South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced South Carolina criminal defense attorneys who navigate the General Sessions Court, Magistrate Court, Pretrial Intervention (PTI), the state’s active death penalty framework, and the Three Strikes life-without-parole statute.

Free to use — fees quoted upfront, before you commit
Matched with a South Carolina attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free South Carolina criminal defense case review

A South Carolina attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your South Carolina criminal defense case

When you submit a South Carolina criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under South Carolina law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in South Carolina who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in South Carolina

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A South Carolina criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In South Carolina, this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No general statute of limitations for criminal cases in South Carolina
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: No limit
No general statute of limitations for criminal cases in South Carolina
Sentencing Structure: Felony Classes
Felony Classes A-F and Misdemeanor Classes A-C under § 16-1-90 et seq.; mandatory minimums for trafficking, certain firearm offenses, third DUI; Three Strikes (§ 17-25-45) — mandatory life without parole for third serious/violent felony
Expungement / Record Sealing: S.C. Code § 17-22-910
S.C. Code § 17-22-910 et seq. — limited expungement (first-offense fraudulent check, certain drug offenses after completion of conditional discharge, PTI completion). Youthful Offender Act (§ 24-19-10) provides separate framework. No automatic sealing/Clean Slate.
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under § 22-5-510; constitutional right to bail with exceptions (S.C. Const. Art. I, § 15); first-appearance bond hearings within 24 hours of arrest
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

South Carolina classifies crimes under S.C. Code Title 16. Felonies are Class A-F (Class A up to 30 years; Class B-F by statute), misdemeanors are Class A-C (Class A up to 3 years). Murder carries 30-to-life or death (§ 16-3-20) — South Carolina retains an active death penalty and recently resumed executions (firing squad authorized 2021, used 2024). South Carolina is one of a small number of states with no general statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions — most charges can be brought at any time. Marijuana remains criminalized (no medical or recreational); simple possession (28g or less) is a misdemeanor up to 30 days first offense (§ 44-53-370). South Carolina’s Three Strikes (§ 17-25-45) imposes mandatory life without parole for a third serious or violent felony conviction. Pretrial Intervention (PTI) under § 17-22-50 is the primary first-offender diversion — completion leads to dismissal and expungement (§ 17-22-910). Expungement under § 17-22-150 et seq. is significantly narrower than most states. South Carolina solicitors (district prosecutors) have wide charging discretion.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in South Carolina

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in South Carolina

Which one is closest to yours?

DUI

South Carolina DUI under § 56-5-2930 — BAC .08+ adult, .02 under 21, .04 CDL. First offense General Impairment: 48 hours to 30 days jail or community service, $400 fine plus assessments. First offense .15+: enhanced. Felony DUI causing GBH (§ 56-5-2945). IID for many offenses.

Sound like yours? A South Carolina attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do South Carolina criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

South Carolina · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in South Carolina are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in South Carolina work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under S.C. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense and circuit public defender offices represent indigent defendants.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your South Carolina criminal defense compensation can include

A South Carolina criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to quash indictment, solicitor nolle prosequi, or speedy trial dismissal.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

South Carolina criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a South Carolina attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division), South Carolina Highway Patrol, and local departments use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and S.C. Const. Art. I, § 12 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. South Carolina Class A misdemeanors carry up to 3 years and $5,000 fines. Magistrate court misdemeanors (under 30 days, under $500 fine) still carry collateral consequences. PTI under § 17-22-50 — completion leads to dismissal and expungement — is a first-offender lifeline. DV (Criminal Domestic Violence, § 16-25-20) and DUI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.

State cases go through Court of General Sessions (felonies, Class A misdemeanors) or Magistrate Court (lesser misdemeanors). Federal cases go to U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina (Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville, Anderson) under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Federal cases commonly involve drug trafficking (I-95 corridor), § 922(g) firearm cases, wire fraud, and Mann Act / human trafficking cases.

