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$5.2 Million Invested to Make a Difference IOLTA and SC Bar opt out dollars awarded for July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009
Administration of Justice: Children’s Law Center - $133,627 The Center will continue traditional use of Foundation dollars to provide training, information, technical assistance and resource materials to volunteer Guardians ad Litem, appointed attorneys and public defenders. In addition, the Center will leverage support with a federal grant to conduct a comprehensive assessment regarding access to and effectiveness of representation in juvenile justice cases.
Community Mediation Center - $30,000 CMC will use Foundation support to focus on truancy and divorce mediation services. To enhance these programs, CMC will concentrate on recruiting and training volunteer mediators.
Law in Action - $30,000 LIA relieves the burden of overcrowding at the Greenville County Detention Center. Through the Jail Project, inmates detained for minor charges are assisted with obtaining pretrial release, addressing their bond situation and improving communication with the courts. Via a pilot Court Investigator Project, college students with an interest in criminal justice will provide support to court appointed attorneys.
The National Judicial College - $20,560 The National Judicial College uses Foundation funds to educate SC judges so that they may increase their skills to better serve their communities. Participating judges are selected by SC Court Administration.
Richland County CASA - $25,620 CASA advocates for abused and neglected children in Richland County Family Court. In this cycle, CASA will host an inaugural nationwide volunteer training on minority and male recruitment. In addition, CASA will send its staff to the 2009 National CASA conference in Colorado.
SC Access to Justice Commission - $102,400 Created to expand access to civil legal representation for low income South Carolinians, the Commission will conclude its regional public hearings, draft a report regarding findings and determine appropriate courses of action based on those results.
SC Bar Ask-A-Lawyer & Clinics Program - $117,800 Ask-A-Lawyer will continue to offer clinics throughout the state, provide Law School for Non-Lawyers courses, expand the Ombudsman’s work and conduct periodic statewide telephone banks. The Program intends to increase the number of lawyers who participate in the clinical speaker pool as well as the phone bank sessions.
SC Center for Fathers & Families: Alternatives to Incarceration - $112,007 The Foundation makes it possible for non-violent, non-custodial fathers to obtain livable wage jobs so that they successfully can make child support payments. Job placement services are provided in tandem with legal assistance, money management training and fatherhood skill development. This year, funding supports full-time job recruiters in three counties, sustains the Marlboro ATI program and expand ATI into Horry County.
Upstate Community Mediation Center - $90,000 UCMC has been meeting mandatory mediation needs in Greenville county family and circuit courts since 1999. With Foundation support, the Center will not only continue existing services, but also will offer mediation through the SC Probate Pilot Mediation Program.
Civil Legal Aid Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation - $154,000 The Center delivers comprehensive legal services to low-income persons in need of assistance with heirs’ property issues; enhances the capacity of attorneys, legal professionals and students to handle property matters; and also increases the awareness and resolution of heirs’ property issues in the Lowcountry.
Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse (CODA) - $42,500 CODA aids victims of domestic abuse in Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton and Hampton counties. The Foundation supports an attorney and a court advocate who not only assist victims free of charge, but also work to educate court personnel and law enforcement on the dynamics and effects of domestic violence.
Crisis Ministries Homeless Justice Project - $85,000 The Project will combine the provision of civil legal services and social services to more than 200 homeless men, women and families. Funding supports travel to assist the homeless in rural areas, work with other homeless providers and workshops for the community and legal professionals.
LowCountry Legal Aid - $97,175 LCLA is a freestanding legal clinic that recruits retired attorneys under Rule 415. Foundation dollars promote provision of free legal services to the client community as well as a Law School for Non-Lawyers session, held in conjunction with the SC Bar Pro Bono Program.
SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center - $281,052 Dedicated to advocacy for low income people through systemic change, Appleseed expands upon its traditional training role with legal services and the private Bar. This year, Appleseed will enhance the legal services “task force” system so that it is inclusive of all providers of direct legal services. In addition, Appleseed will help Foundation grantees work collaboratively in production of client materials.
SC Bar Pro Bono Program - $138,000 Pro Bono uses Foundation support to recruit volunteer attorneys to accept pro bono cases. The Program will offer an extended scope of volunteer opportunities to lawyers with the intent that once an attorney volunteers in a specialized project, he or she will be inspired to return and take on a direct representation case.
SC Legal Services - $2,930,504 Foundation funding permits the SCLS staff of more than 120 to protect the legal rights of low income South Carolinians. This year, SCLS attorneys will focus on limited substantive areas, place emphasis on services provided in the Pee Dee, increase mentoring/co-counseling for new attorneys and review county alignments as well as staffing patterns. SCLS also will create a litigation team for each substantive area, upgrade its telephone system to concentrate the majority of intakes in one office and begin to handle routine advice cases in one location.
Sistercare - $41,977 Sistercare offers legal representation at no cost to Midlands’ battered indigent women and their children. Foundation funding covers a portion of the personnel costs for the advocacy team and pays for litigation expenses and malpractice insurance.
Law Related Education Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates - $10,000 Support from the IOLTA program provides assistance for the ABOTA Foundation’s Justice for the People Program. This program is a free, Internet-based curriculum that aims to teach the history, process and value of trial by jury to middle school students.
Furman University Mock Trial Program - $52,500 Furman has hosted the South Atlantic Regional Mock Trial Tournament since 1998. With recent participation rate increases, the tournament quickly has become the largest in the nation. This year, Foundation dollars will be used to host an opening round of the National Mock Trial Tournament.
Kershaw County Youth Court - $15,000 Kershaw County Youth Court is a community-based education and prevention program that exposes youth to elements of restorative justice and diverts juveniles from family court. This one-time grant will help the program in its goal to reduce recidivism.
Petigru Public Interest Law Society (PILS) - $20,000 Foundation dollars place law students in public interest clerkships during the summer. A small stipend allows the students to work in organizations that otherwise might not have the ability to pay for a clerk. Students participate in invaluable experiences that may have a great impact on their future career choices.
SC Bar Law Related Education Division - $609,800 The LRE Division continues to promote the goals of civic education and, at the same time, enhance relationships between the state’s attorneys and students. Through varied programming including Mock Trial, We the People, LawForKids.org and Youth Court, the Division teaches students about the importance of citizenship and civic participation. In addition, the Division includes attorneys and judges in various opportunities.
USC Pro Bono Program - $50,216 The Program fosters the ethic of service within the law student community through legal and non-legal volunteer opportunities. This year, the Program will also participate in the school’s Supreme Court Lecture Series and Career Services week. During each of the initiatives, focus will be given to public interest law.
YMCA Youth in Government - $25,000 The Program provides civic education and leadership development programs to middle and high school students in SC. Foundation dollars provide general support as well as scholarship assistance to Title One schools. In addition, funds will support up to three YMCA trial teams’ participation in the SC Bar LRE Division’s Mock Trial program.
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