WELCOME TO LOWCOUNTRY LEGAL AID, INC. 
LowCountry Legal Aid, Inc., (LCLA) is a unique, private, non-profit organization which opened in August, 2000. Our mission is: To provide legal education, advice and representation free of charge, to low income residents of the Greater Hilton Head Island Community Area.
LCLA is unique in that we use the services of retired attorneys residing in the the Greater Hilton Head Island Area. We are also unique in that we do not receive any public funding. Since opening our doors, we have had a high demand for our services and we have helped over 1200 clients. Our volunteer attorneys receive a special license to practice law in South Carolina under the supervision of a South Carolina lawyer. As South Carolina does not have reciprocity with any other state, this license allows LCLA to utilize the skills of retired attorneys without their sitting for the Bar Exam. The volunteer attorneys must provide pro bono services and are not allowed to earn any fees. LCLA works in conjunction with the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Program. LCLA is wholly funded by grants and private donations. LCLA is a grassroots organization and it desires to continue to change to meet the needs of its growing clientele, without any governmental restrictions. The Hilton Head Island Foundation provided the seed money to open LCLA's doors and through the generous donation of an anonymous individual we opened a second office in 2004. LCLA has received national recognition for its efforts and its hope is that it can serve as a model for other such organizations around the nation.
Miracles of the Month
LCLA recognizes that in almost all cases, individuals which have legal needs also have other critical needs that are not being met. We see our mission beyond providing legal services, but in helping the whole person. As our Miracles of the Month show - once the legal need is met the other critical needs can also be cured. JANE - Jane came to us seeking an Order of Custody for her two grandchildren. She had had custody of the children since the youngest was a few weeks old. The mother of the children had voluntarily placed the children in Jane’s custody after a Department of Social Services investigation in Alabama. Jane had to rush the mother of the children to a hospital due to a drug overdose - which initiated the proceedings. Unfortunately, the custody agreement could be terminated by the mother at any time. Each child has a different father. One is currently incarcerated and the other denies paternity. The children were doing fantastic in the care of Jane. The Landlord of the Mother contacted Jane to let her know that she had evicted the Mother, suspected continued drug use and that the Mother was on her way to pick up the children. LCLA was able to get an Emergency Order of Custody for Jane the next day in order to protect those children. JOHN - LCLA was contacted by a friend of John. John is a 26 year old male with terminal cancer. He has recently had major surgery, removing portions of his vital organs. John could no longer work and was attempting to obtain admission into a cancer treatment center. John was a native of South Africa and neither he nor his parents were familiar with the American estate planning requirements. John was in need of advice and representation concerning estate planning. John had limited assets, but was in need of a Will, Power of Attorney and Health Care Power of Attorney. One of the attorneys at LCLA spent a Sunday afternoon with John and his family to ensure that his needs were met.
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