Dear Friends and Supporters,
As summer unfolds across the Lowcountry, I’m reflecting with deep gratitude on the incredible strides Lowcountry Legal Volunteers (LCLV) has made—and on the generous volunteers, donors, and community partners who make our work possible.
For 25 years, LCLV has stood as a beacon of hope for individuals and families in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties. With a staff of just five, and a powerhouse team of retired attorneys, paralegals, administrative professionals, and volunteers, we’ve helped ensure access to justice for those who need it most. In 2024 alone, we closed more than 150 cases, hosted 27 outreach clinics, and secured over $178,000 in child support for children in our region—providing a total of $2.95 million in legal services to more than 2,200 individuals and families.
This summer, we’re building on that momentum with exciting new initiatives:
- Lowcountry Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP): Through a collaboration with South Carolina Legal Services, and with generous support from the Sisters of Charity Foundation and a Catalyst Grant from the Coastal Community Foundation, we’ve launched the Lowcountry Medical-Legal Partnership, with a dedicated focus on reaching vulnerable residents in Hampton County. In addition, we are expanding our broader MLP efforts across all three counties—Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton—in partnership with Bluffton Jasper Volunteers in Medicine, VIM Hilton Head Island, and the Good Neighbor Medical Clinic. By integrating legal support directly into healthcare settings, we are breaking down barriers to both health and justice.
- Pro Bono Protection Program: In partnership with the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, SCCADVASA, and Hopeful Horizons, we are preparing to launch this life-saving initiative to help domestic violence survivors obtain protective orders quickly and safely. LCLV will handle intake and support, while pro bono attorneys will be trained and ready to assist in times of crisis.
- Justice Navigator Training: With support from Georgetown Law, we are training trusted community leaders to recognize and respond to legal needs within their communities—especially around family law, immigration, heirs’ property, and domestic violence.
- Estate Planning for Veterans & Gullah Communities: Together with the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation, the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation, and the Beaufort County Department of Veterans Affairs, we are expanding access to wills and estate planning services for low-income veterans and members of the Gullah Geechee community.
- Protecting Family Land: We are thrilled to share that we’ve received an exciting grant from the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and the Federal Home Loan Bank, administered through our local South Atlantic Bank, to provide education, wills, and direct legal representation focused on heirs’ property and land retention. This initiative is a powerful step toward preserving generational wealth and stabilizing communities in our region.
Our Housing Protection Program continues to meet the urgent needs of families facing eviction or unsafe housing. This work remains vital in a time of increasing housing instability throughout our service area.
As we celebrate these milestones and chart our next steps, I’m thrilled to share that South Carolina Lawyer recently featured LCLV’s journey and our bold vision for the future. You can read the full article here.
Thank you for being part of this work. Whether you lend your time, voice, or resources, you are helping create a more just and equitable Lowcountry for all. We can’t wait to see what we accomplish together next.
With gratitude and hope,
Anne Caywood
Executive Director
Lowcountry Legal Volunteers
With gratitude and hope,
Anne Caywood
Executive Director
