Lawyers in South Carolina

Like every other state in the United States, the South Carolina court system is also hierarchical. This pyramid-shaped judicial system has one federal district court, a state court of appeals, trial courts, and a state supreme court. These courts have different purposes in the judicial system.

Let’s come to the federal district court. There is one federal district court in the state. This court hears appeals from state courts. The South Carolina Supreme Court is the highest point of the judicial pyramid structure. It is the last resort of the court system. It has five judgeships. There is one Court of Appeals. This court is the intermediate appellate court. Next is The Circuit Courts. These courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state. These courts also have limited appellate authority. There are some Family Courts in South Carolina. This court has jurisdiction over cases involving family issues. The Magistrate Courts have jurisdiction over trial cases. These cases include offenses with imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or a fine not exceeding $500. Next is The Municipal Courts. These courts in the state have jurisdiction over an offense that violates municipality ordinances. There are few Probate Courts in the state. They have jurisdiction over items such as estates, marriages, and guardianship.

The South Carolina Bar funds an LRS (Lawyer Referral Service). The association runs the service from the offices in Columbia. The service helps the client find an experienced and qualified lawyer in a particular practice area of the law. Lawyers throughout the state can participate in the referral service. The Bar uses radio advertisements to educate the public about the service. To receive a referral, one can use the online form or call the service. Online LRS has some advantages. It gives clients the ability to find a lawyer based on a practice area and geographic location. When one calls the LRS, an experienced person employed by the Bar will assist the caller. The person will ask him or her a few questions about the case to understand whether a referral is appropriate. If so, the service will contact a lawyer on a rotation basis on the criteria provided.

Then the client can contact the lawyer for a half-an-hour consultation. The lawyer that participate in the program has agreed to provide this short term consultation for a fee that will never exceed $50. During the consultation, one can discuss the case with the lawyer. And the client can ask about the lawyer’s experience in the concerned types of cases. The client can also ask for the lawyer’s fees needed for additional representation. If anyone is looking for an attorney, he or she should use The Bar’s referral service. This community-based service allows the public to get a simple and very effective way to find a qualified lawyer. This LRS funded by bar associations offer an important alternative to finding a lawyer by using an online attorney directory or searching the internet. It is way safer and cost-effective than other services.

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Like every other state in the United States, the South Carolina court system is also hierarchical. This pyramid-shaped judicial system has one federal district court, a state court of appeals, trial courts, and a state supreme court. These courts have different purposes in the judicial system.

Let’s come to the federal district court. There is one federal district court in the state. This court hears appeals from state courts. The South Carolina Supreme Court is the highest point of the judicial pyramid structure. It is the last resort of the court system. It has five judgeships. There is one Court of Appeals. This court is the intermediate appellate court. Next is The Circuit Courts. These courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state. These courts also have limited appellate authority. There are some Family Courts in South Carolina. This court has jurisdiction over cases involving family issues. The Magistrate Courts have jurisdiction over trial cases. These cases include offenses with imprisonment not exceeding 30 days or a fine not exceeding $500. Next is The Municipal Courts. These courts in the state have jurisdiction over an offense that violates municipality ordinances. There are few Probate Courts in the state. They have jurisdiction over items such as estates, marriages, and guardianship.

The South Carolina Bar funds an LRS (Lawyer Referral Service). The association runs the service from the offices in Columbia. The service helps the client find an experienced and qualified lawyer in a particular practice area of the law. Lawyers throughout the state can participate in the referral service. The Bar uses radio advertisements to educate the public about the service. To receive a referral, one can use the online form or call the service. Online LRS has some advantages. It gives clients the ability to find a lawyer based on a practice area and geographic location. When one calls the LRS, an experienced person employed by the Bar will assist the caller. The person will ask him or her a few questions about the case to understand whether a referral is appropriate. If so, the service will contact a lawyer on a rotation basis on the criteria provided.

Then the client can contact the lawyer for a half-an-hour consultation. The lawyer that participate in the program has agreed to provide this short term consultation for a fee that will never exceed $50. During the consultation, one can discuss the case with the lawyer. And the client can ask about the lawyer’s experience in the concerned types of cases. The client can also ask for the lawyer’s fees needed for additional representation. If anyone is looking for an attorney, he or she should use The Bar’s referral service. This community-based service allows the public to get a simple and very effective way to find a qualified lawyer. This LRS funded by bar associations offer an important alternative to finding a lawyer by using an online attorney directory or searching the internet. It is way safer and cost-effective than other services.

Your email address