Qualifying for Services
We handle a wide range of civil matters including housing issues, family law, consumer rights, probate litigation, and contract disputes. We do NOT handle criminal cases.
Clients are eligible for Charleston Legal Access’ services if their income is below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines. Cases are selected based on the income guidelines, whether legal representation is likely to benefit the client and the public interest in pursuing their claims.
We generally only take cases in Charleston County, Dorchester County, and Berkeley County for reasons of efficiency; the benefit to a client of our lower rate is lost if clients are paying for travel time. However, if you are able to travel to the Tri-county for meetings we your attorney and court hearings, we may make exceptions to this rule.
Please note, if your income is 125% and below the Federal Poverty Line (less than $18,825 for an individual, $25,550 for a family of two; $32,275 for a family of three; or $39,000 for a family of four), please call South Carolina Legal Services (888) 346-5592 or Charleston Pro Bono (843) 8553-6456 as you maybe eligible for FREE legal services.
Otherwise, if you are seeking low-cost legal assistance, please contact us at 843-640-5980 ext. 4 or fill out our intake request below.
Are you facing or at risk of an eviction in Berkeley or Dorchester Counties? You may qualify for FREE legal assistance. Please call 843-640-5980 ext. 2 and mention that you are facing an eviction in these counties.
Please allow five to ten business days for us to review your information and contact you. Information submitted to Charleston Legal Access is confidential; however, submission of this form does NOT mean that Charleston Legal Access represents you.
You DO NOT have an attorney unless and until you have met your attorney in person, signed a retainer agreement, and agreed to the terms of representation.
We are a small nonprofit and can only take a limited number of cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
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You can qualify for a CLA lawyer if your household gross annual income is less than:
$54,360 (single person);
$73,240 (two-person household);
$92,120 (three-person);
$111,000 (four-person).
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We charge rates between $50 and $100 per hour, and initial retainer fees are between $500 and $1000 per case. Contact us for a specific quote based on your verified gross annual income.
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When you contact Charleston Legal Access through the website or by calling, our intake manager will contact you (normally within 48 hours) for an initial screening conversation with you to assess whether you are eligible for our services (in other words, that you have a decent argument and we think our assistance will be effective, that you fit our income guidelines, and that there is a public interest in our representing you).
After the initial call, Charleston Legal Access attorneys will discuss your case. If you are a good fit for our services, you will have the choice of consulting with a staff attorney over the phone for free or scheduling a flat fee, one-hour in-person consultation with an attorney at our office. He/she will review your case with you, confirm the hourly rate you would pay for our services and your retainer fee, and propose a plan of action on your case.
We do not charge for the screening and consultation calls, and you do not have to make a decision about hiring us the day you come in for an in-person consultation.
We will never pressure you to hire us, and we will not be offended if you don't! Like seeing a doctor, it is smart to consult an attorney when you first become aware of a problem, rather than waiting until your situation is dire and you have no other choice. We encourage all our clients to stay engaged and active in their cases and to be proactive in pursuing their rights.