Students serve community as eviction and housing crisis continues

Charleston School of Law has partnered with community organizations to provide free legal aid to people facing evictions and affordable housing.

On Friday, they joined 99 other law schools across the country to meet with the U.S. Department of Justice to expand their services and help even more people.

More than 10,000 people in South Carolina faced evictions since March of 2020, according to Eviction Lab.

Dean Larry Cunningham told Live 5 News that even before the pandemic, people in the state were losing their homes and were unable to afford rent. 

As a nationwide mission, law students, while under supervision of licensed attorneys, have been volunteering their time representing clients facing housing issues.

Students have been involved in meeting with clients, going over documents, brainstorming options, litigating and appearing in court.

“It’s both a way for law students to help people who need legal services, and at the same time, it’s also an educational opportunity because students are getting feedback from our alumni that are appearing with them in court,” said Cunningham.

CHARLESTON SCHOOL OF LAW QUICK FACTS

The Charleston School of Law is an ABA-accredited law school nationally recognized for its student-centric culture. Our faculty and staff are committed to preparing you for success both in the classroom and in the legal profession.

  • The Princeton Review ranks Charleston School of Law professors second in the country for faculty accessibility (2021)
  • Charleston School of Law faculty ranked among the top of The Princeton Review’s list of Best Professors in the nation (2016-2018)
  • Experiential Learning: Charleston School of Law students have access to about more than 150 externship sites, creating opportunities for experiential learning in the legal field.
  • Community Service: Charleston School of Law students have performed more than 241,000 community service hours (2004-current).
  • Students have won the National Tax Moot Court Championship for seven consecutive years (2012-2018)

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