South Carolina plea agreements are negotiated between the solicitor (district prosecutor) and defense, with court approval. Pleas can include charge reductions, PTI (§ 17-22-50 — pretrial diversion ending in dismissal), Youthful Offender Act sentence (§ 24-19-10), drug court entry, conditional discharge for first-offense drug (§ 44-53-450), and stipulated sentence recommendations.

South Carolina expungement is narrower than most states. § 17-22-910 et seq. allows expungement for PTI completion, first-offense fraudulent check, conditional discharge completion (drug), and certain Youthful Offender Act dispositions. Most adult convictions cannot be expunged. The Expungement Reform Act of 2018 expanded some eligibility but South Carolina remains restrictive.

South Carolina handles juveniles under 17 in Family Court Juvenile Division under § 63-19-10 et seq. Juvenile records confidential. Expungement of juvenile records under § 63-19-2050. Waiver to adult court for 14+ for certain serious offenses under § 63-19-1210; some offenses excluded from juvenile jurisdiction (Class A, B, C, D felonies for 16+).

South Carolina DUI under § 56-5-2930: BAC .08+ adult, .02 under 21, .04 CDL. First offense .08-.099: $400 fine plus assessments, 48 hours to 30 days jail or community service. First offense .15+: enhanced penalties. Implied consent under § 56-5-2950 — refusal triggers 6-month administrative license suspension. Felony DUI causing GBH (§ 56-5-2945). IID required for many offenses.

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in South Carolina

Same South Carolina rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in South Carolina

All South Carolina practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysSC holds dog owners strictly liable — the owner pays for an unprovoked bite with no need to prove the dog had bitten before.

Business Dispute attorneysSC enforces reasonable non-competes — and the state courts apply a well-defined reasonableness test.

Car Accident attorneysSC is a fault state with a 51% fault bar — and minimum auto liability of $25K/$50K leaves many crashes underinsured.

Consumer Protection attorneysThe SC Unfair Trade Practices Act lets consumers recover triple damages plus attorney fees for willful violations.

Defective Product attorneysSC recognizes strict products liability — and its products liability law follows the widely used national standard.

Employment attorneysSC follows federal Title VII as the primary employment-discrimination framework — the state human affairs commission handles charges, and the state is right-to-work.

Family Law attorneysSC is an equitable-distribution state — and state law lists 15 factors governing property division, with adultery as a relevant ground.

Immigration attorneysSC has immigration court in Charlotte (NC, serves SC) — and growing immigrant populations in Greenville, Columbia, and the Lowcountry drive case volume.

Lemon Law attorneysThe SC Lemon Law covers new vehicles within 1 year/12,000 miles — and the manufacturer pays your attorney fees if you win.

Medical Malpractice attorneysSC med-mal requires a Notice of Intent and an expert affidavit before filing — with strict 90-day notice rules.

Personal Injury attorneysA three-year filing deadline and a 51% fault bar frame every SC injury case.

Slip and Fall attorneysSC premises liability turns on notice and the invitee/licensee/trespasser classification — with the state Supreme Court framing the modern analysis.

Social Security Disability attorneysSC disability hearing offices in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston process moderate volumes — and Fourth Circuit federal precedent shapes review.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysSC workers’ comp runs through the state Workers’ Compensation Commission — and wage benefits are two-thirds of your average weekly wage.

South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorneys

How we match your South Carolina criminal defense case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a criminal defense claim in South Carolina

Arrest or charge.

Tell us what happened.

First appearance and bail.

Discovery and motions.

Negotiation or trial.

Outcome and record.

When to call a criminal defense attorney in South Carolina

Criminal Defense cases we take in South Carolina

DUI

Drug possession and delivery

Assault

Domestic violence

Theft / Larceny

White-collar crimes

Gun and firearm charges

Sex offenses

Homicide

Juvenile offenses

Probation and parole violations

Federal crimes in South Carolina

How much do South Carolina criminal defense attorneys cost?

What your South Carolina criminal defense compensation can include

Charge Dismissal

Charge Reduction

PTI / Diversion / Conditional Discharge

Plea Agreement

Trial Acquittal

Post-Conviction Relief

South Carolina criminal defense questions, answered

Criminal Defense attorneys by city in South Carolina

Other case types in South Carolina

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