When the SCATJ Commission released South Carolina’s first-ever Statewide Civil Legal Needs Assessment in 2023, we knew that—while it was an incredibly important step forward—our work could not stop with making this crucial data available. On November 12, 2024, the SCATJ Commission hosted a retreat that brought together a broad range of legal system stakeholders—including court leaders, private attorneys, law schools, pro bono advocates, and legal aid providers—and encouraged them to engage meaningfully with the findings of the Legal Needs Assessment, collaborate with each other, and collectively create a plan of action for addressing gaps in access to justice in South Carolina.
The report from that event is now available. It contains valuable reactions and insights from our state’s most crucial access to justice partners, and ideas for collaborative action that will meaningfully address the findings of the Legal Needs Assessment.
