| Last Updated: May 2022
HIRING A CIVILIAN ATTORNEY
LEGAL SERVICES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
“Some of the legal services that may be available include: evictions, bankruptcies, health care problems,
education, mortgage foreclosures, social security disability, employment problems, some limited divorce and
custody matters, and food stamp and welfare problems. Legal services programs do not handle criminal law
case.”
https://www.scbar.org/public/get-legal-help/common-legal-topics/legal-aid-services-in-south-carolina/
WHAT IS THE LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE?
The Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) is a public service of the South Carolina Bar that provides referrals to
individuals needing qualified, prescreened lawyers. You may call for a referral from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday. The number to call, both in state and out, is 1-800-868-2284. (In Richland and Lexington
counties, call 799-7100.)
The LRS can refer you to a qualified attorney in one of more than 100 areas of law, including the following:
Personal injury,
Real estate and landlord – tenant,
Family law; including divorce, custody, alimony and child support,
Criminal defense,
Employment law, including discrimination, wrongful termination and unpaid wages,
Most other areas of law.
https://www.scbar.org/public/get-legal-help/find-lawyer-or-mediator/find-a-lawyer/
HOW DOES LRS WORK?
The LRS offers referrals 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. The lawyers DO NOT take pro bono cases.
https://www.scbar.org/public/get-legal-help/find-lawyer-or-mediator/find-a-lawyer/
HELP! I CANNOT AFFORD A LAWYER
“If you are indigent and unable to pay for a lawyer's service, you may want to contact Legal Aid Telephone
Intake Service (LATIS) at 1-888-346-5592 to see if you qualify for free or reduced-fee legal services. LATIS
will screen you to see if you qualify. If you do not, they may refer you back to the Lawyer Referral Service. To
find out more about LATIS, you can visit www.sclegal.org.”
https://www.scbar.org/public/get-legal-help/find-lawyer-or-mediator/find-a-lawyer/
SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL
The South Carolina Bar created the Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP) in 2001 as an effort to
provide reduced fee or free legal services to military personnel who were facing deployment/ activation by
pairing qualifying military personnel with volunteer lawyers. LAMP seeks to provide free or reduced fee
legal services to active military personnel who are stationed in South Carolina or whose case is related to
| Last Updated: May 2022
South Carolina in some way. This program serves active military personnel and in some circumstances their
immediate dependent family members.
You may apply by completing the LAMP Intake Form
(https://www.scbar.org/media/filer_public/57/6a/576a727b-7be5-4359-a02c-b36a21dae774/lampintake.pdf) and
mailing/faxing it to the South Carolina Bar. Active duty service members at pay grades E-3 and below will be
presumed eligible for free legal services. Active duty service members at pay grades E-4 and above may be
eligible for reduced fee legal service at the lawyer’s discretion. LAMP will ONLY be offering service that ARE
NOT available to service members free of charge from the military.
https://www.scbar.org/lawyers/bar-programs/legal-
assistance-for-military-personnel/
DISCLAIMER: THIS HANDOUT PROVIDES A GENERAL EXPLANATION OF HIRING AN ATTORNEY.
DO NOT RELY EXCLUSIVELY ON THIS HANDOUT. IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
SEEK ADVICE REGARDING THIS SUBJECT PLEASE:
CONTACT THE LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE, OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR, AT 1-800-868-
2284 (IN SUMTER: 803-799-6653) FOR A REFERRAL TO A LAWYER WHO PRACTICES IN THIS
AREA OF LAW. IF YOU ARE INDIGENT AND UNABLE TO PAY FOR A LAWYER’S SERVICE, YOU
MAY WANT TO CONTACT THE LEGAL AID TELEPHONE INTAKE SERVICE AT 1-888-346-5592 TO
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LEGAL SERVICES.
