Nine Years of Building a Legal System That Serves—not excludes – People
Executive director Lana Klieman’s remarks from the 9th Anniversary Celebration
Thank you all for being here, in this beautiful space, to celebrate Charleston Legal Access’s 9th Anniversary. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just joined our community this year, your presence tonight means more than you know. Thank you, Motley Rice, for being our presenting sponsor tonight, for your consistent support for CLA from day one, and for your firm’s commitment to justice in the work that you do. We are honored to have you as a partner.
Nine years ago, CLA was born out of a simple but powerful idea from the brilliant mind of Sally Newman: that everyone, regardless of income, deserves a fair shot in the legal system. We started with a handful of cases, a lot of determination, and a vision for a South Carolina where everyone has access to high-quality legal representation, creating a fairer and more equitable justice system.
Today, we are a growing team that has helped thousands of individuals across the Lowcountry access legal help they could not otherwise afford. From protecting tenants from unlawful evictions, to helping survivors of domestic violence, to helping workers assert their rights against unfair labor practices and wage theft, CLA has become a legal home for those with nowhere else to turn. Over the past nine years, we’ve built something that works, that continues to grow, that creates community and partnerships. And most importantly, delivers justice.
But tonight isn’t just about celebrating how far we’ve come. It’s about the urgency of this moment—and why the work we do matters more than ever.
Last month, The New York Times Magazine published an article about the state of civil justice in this country. The headline was “Lawyer Up? Increasingly, Americans Won’t, or Can’t.” It exposed what many of us in this room already know and what we see at CLA every day: that for most Americans, justice is out of reach.
The article shared the story of everyday Americans trying to navigate life-changing legal battles—divorces, custody cases, evictions,and debt collections—without legal help. If you don’t count traffic tickets, these disputes make up more than half of all cases heard in state courts—about 20 million every year. And here’s the staggering part: in roughly three-quarters of these cases, at least one side doesn’t have a lawyer. According to the SC Legal Needs Assessment, in South Carolina, 70% of parties who appear in civil court are unrepresented, and both sides have a lawyer in less than 8% of cases
The article put it bluntly: “Courts were not designed for people.”
And when people walk into court without a lawyer, the cost isn’t just legal—it’s human. South Carolina’s own Legal Needs Assessment found that the consequences of going it alone can be traumatic. People described feeling disrespected, confused, and like they were on trial simply for not understanding the rules. Many were full of fear, unsure of where to turn or how to even begin navigating the system. One woman in the article—Evie—represented herself in a custody case against a better-resourced and financed ex. This is a typical client we see at CLA. She said, “I’m trying to follow the rules, but I don’t even know where to begin.” But those who had access to a lawyer reported that it made all the difference—financially, emotionally, and in restoring their trust in the legal process.
The truth is, our courts are no longer places where everyone has an equal chance. They’ve become places where wealth too often dictates outcomes. And when people feel like the law doesn’t protect them, or worse—works against them—that’s when faith in our institutions starts to erode.
“As lawyers, as advocates, as people who care about fairness and equality, it’s our responsibility to restore that faith. We must build a legal system that serves—not excludes – people. That’s the heart of our mission at CLA.”
And we aren’t just talking about justice. We are doing the hard work.
We’re in housing court, helping tenants stay in their homes and avoiding the catastrophic consequences of an eviction. We’re representing grandparents fighting to keep their grandkids safe. We’re translating complicated legal language into plain English, so people know their rights—and how to use them, empowering women to assert their rights. And now, I’m incredibly proud to share that we’re officially launching our immigration practice next month with the hiring of our first immigration attorney. This milestone marks the final step in our strategic plan to expand access to justice across every major area where it's needed most—housing, family law, and now immigration.
We did this together—with your support, your partnership, and your belief in our mission. We are here because you said: justice should not depend on how much money someone makes.
And let me be clear: the access to justice crisis isn’t going away. But neither is CLA. Our job is to stand in that widening gap between need and access—and close it, one case, one person, at a time.
So tonight, as we raise a glass to nine years of CLA, let’s also recommit ourselves to the fight ahead. Because access to justice is not a luxury. It is the foundation of a strong and fair society.
Thank you for standing with us, believing in us, and helping us push this vision forward.
