Clinics

Students can earn academic credit by participating in clinics. Students are limited to participation in two clinics for academic credit. In addition, students are prohibited from receiving academic credit for an externship and a clinic in the same semester. Please note: each clinic may not be offered every semester. 

Access to Justice: The Charleston Pro Bono Housing Clinic, the South Carolina Legal Services Domestic Violence Clinic, and the Charleston Pro Bono Family Law Clinic – described below, will involve students in the direct representation of homeless, indigent, poor, and disadvantaged persons. Students may assist in the representation of clients in the context of legal issues and litigation involving matters such as, landlord-tenant, eviction, housing, disability benefits of various types, family court, criminal charges in municipal and magistrate courts, drafting of wills, and the like. Students will learn first-hand what kinds of issues routinely face those people at or near poverty or working-poor status. Students may assist professors in court or at agency hearings with the representation of clients. Students may also assist with the preparation of pleadings, motions, briefs, correspondence, and other memoranda necessary to the representation. Students may assist with client in-take and other interviews necessary to prepare the clients and witnesses for various hearings.

Street Law Clinic: Law Students in the Street Law Clinic will teach a weekly class at a local high school in the Lowcountry. After receiving training in law-related education, the Law Students will construct learner-centered lessons in law, designed to develop the critical thinking and cognitive skills of High School students. The curriculum focuses on developing an understanding of the law, the legal process, the United States system of government, and effective citizenship. Law Students and High School Students will examine the role of law, Courts, fairness, and equality in our State and in our country. The Law Students will teach law courses to high school students; prepare detailed lesson plans, note-taking guides, and assessments; evaluate high school students’ work; and assign grades to the high school students.

Charleston Pro Bono Family Law Clinic: Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of Charleston County. Family law issues such as divorce, custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, and birth certificate issues including delayed or amended birth certificates and minor and adult name changes are legal issues addressed by CPBLS attorneys. In partnership with Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services (“CPBLS”), students can take part in a Family Law Clinic to assist low-income families with their legal needs in these areas. 

Students participating in the clinic will get hands-on experience in family law. The program will include participation in client intake including eligibility determination and fact gathering, preparation of pleadings, affidavits, and other legal documents, and client follow-up to guide the client through their legal process. There will also be courtroom observation opportunities. As case load permits, students may have the opportunity to represent clients in Family Court under the supervision of an attorney.

Charleston Pro Bono Housing Clinic: Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of Charleston County. Housing issues and eviction prevention are legal issues addressed by CPBLS attorneys. In partnership with Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services (“CPBLS”), students can take part in a Housing Clinic to assist low-income families with their housing-related legal needs. 

Students participating in the clinic will get hands-on experience in public interest law, specifically housing law. The program will include outreach in low-income communities; client intake including eligibility determination and fact gathering to support our in-house and volunteer attorneys by assisting in the preparation of pleadings, affidavits, and other legal documents. There will also be courtroom observation opportunities along with in-house sessions provided by Charleston attorneys. Students will have the opportunity to represent clients in Housing Court under the supervision of an attorney.

South Carolina Legal Services Domestic Violence Clinic: South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS) is a statewide non-profit law firm that provides free legal services to residents and families in South Carolina that are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The SCLS Domestic Violence Clinic focuses on the skills necessary for client representation, the ethical issues that arise in cases, and the roles of attorney and counselor. Students participating in this clinic will represent victims of domestic violence in Order of Protection (OOP) hearings under the supervision of clinical professors who are licensed to practice law in South Carolina.

Students undertake all steps necessary to prepare for court hearings. Students interview clients, review court documents from related cases or prior proceedings, prepare direct and cross examination, make strategic decisions, and draft documents. OOPs available to clients include a broad spectrum of relief designed to effectively end abuse in an intimate relationship. An OOP may order the respondent to stop assaulting and threatening the client, to stay away from the client, the client’s home, and the client’s workplace, vacate the shared residence, and a no contact order. The order may also resolve family law issues, including an award of temporary custody of the parties’ children, visitation rights for the non-custodial parent, and child support awards.

Criminal Prosecution Clinic: The Criminal Prosecution Clinic is designed to provide students with a practical, real-world experience in the challenging and rewarding field of criminal prosecution. This clinic serves as a bridge between classroom learning and the demanding reality of the courtroom. Under the close supervision of an experienced attorney, students will be actively involved in each stage of the prosecution process, including interviewing witnesses, presenting plea agreements, identifying issues in cases, conducting research, preparing legal memoranda, and presenting witnesses during hearings and trials. Students will receive guidance and constructive feedback to further develop their confidence in the courtroom. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the ethical responsibilities and unique challenges faced by a criminal prosecutor— not simply as an advocate, but as a minister of justice. Students will refine their ability to demonstrate professionalism and civility in an inherently adversarial environment, pursuing justice with integrity.

The following clinics are currently on hiatus:

•  Access to Justice Clinic: Homelessness Justice Project
• The Parole Clinic
• The Mediation Clinic