Opinion
August 21, 2003.
(f) Compensation and Expenses. With the exception of reasonable and necessary expenses, such as postage, telephone bills, copies, supplies and the cost of publishing legal notice in the newspaper, an appointed attorney shall serve without compensation as a service to the legal profession. However, the Supreme Court may order that the appointed attorney be reimbursed a reasonable amount for other expenses, such as the appointed attorney's time or the time of support staff, when it determines that extraordinary time and services were necessary for the completion of the required duties or when the appointment has worked a substantial hardship on the appointed attorney's practice. The Supreme Court shall determine the reasonableness of necessary expenses and other expenses. Expenses which are approved and awarded by the Supreme Court shall be paid from funds remaining in the lawyer's accounts. If no such funds exist, payment shall be made from the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection under Rule 411, SCACR. If the appointed attorney's expenses are paid by the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, the Supreme Court may order the lawyer to reimburse that Fund.
In an effort to balance the need to preserve the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection with the need to, in certain situations, reimburse attorneys appointed pursuant to Rule 31, RLDE, Rule 413, SCACR, the following rates are currently established for reimbursement of the appointed attorney's fees, support staff costs and the cost of copies, but are subject to change at the discretion of the Court.
Appointed Attorney's Fees $50.00 per hour Support Staff $10.00 per hour Copies $0.10 per page