S.C. Bar Pro Bono Program Launches Interactive Legal Help Website

The South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Program launched SCLawAnswers.org on Monday, the newest resource available to the public for around-the-clock access to legal help.

The website allows individuals who meet the qualifications to post legal questions and have them answered by a volunteer attorney. It is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, allowing both the attorney and client to use the resource at their convenience. Questions are sorted based on topic, including benefits, consumer law issues, health care, family, work related issues and more.

The attorney will know the name of the individual asking the question in order to check for conflicts prohibited by the S.C. Rules of Professional Conduct, but the “client” will not know the identity of the attorney. The client is fully informed that the lawyer is only answering the questions posted to the site and does not represent the client in any action.

“We are excited about the launch of SCLawAnswers.org and thrilled to be providing this much-needed resource to the citizens of South Carolina,” said Cindy Coker, Public Services Director for the S.C. Bar. “The website provides convenient access to legal help and allows the public another avenue to thelegal system in a simplified and non-intimidating manner.”

The site is designed only for civil questions; clients who have criminal questions are referred to a local public defender. The website can be accessed by going to www.sclawanswers.org. For more information, contact Cindy Coker at 1-877-797-2227, ext. 142 or ccoker@scbar.org.

The South Carolina Bar, which has a membership of more than 14,000 lawyers, is dedicated to advancing justice, professionalism and understanding