The Supreme Court of South Carolina

Re: Amendments to Rule 401, South Carolina Appellate Court Rules

Appellate Case No. 2016-001445

ORDER

Pursuant to the provisions of Article V, Section 4 of the South Carolina Constitution, Rule 401 of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules is amended as set forth in the attachment to this Order.

These amendments are effective immediately.

Columbia, South Carolina
November 14, 2018

RULE 401
STUDENT PRACTICE RULE

(a) This Rule is adopted solely in aid of the clinical legal education programs at the University of South Carolina School of Law and the Charleston School of Law.

(b) An eligible law student may appear in any court or before any administrative tribunal on behalf of any indigent person, with that person's written consent, or on behalf of the State or any of its departments, agencies, institutions, or political subdivisions, with the written approval of the Attorney General. If referred to the clinical legal education program by a state or federal court, department, agency, institution, or other department of the University of South Carolina School of Law or the Charleston School of Law, an eligible law student may also appear in a court or before an administrative tribunal on behalf of a non-indigent person or non-profit organization with the written consent of the person or the written approval of the organization's governing body or executive officer. The consent or approval shall be filed in the record of the case and shall be brought to the attention of the judge or the presiding officer. In all cases, a supervising lawyer is required to be personally present throughout the proceeding.

(c) An eligible law student may engage in other activities, under a lawyer's general supervision, but outside the lawyer's presence, including:

(1) preparation of the pleadings, briefs and other legal documents to be approved and signed by the supervising lawyer;

(2) assisting indigent inmates of correctional institutions in preparing applications and supporting documents for post-conviction relief. If there is an attorney of record in the matter, all such assistance must be supervised by that attorney and all documents submitted to the court on behalf of the inmate must be signed by the attorney. Solicitation of representation of indigent inmates shall be a violation of this Rule;

(3) mediate a dispute in a court annexed mediation program; provided the eligible law student has successfully completed a 40 hour mediation training program approved by the Board of Arbitrator and Mediator Certification of the Supreme Court's Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution, and provided the eligible law student is supervised on-site by an attorney who is licensed to practice law in South Carolina and holds a current certification in mediation from the Board of Arbitrator and Mediator Certification;

(4) providing to any indigent person or to any non-profit organization legal services not otherwise prohibited under this Rule, including legal services not directly related to a litigation matter, with the written consent of the indigent person or the written approval of the organization's governing body or executive officer. All such assistance must be supervised by an attorney who is licensed to practice law in South Carolina.

(d) In order to be eligible to make an appearance or otherwise participate in a legal clinic pursuant to this Rule, a law student must:

(1) be enrolled in the University of South Carolina School of Law or the Charleston School of Law;

(2) have successfully completed not less than 50% of the total number of credit hours required for graduation with a law degree and have completed a course in Professional Responsibility. Students appearing in court under this Rule must have also completed a course in Evidence;

(3) be certified by the Dean of the respective School of Law as being of good character and competent legal ability, and as being currently enrolled in a clinical course. The certification shall be filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court and shall remain in effect for twenty-seven (27) months or until the announcement of the results of the first Bar examination following the student's graduation, whichever is earlier. The certification of students who pass the Bar examination shall remain in effect until they are admitted to the Bar. The certification may be withdrawn by the respective Dean at any time upon written notice to the Clerk or may be terminated by the Supreme Court without notice or hearing and without any showing of cause;

(4) neither ask for nor receive any compensation or remuneration of any kind for services performed pursuant to this Rule. Nothing in this provision shall be interpreted to prevent the law student from receiving course credit from the respective School of Law for his participation in the clinical programs, or to preclude the clinical programs from seeking attorney's fees where appropriate; and

(5) certify in writing that the student is familiar with, and will be governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct adopted by the Supreme Court. Any student who violates the Rules of Professional Conduct or fails to abide by the conditions of this Rule shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Supreme Court.

(e) The supervising lawyer shall be approved by the Dean of the respective School of Law and shall assume personal professional responsibility for the student's guidance and for supervising the quality of the student's work.