Podcast: Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S.

Charleston School of Law visited with Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S., one of our community partners, to discuss the organization’s mission and opportunities.

Tri-County Speaks provides essential services to victims and survivors of sexual violence. Joining us on the podcast are:

• Taylor Graham: Volunteer and Community Engagement Administrator.
• Abigail Warren: Class of 2026, Charleston School of Law, Victims’ Rights Advocate

“Last summer, I worked as an intern with the Gaston County District Attorney’s Office back in my hometown,” said Warren. “I worked with prosecutors on a lot of domestic violence cases. I knew from that experience I needed a little bit more training.”

That’s when Abigail Warren discovered the volunteer opportunity at Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. Last fall, while scanning the Career Services weekly student email that shares pro bono, jobs, and experiential learning opportunities, she found her match and applied. 

“I can say, to this day, this organization has shaped me more than any organization I’ve been a part of during my time in law school,” she said. “Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. truly is one of a kind. It is amazing.”

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2h2EAbV2SqaDjiTUzjQfOR?si=CLiJscOtQY2Zpfdup_kTGw

Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. serves sexual assault victims in Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley counties. “I have always had a passion for being in crisis intervention in some way,” said Graham. “The thing about working in crisis is it takes a lot out of you. I really wanted to be involved in victim services, um, but I just wasn’t sure I could do direct case management. So, it gives me the best of both worlds.”

Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. offers volunteer opportunities for both law students and the community. You can learn more about the organization’s mission and opportunities online at tricountyspeaks.org.

“The biggest thing I learned with using my practice certificate was that it was really hard to pinpoint where all the emotions from survivors were coming from and really understand why something is so hard for them,” said Warren. “Now I feel like I am able to use my experience from seeing them in that moment and realizing their feelings.”

We encourage you to listen to the latest Charleston Law podcast as we dig deeper into the opportunity and services through Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S.