Guide to Finding Charleston Lawyer

What is a Charleston lawyer?

A Charleston lawyer is an attorney, barred in the State of South Carolina, who represents clients in criminal and civil actions in the City of and County of Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston lawyers can practice all types of litigation. Civil Charleston lawyers practice for plaintiffs and defendants in areas including personal injury, contracts, real estate, landlord/tenant, wills and trusts, corporate law and many others.

Charleston lawyers must be barred in the State of South Carolina, be in good standing and meet the disciplinary requirements of the South Carolina Bar Association. In order to be a Charleston lawyer an individual must pass the South Carolina Bar Exam. The South Carolina Bar Exam is a three day examination. The first and second days are comprised of 6 essay questions created by the South Carolina Board of Bar Examiner; 3 for each day. The third day of the South Carolina Bar Exam is comprised of the Multi-State Bar Exam, a nationwide multiple choice examination administered by the National Bar Association. In addition, an applicant must take the MPRE and get a passing score of 77. The passing rate for the South Carolina Bar Exam is around 73%. The allocation of priority for the portions of the exam are that the MBE counts as 1/7 and the essays count as 6/7 in total. In addition, if an applicant to become a Charleston lawyer scores less than a scaled score of 110 on the MBE they will not pass the South Carolina bar exam.

Reporting Discipline about Charleston Lawyers?

If you have had a problem with your Charleston Lawyer, or you know of illegal or unethical actions taken by a Charleston Lawyer, it is important that you report that matter to the South Carolina Disciplinary counsel. The South Carolina disciplinary counsel receives over 1400 complaints a year involving lawyer misconduct. These can include, illegal activities, violations of the rules of professional responsibility, and arguments over legal fees. The complaints are to be reviewed by the disciplinary committee who will then determine whether to file an action against the lawyer.

If you would like to make a complaint involving a lawyer barred in the State of South Carolina you should notify the South Carolina Disciplinary Committee at 803-734-2038 or through the mail at:

Office of Disciplinary Counsel1015 Sumter St., Suite 209Columbia, South Carolina 29211
There are no formal requirements for filing a complaint but the complaint must be written and signed by you. Include as much documentation as possible that concerns the illegal, or unethical, actions of the lawyer. Upon receipt the disciplinary counsel will review the matter and inform you if any action will be taken against the Charleston Lawyer.

Why do I need a Charleston lawyer?

Depending on your case you will need a Charleston lawyer. Courts in the Charleston court system have their own rules of procedure that other lawyers, even in other parts of South Carolina will not be aware of. Charleston lawyers will be knowledgeable of the filing deadlines, rules comprising the format of complaints and pleadings, and the particular rules of a specific court.

Where do I find a Charleston lawyer?

If you want to find Charlestonlawyers who can help you with your legal problem you can go to the Charleston Bar Associations website at www.charlestonbar.org. From there you can click on the lawyer directory link at the top of the page. From there you will be given information about all the lawyers in the city of Charleston, South Carolina.

In addition you can seek a Charleston lawyer referral from the laws.com website. At the top of this page you will find a link that states “find a lawyer” by clicking on that you will be prompted to enter information including your name, telephone number, e-mail address, location, and description of your legal problem. Someone from laws.com will then notify you, either over the phone or through e-mail and give you referral advise on what Charleston lawyers in your area may be able to help you with your legal problem.

What if I can’t afford a Charleston lawyer?

If you are in need of Charleston lawyers but you cannot afford representation then you may require the help of legal aide services in Charleston. Charleston lawyers are required to volunteer a number of hours per year for pro bono services. You can look for resources for free legal aid through the www.charlestonbar.org or by contacting the charleston bar association’s legal aid service at 803-853-6456. In order to take advantage of legal aide services an individual must have income below 125% of the national poverty level.

What questions should I ask a Charleston Lawyer?

When you are interviewing Charleston Lawyers about possible representation you should have a number of specific questions ready to ask, including:

Where did you go to law school?

Are you barred in the state of Charleston?

Have you ever been disciplined by any bar association?

How often do you handle cases like mine?

Will you be handling my case personally?

What do you see as the problem with my case?

What do you see as the result of this litigation?

Are you familiar with the court procedures and personnel in the filing jurisdiction?

How long have you been practicing in Charleston?

Charleston lawyers can help you if you have been charged with a crime in the city or county of Charleston, South Carolina. When looking for Charleston lawyers it is important to do your research. When looking for a Charleston lawyers you should make sure that your lawyer has extensive experience in the specific area of law that you will be litigating in. You should look for your lawyer to have a specialized certificate. It will also be important to find a Charleston lawyer that you can afford. Cost of a Charleston lawyer should not be the only factor that you consider but it is important.

If you are in need of a lawyer in Charleston but you cannot afford representation then you may require the help of legal aide services from lawyers. Charleston lawyers are required to volunteer a number of hours per year for pro bono services. The American Bar Association recommends 50 hours of pro bono service per year. You can look for resources for free legal aid through the www.charlestonbar.org or by contacting the Charleston bar association’s legal aid service at 803-853-6456. In order to take advantage of legal aide services an individual must have income below 125% of the national poverty level.