered to provide free services to military personnel called to active duty are listed according to county and area of practice.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Legal Checkup
(Separate Website)
PDF document (may load slowly).
By: South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center
Pro Bono Resources
(Separate Website)
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the Bar's Pro Bono Program.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Unauthorized Practice of Law
(Separate Website)
Except where a person is representing his or her own cause, practicing law without a license is strictly prohibited by state law. The biggest problem in determining whether someone is engaged in the unauthorized practice of law is determining whether his or her conduct is actually the “practice of law.” It is up to the South Carolina Supreme Court to decide whether someone is engaged in the practice of law.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
When You Need a Lawyer
(Separate Website)
Almost everything we do—from making a purchase, to driving a car, to interacting with others—is affected by the law in some way. But clearly we don’t need a lawyer for all of these everyday interactions. When do you need a lawyer? When can (or should) you handle a matter on your own? This web site helps you answer these basic questions.
By: American Bar Association
Alternative Dispute Resolution
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: ADR provides alternatives to lawsuits and trials. The three primary methods of ADR include negotiation, mediation and arbitration.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Alternative Ways to Resolve Disputes
(Separate Website)
Pamphlet describing arbitration and mediation, both forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). PDF document (may load slowly).
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Finding the Appropriate Magistrate
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: Finding the appropriate magistrate will depend upon the nature of your problem or claim. The laws of South Carolina require that a small claim, or virtually every other claim of a civil nature, be filed in the county where the defendant lives.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Juvenile Criminal Courts
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: In South Carolina, if a child under the age of seventeen is accused of committing a crime, usually he will be tried as a juvenile in family court. In the case of certain serious crimes, specific legal steps can be taken to have the minor declared an adult for the purposes of prosecution.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Magistrates and Municipal Rights of Defendants
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: If you have been arrested by a police officer and ordered to appear in either a Municipal Court or Magistrate's Court or have been issued a Summons for a traffic offense or other minor offense to appear in a Magistrate's Court or Municipal Court, you should appear at the time stated on the Summons or arrest warrant. If you fail to appear in Court at that time, you will be tried in your absence and probably will be found guilty.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Magistrates Landlord/Tenant Court
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: A magistrate may sit as a judge of a landlord-tenant court. This discussion will concentrate on rental agreements for a personal residence such as an apartment or single family home as opposed to rental of a business.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Magistrates Small Claims Court
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: The magistrate court in many instances functions as a Small Claims Court. In order for this court to have jurisdiction, your claim cannot exceed $7,500.00, except in disputes between landlords and tenants. Employees of the magistrate court will help you file your claim in writing and will explain to you how your case will proceed through trial. You are not required to hire an attorney unless you so desire.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Your Guide to the Magistrates Court
(Separate Website)
Prepared by the Bar's Young Lawyers Division, the free guide offers answers to frequently asked questions; legal definitions; court rules; and forms. PDF document (may load slowly).
By: South Carolina Bar Association
A long time has passed since my accident. Can I still bring a claim for damages?
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: There is a time limit to file a lawsuit. This is called a statute of limitations which imposes a time limit to sue in certain cases. These statutes vary depending on the type of claim involved. You may wish to contact a lawyer to advise you regarding how such statutes affect your claim. To find a lawyer, you can call the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-868-2284 or 803-799-7100.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Attorney Fees
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: Attorney fees are important to both attorney and client. To the client, the fee is the cost of the legal service purchased. To the attorney, the fee represents his or her compensation. Whether a case is civil or criminal usually affects the fee arrangement.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Auto Accidents and the Law
(Separate Website)
Because accidents happen to even the best of drivers, everyone should be prepared to do the right things immediately afterward. Many legal troubles arising from accidents could be avoided if the persons involved knew what they should do.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Choosing a Lawyer
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: The South Carolina Bar knows it can be hard to find the right kind of lawyer to help you with your legal matters. That's why we have prepared this brief, but informative fact sheet to help you with your search.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Conflict Resolution
(Separate Website)
Lawline FAQ: Wherever there are people, sooner or later there is conflict. But conflict - in the home, at school and even in the streets - does not have to be solved by fighting. There are better ways to deal with the problem.
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
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(Separate Website)
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