What We Do: Bridging the Justice Gap
Charleston Pro Bono expands access to justice through free legal services, community outreach, and partnerships that connect more people with the legal help they need.
Our Mission
Access to justice builds strong, vibrant communities.
Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in Charleston County. Our mission is to break down barriers to justice, protect basic needs, and empower clients through legal advocacy, education, and outreach. By helping individuals resolve civil legal issues that threaten their housing, safety, financial stability, and family well-being, Charleston Pro Bono plays an important role in reducing poverty and promoting long-term stability for residents.
Originally founded in 1967 as the Neighborhood Legal Assistance Program, the organization evolved into Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services in 2005 with the support of the Charleston Bar Association. We are proudly celebrating more than 50 years of continuous service to the community.
Our services address the legal issues that most commonly destabilize low-income households. Through direct representation, legal clinics, and community-based programs, our service delivery model allows us to provide varying levels of legal assistance depending on each client’s needs. By combining direct services with strong pro bono partnerships and community outreach, Charleston Pro Bono expands access to justice and helps individuals and families overcome legal barriers that contribute to poverty.
Our Work
Together, these efforts allow us to serve our community today while helping build a stronger, more accessible legal system for the future.
Our services address the legal issues that most commonly destabilize low-income households. Through direct representation, legal clinics, and community-based programs, we assist clients with family law matters such as custody, visitation, and kinship care; housing issues including eviction defense, habitability repairs, and the return of security deposits; estate planning services such as simple wills and powers of attorney; access to identification documents including name changes and delayed birth certificates; expungements that remove barriers to employment and housing; and legal support for survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence.
Free Legal Aid
We provide free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families throughout Charleston County. Our services include housing, family law, estate planning, victims’ rights, and other critical legal matters. We also helped develop and now administer the Charleston County Housing Court Program, connecting tenants facing eviction with legal representation when they need it most.
Outreach Initiatives
We bring legal information and resources directly into the Charleston community through educational programs, clinics, and partnerships with local organizations. Our outreach helps individuals understand their rights and connect with available legal services.
Fellowships
Through the Ackerman and Westbrook Fellowships, law students gain hands-on experience in public interest law while working alongside our attorneys and serving members of our community.
Law School Clinics
Our partnership with Charleston School of Law provides students with opportunities to work on real civil legal matters under the supervision of experienced attorneys, expanding our capacity to serve clients while preparing future advocates.