Dear Friends and Supporters,

As we step into fall, I’m filled with gratitude for all that we’ve accomplished together in 2025—and for the volunteers, donors, and partners who make this work possible every day.

Our team is growing, and with the dedication of retired attorneys, paralegals, and community volunteers, Lowcountry Legal Volunteers (LCLV) continues to be a lifeline for residents of Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties. In just the first half of this year, we have:

• Closed 176 cases, serving over 500 individuals and families
• Hosted 50 outreach clinics reaching rural and underserved communities
• Our Volunteers have delivered $483,000 in free legal services to those who could not otherwise afford help

This year, we’ve expanded our reach through our…

Lowcountry Medical-Legal Partnership to provide access to justice for medical patients through our newly forged partnerships with regional medical clinics and providers. 

Pro Bono Protection Program to support victims of domestic violence and abuse with securing orders of protection and emergency restraining orders 

Justice Navigator Training to educate and equip community members to help identify those with unmet legal needs who we can help resolve their legal issues

Free Wills and Health Care Power of Attorneys Program to help preserve generational wealth and protect family land. 

And, we’re continuing our reach through our… 

Housing Protection Program to protect families from housing instability 

Thank you for walking alongside us. Every hour volunteered, every dollar given, and every conversation shared helps ensure that justice is within reach for all in the Lowcountry. We are grateful for your support and look forward to celebrating our accomplishments together in the months ahead.

With gratitude and determination,

Anne Caywood

Executive Director

While the criminal case provided some justice, this mother still faced the challenge of legally divorcing her incarcerated abuser and securing protection for her child. That’s when she turned to LCLV.

Our team guided her through the complex process of filing for divorce against someone in prison—a procedure that can be both legally challenging and emotionally draining. At the final hearing, she stood firm in court, and with LCLV by her side, she was granted her divorce, full custody of her children, and legal protections to ensure their safety.

This case demonstrates the power of community partnerships. Without the referral from the Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the Victim Services Center, this mother may not have received the comprehensive legal support she needed to fully break free.

Today, she and her children are safe, healing, and building a brighter future—proof that with courage, support, and access to justice, survivors can reclaim their lives.

• $200,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank through their Family Wealth Protection Grant, enabling us to provide 225 wills to individuals at risk of losing family land, focusing on the Gullah Geechee community across Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties.
• $65,000 from the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry to support wills and heirs’ property education on Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island, and Greater Bluffton, which allows us to contract Cherese to join LCLV full-time for this critical work.
• $11,500 from the Community Foundation to support Luana Graves Sellars and the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation as an education and Wills Clinic partner.

Before joining LCLV as a partner in this critical work, Cherese was recognized as a land title expert, having conducted thousands of title searches and provided expert testimony in significant property cases. Her work is featured in the historical book Gullah Days: Hilton Head Islanders Before the Bridge. Cherese has spoken at the Penn Center, University of Georgia, and even NASA, educating audiences on heirs’ property and its impact on marginalized communities like the Gullah. Her scholarship has been cited in respected law reviews, reflecting her influence in both practice and academia.

We are thrilled to have Cherese leading this initiative, helping families preserve generational wealth, protect their homes, and secure their futures. Learn more about her work at Heritage Law Firm.

LCLV is hiring an Executive Attorney or Staff Attorney to expand our capacity to serve the community. If you know qualified candidates passionate about access to justice, please encourage them to contact Anne at executivedirector@lclv.org