The ABCs of Legal Aid
Legal aid, in a nutshell, refers to a comprehensive program of services that provides legal assistance and representation to low-income individuals and families in their pursuit of justice. This support includes basic legal support such as advice and counsel, but can also extend to full legal representation during important matters. Support offered by legal aid is invaluable, providing legal assistance to those who may not have the resources available to contending with important legal issues.
The importance of legal aid can’t be understated—these programs are the only means of keeping the civil justice system functional for everyone. These services ensure that even those with limited means are still entitled to the same legal protections and representation as our society’s wealthiest members. Legal aid provides assistance to those in need of legal help in several areas, including: Of note for those in the Spartanburg area, these services are provided regardless of location . Our partners at the SCLSC, and other legal aid service providers throughout the region, serve clients across state lines and county lines on a day-to-day basis. Eligibility for legal aid hinges on income—only those regarded as low-income or very low-income qualify for legal aid services. This is true for many legal services in Spartanburg, and most companions to this government and non-profit service. Those seeking legal aid should bring their income statements from the past 30 days when meeting with staff, as they will need to provide proof of their income and financial history. And while legal aid is meant to serve those from any background, there are some additional circumstances that may qualify you for legal aid assistance. For example, people who are facing domestic violence or extreme hardship may qualify for legal aid assistance even though they might exceed the income limits. Legal aid, in this case, is funding available in order to give the parties in question a fair trial in their matter.
Spartanburg Legal Aid Agencies
Spartanburg County is fortunate to have several organizations dedicated to providing legal help to its residents. These legal aid groups offer crucial services for individuals dealing with poverty and financial hardship. While Justice Ministries and Spartanburg Voices for Equality tend to have more specialized goals and objectives, the South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS) and the South Carolina Bar Association (SCBA) have strong footprints as statewide resources.
South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS)
The SCLS is a non-profit public interest organization funded by the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). SCLS provides free representation in civil matters for eligible residents of Spartanburg. These services include help for domestic issues, housing issues, consumer issues, income maintenance issues, safety, and health. SCLS also takes on cases related to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
This organization’s office in Spartanburg County is located in the local courthouse at 180 Magnolia St. Suite B-1, Spartanburg, SC 29306. In addition to its Spartanburg office, SCLS has many other locations throughout the state where residents can obtain legal assistance. These are located in Anderson, Beaufort, Camden, Goose Creek, Greenville, Labor, Charleston, Sumter, Florence, and Greenville.
The Spartanburg County Department of Social Services (DSS) is the designated intake location for people interested in getting a referral to SCLS. Still, it’s not the only way to get services. Through the website, individuals can look for information within designated service areas to get immediate help. Those looking for guidance through the application process can also call the Columbia main office at 1-888-346-3625 or visit the Myrtle Beach Office at 1-866-356-6473.
South Carolina Bar Association (SCBA)
One of the other major legal aid organizations in Spartanburg is the South Carolina Bar Association. The SCBA offers pro-bono legal services to individuals who cannot afford them. This volunteer lawyer program provides pro-bono assistance to a maximum of one household the entire year. However, in limited circumstances, the SCBA may offer dispute resolution and public service law clinics, which may involve justice programming, family law, and legal counseling.
If you’re in need of representation in Spartanburg, this volunteer program may be the right place to start. The Spartanburg location primarily offers services for civil law matters. It can help people dealing with foreclosures and evictions, domestic abuse, and financial exploitation. The Spartanburg office is located at 950 South Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC 29301. This office is not open to the public but provides online and telephone assistance.
Legal Aid Eligibility Requirements in Spartanburg
Legal aid services in Spartanburg are generally available to low-income residents of the county to assist them with civil legal matters. Legal aid programs provide a broad range of services that include direct representation, limited scope services and workshops for underserved populations. Although certain factors may impact eligibility for specific services, many are more broadly available to the public. For instance, homeless outreach services provide a variety of support services including assistance in resolving legal problems. The Veterans Legal Clinic offers services to a number of local organizations that support the military community. Some legal aid programs focus on assisting vulnerable populations such as people age 60 years and older and the mentally ill.
Eligibility for legal aid programs often centers around income levels. For instance, the South Carolina Legal Services provides legal representation free of charge to eligible applicants with a household income that is less than 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Families who have incomes that are less than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines may be eligible for limited scope representation. Many legal aid programs go by the federal poverty guidelines which the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) sets every year.
Other factors may also impact who may receive legal aid services in Spartanburg County. As with selecting an attorney for a private representation, it is important for potential clients of legal aid programs to assess what services they need. Not all legal aid programs offer access to services for every type of case. Some legal aid programs only assist with certain areas of law. Clients who have a legal problem that does not fall into those categories will not qualify for those services.
Spartanburg Legal Aid Application Process
Clients can apply for legal aid services in Spartanburg at six different locations. There are three community-based locations and three United Way Access Sites. At these sites, clients must demonstrate that they are indigent and that they have, or will have, an unmet legal need that is within the priorities of the South Carolina Bar (SC Bar) Pro Bono Program.
