In South Carolina, if your friend is in jail with no bail and unable to afford a lawyer, the court will appoint a public defender unless they choose to hire a private attorney. However, you can help by contributing to the cost of his defense without taking on full responsibility for the payments. Many criminal defense attorneys offer payment plans or a partial retainer option, which can allow you to help cover some of the initial legal fees.

You can also assist by helping him apply for legal aid or other financial assistance programs that might be available for those who can’t afford private counsel. It’s important that your friend understands, though, that the right to a public defender is not something that can be waived unless they can secure and afford a private lawyer, so exploring options for private counsel may be a viable solution if they truly prefer not to go with a public defender.

Here are a few good resources you can use — share these with your friend so they can look into financial‑assistance or legal‑aid options in South Carolina:

• South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS) — they offer free or low‑cost legal aid to eligible low‑income residents. 

• SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service — if the friend needs a private lawyer but can’t afford standard rates, this service may be able to refer him to an attorney willing to do a low-cost or reduced‑fee consult. 

• South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense — if the friend qualifies financially and is facing criminal charges, the court can appoint a public‑defender under this program.