South Carolina · Paralegals practicing law
Paralegals practicing law in South Carolina
If a non-lawyer took your money in South Carolina — under the guise of paralegals practicing law — South Carolina law is on your side. Here's how the claim works.
Reviewed July 2026 by the FakeLawyerReport editorial team
Why this is illegal in South Carolina
Paralegals must work under a licensed attorney. When one takes on clients directly or gives legal advice, it's UPL — even if they used to work at a real firm.
South Carolina's UPL statute: S.C. Code § 40-5-310
South Carolina makes it a felony to practice law without being admitted by the state Supreme Court. The Commission on the Unauthorized Practice of Law investigates and refers cases.
Penalties in South Carolina
Felony — up to 5 years and/or a $5,000 fine per violation, plus civil injunctions.
What you can recover
- A full refund of every dollar you paid.
- Statutory or civil damages under South Carolina's consumer-protection laws.
- Attorneys' fees in most cases — often no out-of-pocket cost.
- Referral to a licensed South Carolina attorney to try to fix the underlying case.
How to report paralegals practicing law in South Carolina
- File with South Carolina Bar — the state bar's UPL committee.
- File a consumer complaint with the South Carolina Attorney General.
- Submit your case on this site for a free confidential review with a licensed South Carolina attorney who handles UPL recovery.
Related resources
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