Private Attorney Involvement

About Us

SCLS is the only statewide provider of free civil legal services in South Carolina and serves South Carolinians in every county.

SCLS has eight offices across the state and employs approximately 50 attorneys.

Each year, due to limited resources, SCLS is forced to turn down, or provide very limited assistance to, hundreds of qualified applicants seeking help with civil legal issues affecting their daily lives.

How to Help

Through the Private Attorney Involvement (PAI) Program, private attorneys can supplement the work of SCLS and expand its reach. There are many different ways to participate in the Program:

• Case referrals – areas of need include family; housing; probate; Social Security; consumer; education; and healthcare.
• Brief advice clinics – examples include pro se divorce and consumer debt clinics.
• Brief services clinics – examples include advance directives and expungement clinics.
• Legal education – provide information to community groups or train PAI and SCLS attorneys on a particular type of legal issue.

Sign Up Now!

Why Join the PAI Program?

In addition to the satisfaction of using your unique skills to help someone in need, the SCLS PAI Program includes these added benefits:

• SCLS pays $85/hr. to attorneys who participate in the PAI Program.
• SCLS pre-screens cases for merit and financial eligibility.
• SCLS provides malpractice insurance for all PAI work.
• SCLS offers resources such as sample pleadings and forms, legal advice checklists, and access to online trainings for use in PAI matters.
• SCLS staff attorneys are available to consult on PAI matters.
• SCLS provides notice to PAI attorneys of free CLE training it offers or that is offered by its partner organizations.
• Services provided through the PAI Program qualify as pro bono services under Rule 6.1 of the South Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct.

Sign Up Now!

PAI Resources

Not able to offer your services at this time? Offer your financial support!

Donate Here!