Andrea E. Loney, Esquire – Executive Director

Jim O. Stuckey, Esquire – Board Chairman

Mission Statement

South Carolina Legal Services is a statewide law firm that provides civil legal services to protect the rights and represent the interests of low income South Carolinians.

Vision Statement

All low-income South Carolinians will have full and fair access to justice.

History of Legal Services

1965 – Office of Economic Opportunity granted funds for the Office of Legal Services programs as a part of the war on poverty

1971 – Conflicts between legal services programs and OEO resulted in legislation to form a separate legal services corporation

2002 – All legal services combined to form statewide South Carolina Centers for Equal Justice

2006 – Name changed to South Carolina Legal Services

Who is eligible for SCLS Services?

Low-income residents of South Carolina Limit on income: 125% of the federal poverty level –

(family of 4 = $28,813)

(changes every year) up to 200% - based on certain conditions – (family of 4 - $46,100)

Limit on assets (money in bank accounts, property, etc.)

Some exceptions (some grants allow us to represent clients outside these financial limitations)

What SCLS Clients Pay

No cost for work done by SCLSClients must cover other costs, including:

Court filing fees – if not waived by courtCosts a client is ordered to pay by a courtGuardian ad Litem feesService of process fees

Intake Information

Basic Information: Name, Address, Etc.Household ResidentsMarital status, DisabilityEmployment (if any)Income, Assets, Public BenefitsFacts of your case

Additional Services for Disabled Individuals, Non-English Speakers, and Individuals with Vision and/or Hearing Impairment

Home visits Spanish speakers in some SCLS offices LATIS and all offices equipped to handle

Spanish and other foreign languages Braille and sign language services

available

What does SCLS Do?

Representation in legal proceedings Counsel and Advice Brief Services – Advance Directives Community Education

Pro se divorce clinic Brochures Presentations to community groups

Referrals to other agencies

What SCLS Does NOT Do……

Criminal cases

Fee-generating cases

Available Legal Representation

To Apply -- Statewide Intake – Call Center(phone lines may be busy or will disconnect after waiting 15 minutes)

Centralized Intake Office Hours of operation -- 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.  

(888) 346-5592 or (803)744-9430 

OFFICE INTAKES

• Referrals received from out of state legal services programs;• Emergency referrals from court staff, other service providers or community based organizations;• Applicants who are unable to communicate by telephone because of an impairment, homebound or in

an institution;• Walk-ins

Purpose of Statewide Website - (http://www.lawhelp.org/sc)

Provide new and innovative ways to provide legal resources and information

Expand access to and quality of legal services

The statewide website offers one-stop access to: Basic legal education on over 20 topics Self-help information – Divorce; soon child support

modification forms; petition for order of protection Court forms Information about South Carolina’s judicial system Information about legal services and social service

organizations in the visitor’s neighborhood

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BENEFITS TO THE PUBLIC

South Carolina Legal Services’ Offices & Counties Served

Charleston OfficeServing: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton, and Jasper Counties

Columbia OfficeServing: Lee, Lexington, Kershaw, Richland, and Sumter Counties

Conway OfficeServing: Georgetown, Horry, Marion, and Williamsburg Counties

Pee Dee OfficeServing: Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, and Marlboro Counties

Greenville OfficeServing: Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens Counties

Greenwood OfficeServing: Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, and Saluda Counties

Orangeburg OfficeServing: Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Orangeburg Counties

Rock Hill OfficeServing: Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster, and York Counties

Spartanburg OfficeServing: Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union Counties

Intake Requests: Centralized Intake Office: 888-346-5592

Sources of Funding

Legal Services Corporation

South Carolina Bar Foundation (IOLTA)

State of South Carolina – Filing Fee Add On

United Ways (Greenwood, Greenville, Spartanburg, Chester, Dillon, Lancaster, Union)

VOCA (to fund 2 DV attorneys)

Low Income Taxpayers Grant (federal taxes only)

Title III-B (to represent age 60+)

SC Help

Questions????????

Thank you