Success Stories

Civil Legal Aid Highlight: SC Legal Services
An 83-year-old widow came to SC Legal Services to update her will and power of attorney documents. During discussions about what she wanted to do with her property, she began to show signs of increasing emotional distress. It was clear to the advocate that Mrs. Smith was on the edge of a nervous breakdown. She was living on a limited monthly social security check and caring for a son who had been injured on the job. Her son was severely hurt and had four corrective surgeries, but to no avail. Mrs. Smith was further concerned that her son’s mood was suicidal. To make matters worse, she did not have any food in the house and a $375 delinquent county tax bill.

Mrs. Smith explained that she was eligible for only $10 per month in food stamps. The advocate theorized that the food stamp agency had not taken the presence of the injured son in the household into its budget calculation. The advocate interceded with the food stamp office and referred Mrs. Smith to another services agency regarding the property tax issue. The advocate also placed Mrs. Smith in touch with the mental health agency. Two days later, Mrs. Smith called her attorney with the news that she had received a much higher food stamp allocation and was no longer worried about groceries. In addition, her property tax issue was alleviated by the agency to which she was referred. The legal services advocate had blended legal work with knowledge of community resources and helped Mrs. Smith to solve a myriad of problems.

Civil Legal Aid Highlight: LowCountry Legal Aid
Jane and her children were renting an apartment, but started to have flooding problems due to an air conditioning link in the apartment upstairs. Jane reported the problem to the apartment complex; however, little was done to dry out the apartment. As a result, mold began to develop. Jane and the children started to develop health problems as a result of the mold. Jane came to us seeking help. The apartment complex would not help with the mold problem nor would it let Jane out of her lease. Jane could not afford to find a new place until she received her security deposit in return. LCLA helped Jane to get released from her lease and find a new mold free home.

LRE Highlight: Furman University’s Mock Trial Program
“For the type of student I work with, the chance to attend a National Tournament is an opportunity of nearly unimaginable importance. If you knew each of their personal stories you would appreciate this all the more. As just one example, some noticed a crying baby during the awards ceremony. This was one of three daughters that belong to one of our witnesses on Team 620. Three years ago, he fell overboard from a Marine vessel while serving in Afghanistan. As he struggled to save himself, he grabbed the side of the ship and the barnacles growing there tore the skin from his hands, leaving him permanently disabled. He came to our college to start over and found the mock trial team. The tournament was extremely important to this participant. In the two weeks prior to the regional tournament, he drove back and forth to the Veterans’ Hospital because he did not want to miss the preparation. In one way or another, almost every member of that team has a similar story of overcoming the great obstacles to compete in mock trial.”

LRE Highlight: SC Bar Law Related Education Division – Project Citizen
A staff member of the SC Bar LRE Division trained a teacher at an alternative school in the Project Citizen curriculum. The “at risk” students chose to address underage drinking for their project. The sixth graders spent weeks researching problems associated with underage drinking. They interviewed police officers and community leaders, created charts and graphs and compiled an action plan. They sent their findings, along with a proposal to require all kegs be registered, to state representatives and senate leaders. The Senate quickly responded with an amendment to the law preventing underage drinking and access to alcohol. These students believed in Project Citizen and that they could make a difference. When it came time for the students’ project to be presented in the overall Project Citizen showcase, the score sheets revealed that school won by three points. LRE staff called the teacher personally, only to hear a response on the other end with tears in her voice. The teacher later shared that, when she announced the news to her students, they were in disbelief. They were so used to disappointments and failure, that winning was not in their vocabulary. Yet, in this project, they were victorious – as a team, as a school, as individuals and for the betterment of their local community and the state.

Administration of Justice Highlight: SC Centers for Fathers and Families – Man2Man Alternatives to Incarceration Project
In January 2007, Mark was court ordered into the Alternatives to Incarceration project as he had not been paying his child support. Man2Man staff met with Mark and learned that he had fallen behind in the payments while attempting to operate his own business selling videos. Further assessment indicated that Mark had a good business plan, but needed some assistance with start-up costs and with locating a facility for his business. The Man2Man staff referred Mark to some investors who were willing to help him get started. In addition, the staff assisted Mark with finding a location through staff contacts in the community. The initial rent was waived so that Mark could move into the building and begin operations immediately. Mark is now operating his own video business. He is able to pay his child support consistently and has an excellent relationship with the mother of his children. Mark’s business has recently expanded and he is now giving back by allowing other Man2Man participants to work in his company.