In 2008, the South Carolina Access to Justice (SCATJ) Commission held eight public hearings to learn about barriers to the civil legal system. Seven regional hearings were held around the state before panels of Commissioners. The final hearing was held in November at the South Carolina Supreme Court before the five Supreme Court Justices.

Information from these hearings as well as information from around the country via other access to justice initiatives has revealed four components to effectively battle inadequacies with the current system:

• PRO BONO. Expand Pro Bono participation through the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Program, private law firms, government attorneys, corporate counsel, paraprofessionals including paralegals and court reporters, and law students.
  
  
• STAFFED PROGRAMS. Expand and enhance staffed programs providing civil legal assistance to South Carolinians
  
  
• SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS. Develop resources for self-represented litigants to more effectively and efficiently represent themselves in the civil court system.
  
  
• EDUCATION. Education is a critical part of each of the preceding three work areas. Education of the access to justice issues to the bench, bar, court administration, clerks of court, law students, paraprofessionals, staffed program personnel and self-represented litigations.