Pro Bono Program

As the nation’s first voluntary Pro Bono Program at a U.S. law school, South Carolina Law is proud to uphold a tradition of service to those who need it most. The program connects legal education to real-world experience, providing students with opportunities to serve while building critical skills and professional insight.

About Our Pro Bono Program

For over 30 years, our students have supported a wide range of projects that make a meaningful impact across the state. Pro bono publico in Latin translates to, "for the public good." For lawyers, this means providing legal services to people in need.

Pro bono work is:

voluntary;
uncompensated;
law-related work;
performed under the supervision of an attorney;
to assist persons of limited means or organizations that serve persons of limited means.

See, generally, RULE 6.1 - South Carolina Judicial Branch.

See, What is Pro Bono? for further information about hours that count towards Pro Bono Distinction at graduation.

The Pro Bono Program is open to all USC School of Law students, regardless of graduation year. Participation is entirely voluntary, but students are encouraged to follow the American Bar Association's guidance of contributing 50 hours of service per year.

By engaging in pro bono work, students can:

Explore potential career paths
Develop lasting legal skills
Build professional networks
Make a difference in the lives of others

Getting Started:
To get involved, email Jefferson Coulter, visit the Pro Bono Office in Room 129-B, or connect with a Student Board Member.

All participants must agree to abide by the Ethical and Professionalism Guidelines for USC Law Students Engaged in Pro Bono Work.

Please note: Students are not licensed attorneys and cannot offer legal advice. All work must be supervised by a licensed South Carolina attorney.

The range of opportunities to serve is varied and ever changing. Details about the different projects avaiable to students can be found on our Volunteer Opportunities page.

Interested in mentoring or working with our student volunteers? Carolina Clerks connects attorneys handling pro bono matters with law students who are eager to assist.

Benefits of partnering with us:

Access to motivated, capable student volunteers
Support for your pro bono caseload
Opportunity to mentor future legal professionals

All students must work under the supervision of a licensed South Carolina attorney and follow the program’s ethical guidelines.

In addition, all USC School of Law Pro Bono volunteers must read and agree to abide by an understanding of the ethical and professional obligations (Ethical and Professionalism Issues for USC School of Law Students Engaged in Pro Bono Work) that may arise during their pro bono work.

Learn more about how you can collaborate with Carolina Clerks by contacting Jefferson Coulter

Considering South Carolina Law? The Pro Bono Program is a proud part of our academic mission. We invite you to explore our projects and see how public service is woven into the law school experience.

Questions or ideas? Feel free to contact Jefferson Coulter to learn how you can be part of this legacy of service.

As a graduate of South Carolina Law, you are a part of the legacy of the nation’s first voluntary law school pro bono program. We’d love to hear how you’re continuing your commitment to service.

Apply for our Public Interest Law Loan Foregiveness Fund.
Share your story with us
Follow along with program updates on our social media
Let us know how we can support your pro bono efforts today

Together, we can continue building a strong culture of service for the next generation of lawyers. Feel free to contact Jefferson Coulter regarding anything listed above.

If you are looking for an attorney, please contact the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Referral Service to find a licensed attorney. If you are unable to afford an attorney, start with South Carolina Access to Justice's Legal Resource Finder or apply for assistance with South Carolina Legal Services.

Volunteers in the Pro Bono Program are current law students. They are not attorneys and, by law, cannot provide legal services, such as:

Reviewing or preparing documents
Conducting legal research on your behalf
Representing you in any legal matters

Our law students work with worthy organizations like these through our Pro Bono Program:

Lexington County Juvenile Arbitration Program
Richland County Bar Association — HELP Homeless Clinic
Richland County CASA — Court Appointed Special Advocates
Richland County Probate Court
SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center
SC Bar — My Will Project and Friday Blitz

View the complete list of partner organizations

Joseph F. Rice School of Law

Pro Bono Program

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