Pro Bono

• Citation: Vol. 37 No. 3
• Year: 2025

PRO BONO

Vol. 37 Issue 3 Pg. 26

South Carolina Lawyer

December, 2025

Tell Me More!

BY ZACKOHANESIAN

I've lived in South Carolina my whole life and have always been part of the legal community - first through my parents and grandparents, and now as both a member and employee of the Bar. I've seen firsthand the heart our members have for their communities, modeled time and again by my family. Today, as the Pro Bono Program Manager, I get to witness that same spirit in action every day.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we've solved the problem or that everyone in South Carolina receives equal access to justice. As highlighted in the ongoing string of articles authored by Hannah Honeycutt of the S.C. Access to Justice Commission and Olivia Jones of the S.C. Bar Foundation, we still have a long way to go. But every "yes" we get from a volunteer is a step in the right direction.

As we approach the end of the year, you'll be receiving your license renewal materials. Inside, you'll find a note from our program outlining some of the challenges our legal system faces and how you can help. There's space to nominate a colleague who's gone above and beyond in their pro bono work, and space to tell us about the work you've done in 2025.

This information matters. It helps us understand and celebrate the culture of pro bono in South Carolina. We want to know what solo and small firm attorneys are doing, what large firms are doing, what public sector attorneys are doing, and more. We want to celebrate you, and we want to celebrate the collective we.

As of September, SC Bar members have helped over 1,000 low-income individuals through S.C. Bar Pro Bono Program initiatives alone, reaching 45 of South Carolina's 46 counties. And with all the other great work being done by firms, organizations, and individual attorneys across the state, I'm confident our members' impact is even greater.

Remember, you can always report your hours during the year using our reporting form found on the S.C. Bar website. There, you'll also find a link that allows you to let us know when you've accepted a direct intake, meaning that you've agreed to assist someone on a pro bono basis outside of a referral from the Bar. This brings you under the protection of the S.C. Bar malpractice policy for assisting indigent clients.

Looking ahead to 2026, we're planning more clinics across the state and setting a goal to assist even more individuals. We know we can get there and we know we can do even more. So tell us what you've done, what you're planning, and what you're dreaming up. Together, we can do more, reach further, and make justice a reality for more South Carolinians