Civil Division

The Civil Division of the Attorney General's Office represents and advises the State and its agencies and officials in civil lawsuits. The areas of law and issues handled by this Division are diverse and include constitutional law, extradition, charitable trusts, lottery and gambling, election law, voting rights submissions and litigation, antitrust, state bonds, environmental law, annexation and incorporation.

The Civil Division includes:

Government Litigation
The Government Litigation Section of the Civil Division represents the State in such areas as: constitutional law, extradition, charitable trusts, election law, annexation and incorporation.

Tobacco
On August 15, 2005, the Office of the Attorney General began publishing the South Carolina Tobacco Directory listing tobacco product manufacturers and tobacco products that are in compliance with S.C. Code Ann. §11-48-30 et seq. This directory lists the names of those tobacco product manufacturers that have been certified by the Attorney General as being fully compliant, together with their brands and brand families. This directory is updated on the 1st and 15th of every month and as necessary to add and remove tobacco product manufacturers and/or brands and brand families.

Agency Request for Authorization to Employ Associate Counsel and Form 1
For attorneys hired after July 1, 2008, the following billable hourly rates will be applicable to engagement of counsel on and after that date:

Attorneys with 10 or more years of experience up to $150.00 per hour

Attorneys with 6 – 9 years of experience up to $110.00 per hour

Attorneys with 3 – 5 years of experience up to $90.00 per hour

Attorneys with up to 3 years of experience up to $80.00 per hour

A copy of a revised Form 1, which can be used to facilitate the approval of attorneys’ fees under the new rate structure adopted by the Attorney General’s Office, can be found at this link. The Comptroller’s Office will not authorize the payment of attorneys’ fees on any matter unless a Form 1 has been approved by the Attorney General’s Office. It is the responsibility of the agency seeking the approval of rates to certify the years of experience of each attorney for whom approval of a rate is requested. Years of experience are to be indicated as of the date of submission of the Form 1.