You can learn more about eligibility for legal aid services on our website. The SC Bar Pro Bono Program has two statewide hotlines where interested individuals can call to learn more about how to apply for legal aid services. The first statewide hotline is (800) 768-8816 (SC Bar Pro Bono Program Services Hotline). All calls to this line must come from residents of South Carolina. The second statewide number to call is (888) 346-3624 (SC Bar Pro Bono Program’s Meetup SC Line). All callers must call from a phone with a South Carolina area code. Staffed by a legal assistant, the Hotline can address legal information needs, but only provides brief services to individuals with less than $50,000 in annual income or assets, which includes that a client must be scheduled to meet with an attorney. Scheduled appointments are preferred but are not required. Prospective clients should be aware that in order to receive brief services or a scheduled appointment with an attorney, you must qualify by demonstrating an indigent status. It is important to make sure to bring the necessary documents with you to the appointment. Failure to do so would require a second trip to meet with the attorney rather than an appointment set at a time to meet with the attorney immediately. At this first meeting, the attorney will be able to assess whether there are any additional documents to gather and the extent of legal assistance that will be provided.
Legal Aid Cases Covered
As with any legal aid center, Spartanburg legal aid services provide assistance across different types of legal cases. The most common case type is family law, as many low-income residents in Spartanburg are in need of assistance with custody issues, divorce proceedings, or child support. It’s important to have legal representation when fighting for what you deserve, and low income legal aid services are available to help.
Housing disputes are another case type that Spartanburg legal aid services cover. Although some enforcement actions stay on the landlord’s part (e.g. eviction actions), low income tenants may seek legal aid services . Rental agreements can be confusing for tenants to read or understand, and even if you believe you’ve read and signed a lease agreement in full, it’s still recommended that a tenant seeks legal aid services.
Finally, some employment issues are also covered by Spartanburg legal aid services. Those who are wrongfully denied unemployment benefits may be able to seek compensation through legal aid, as well as other current or former employees who believe that they were victims of harassment or discrimination.
Based on these topics and categories, low income legal aid services are available to litigants from many walks of life and for various different legal issues.
Advantages of Legal Aid in the Community
The benefits that legal aid provides to the community of Spartanburg run the gamut from individual cases to community-wide advantages that ripple through our society and local economy. The availability of legal aid for our most vulnerable community members – including low-income individuals and the elderly – helps to level a playing field that is otherwise biased in favor of the affluent who can afford private legal services.
Case Study 1 – Domestic Violence Issues: Too often, when vulnerable individuals encounter problems with domestic violence or they need other remedies in family law, they turn to church or other social groups for help and counseling. But mediation and a counseling program offer limited solutions that do not provide the lack of legal representation for victims of domestic violence. The South Carolina Bar Family Law Section provides free-of-charge legal assistance to persons experiencing domestic violence in the communities where these clients live and in the courts they frequent. Such programs are entirely funded by donations of Bar members and have no government support.
Case Study 2 – Elderly Victims of Abuse: Elder abuse is a nationwide epidemic and South Carolina is no exception. The impact of elder abuse is staggering, costing our state an estimated $225 million annually. Many older people are losing their homes, their life savings, and their health as a result of the crime and predatory financial schemes launched against them.
Statistics show that an estimated 20-25 percent of South Carolinians over the age of 65 will be victims of elder abuse or neglect at some point during their elder years. The cost of abuse and neglect is high and it is our responsibility as a community to find ways to reduce the costs and to help our elders in need.
In Spartanburg County, as well as in many other courts throughout South Carolina, the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are helping to address this issue. A network of groups throughout the state is committed to recruiting, training, supervising and supporting CASA volunteers who provide critical services to neglected and abused children as well as the elders. CASA volunteers, trained by experienced domestic and sexual violence legal professionals, work on behalf of abused and neglected children and provide free legal representation to these young victims.
Statistics compiled by the South Carolina Bar Foundation from legal aid districts in the state indicate that more than 90,000 low-income folks are being served by legal aid staff lawyers and pro bono lawyers. Additionally, more than 8,000 children and victims of domestic abuse were served by domestic violence shelters and legal personnel. Legal aid attorneys helped more than 1,000 inmates through the Inmate Grant Program, and one-third of adult abuse and neglect court cases involved programs established through legal aid.
Supporting Legal Aid Services
To effectively support legal aid efforts, individuals and organizations can take a number of different approaches. One of the most direct ways to contribute is through volunteering for local legal aid organizations. This can include providing pro bono legal services, assisting with administrative tasks, or participating in community outreach programs. Many legal aid organizations welcome the involvement of volunteers and provide training and resources to help them make a meaningful impact. Donations are another vital component of supporting legal aid. Financial contributions , either to specific legal aid organizations or to campaigns dedicated to increasing funding for legal aid at the state and federal levels, can help secure essential legal representation for those in need. In addition, donating goods and services such as office supplies, printing, or event space can be extremely helpful to legal aid organizations.