Lawyers in South Carolina

Finding a lawyer in South Carolina

South Carolina divides its courts by subject in a way that affects who you hire. Civil lawsuits go to the Court of Common Pleas and criminal cases to the Court of General Sessions, both part of the circuit court. Divorce, custody and support are heard in a separate Family Court, small money disputes in magistrate courts, and wills and estates in county probate courts. A lawyer who spends every week in Family Court in Greenville may rarely see the inside of a General Sessions courtroom, so practice area matters as much as location.

This directory groups South Carolina law firms by practice area and city, from Charleston and Columbia to Myrtle Beach, Greenville, Spartanburg and Rock Hill. Every attorney who practices law in South Carolina must be licensed by the South Carolina Supreme Court and a member of the South Carolina Bar, which is mandatory.

When you need a lawyer (and when you may not)

Call a South Carolina attorney early if you have been arrested, charged with DUI, injured in a crash or at work, served with Family Court papers, contacted by immigration authorities, or sued. Deadlines for filing claims are set by state law and are shorter for some claims than others, particularly those against government entities.

Many people handle small claims in magistrate court without a lawyer, and the court system publishes self-help forms for some family and civil matters. Traffic tickets that carry no risk of jail are often resolved alone as well. If you are unsure, a short consultation is inexpensive and many firms offer the first meeting free.

Common practice areas in South Carolina

• Personal Injury and Car Accident — crash, trucking, boating and premises claims, generally handled on a contingency fee.
• Family & Divorce — divorce, custody, visitation, child support, alimony and adoption in Family Court.
• Criminal Defense and DUI & DWI — defense in magistrate, municipal and General Sessions courts, including DUI and implied-consent license suspensions.
• Workers' Compensation — job-injury claims through the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission, a common need in the state's manufacturing, port and construction workforce.
• Immigration — a federal practice covering visas, family petitions and removal defense.
• Bankruptcy — a federal practice filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina.
• Estate Planning & Probate — wills, trusts, powers of attorney and estate administration through county probate courts.
• Real Estate — closings, title and coastal property matters; South Carolina generally requires an attorney to supervise residential closings.
• Employment, Medical Malpractice and Social Security Disability — workplace claims, medical negligence cases and federal disability appeals.

Business, Tax, Intellectual Property, Civil Rights and Traffic Ticket firms are listed as well.

How to check a lawyer's license in South Carolina

Use the South Carolina Bar's online member directory to confirm that a lawyer is licensed and in good standing, and note the admission date. Lawyer discipline is handled by the Supreme Court of South Carolina through its Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and public sanctions are published in the court's opinions.

If a name does not appear in the directory, ask for the lawyer's bar number. Attorneys licensed only in North Carolina or Georgia generally cannot appear in South Carolina courts without special permission.

How to choose a law firm

Choose by court and case type first. Ask how often the lawyer appears in the specific court that will hear your matter, whether that is Family Court in your county or General Sessions in another. Ask who at the firm will handle the file and how you will reach them.

Then talk about money. South Carolina lawyers use contingency fees for injury and workers' compensation cases, hourly billing for most family and business matters, and flat fees for defined services. Ask what costs are billed separately and request a written agreement before work begins.

Questions to ask at the first consultation

1. How many cases like mine have you handled in this court?
2. Who will be my main contact at the firm?
3. How do you charge, and what expenses are extra?
4. What deadlines are we facing?
5. What are the realistic outcomes, including the worst case?
6. What should I do, or stop doing, right now?
7. How often will I hear from you?

Free and low-cost legal help

South Carolina Legal Services provides free civil legal help to lower-income residents in family, housing, consumer and benefits matters, and the South Carolina courts publish self-help forms and guidance for people representing themselves.

The South Carolina Bar operates a Lawyer Referral Service that connects callers with a private attorney for a short initial consultation at a set fee, and pro bono programs that place cases with volunteer lawyers. Law school clinics at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and the Charleston School of Law handle certain matters with supervised students.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed South Carolina attorney about your situation.