Charleston Underage
Defense Lawyer

Protecting young people, protecting opportunities, and protecting futures.

When a child or teenager is accused of a crime, the consequences can extend far beyond the courtroom. Parents often worry about educational opportunities, scholarships, employment prospects, and long-term impacts on their child's future. For more than 30+ years, Peter David Brown has helped families throughout Charleston navigate juvenile and underage criminal matters with compassion, discretion, and strategic legal guidance. Your child's future deserves experienced protection.

Protecting Students & Young Adults Across the Lowcountry from Ruining Their Future

Underage charges can have consequences that extend far beyond fines or court appearances. A conviction can impact education (loss of scholarship money and/or suspension/expulsion), employment opportunities, and one’s future record.

At The Law Office of Peter David Brown, we represent graduate and undergraduate students and young adults facing underage charges throughout the Lowcountry—helping them navigate the process and protecting their future opportunities.

A Focus on Protecting Your Future

Underage cases require a thoughtful approach—not just a quick resolution.

We focus on:

Exploring alternatives to conviction when available
Helping you understand your options clearly
Guiding you and your family through the process

Minimizing long-term impact on your record by obtaining a Dismissal that will allow for expungement (Erasure of the incident)

NOTE: These options might require some substantial life-style changes on the student’s part!

Common Underage Charges
We Handle in South Carolina

We defend a wide range of underage-related offenses, including:

Why Underage Charges Should Be Taken Seriously

Taking the right steps early can help reduce or avoid long-term consequences.

Even a first-time offense can lead to:

A permanent criminal record
Suspension of driving privileges
Fines and court costs
Impact on college enrollment or scholarships
Future employment complications

Options for First-Time Offenders

Depending on the situation, there may be options available to resolve your case, such as:

Diversion programs

Alcohol education or safety courses

Community service

Conditional discharge or deferral programs

Eligibility depends on the charge, your record, and the circumstances of the incident.

For Parents: What You Should Know

If your child has been charged, it’s important to act quickly and understand the situation.

We help families:

Understand the legal process in South Carolina.
Evaluate options for resolving the charge.
Protect educational and future opportunities.
Navigate court requirements and expectations.

Clear communication and guidance can make a significant difference.

Participation and compliance on the student’s part will be required, as there is no need to spend the money on advice they will not follow.

You May Not Have to Appear in Court

In some cases, we may be able to appear on your/the student’s behalf. This can help reduce disruption to school, work, and daily life.

Our Charleston underage defense lawyer works with students from every school, college, university, and educational institution in the state.

Students We Work With Across the South Carolina Lowcountry:

College of Charleston Students
The Citadel
Trident Technical College Students
Charleston Southern Students
Wando High School Students
Lucy Beckham High School Students
Oceanside Academy Students
MUSC Students & Graduate Students
Summerville High School Students
North Charleston High School Students
Porter-Gaud School
Ashley Hall School
Fort Dorchester High School
Cane Bay School
West Ashley High School
School of The Arts
Academic Magnet High School
Bishop England High School
Ashley Ridge High School
Phillip Simmons High School

What to Do After an Underage Charge

If you or your child has been charged:

Early action can create more opportunities for a better outcome.

Contact an experienced attorney with years of experience dealing with the prosecutors and pudges in the local court system.
Keep all documents related to the charge.
Do not ignore the court date.
Do not plead guilty without understanding ALL the tangential the consequences.
Avoid discussing the situation with others, including other defendants involved.

Why Choose The Law Office of Peter David Brown for Your Underage Defense Case?

We focus on helping everyone understand the options and making informed decisions at every stage of the process.

Peter has decades of actual courtroom trial experience and is well respected.
Our firm prepares a strategic approach tailored to each individual and each set of facts.
We have decades of familiarity with local courts, prosecutors, judges and the idiosyncrasies of each jurisdiction.
We provide direct communication and clear guidance throughout case.
Free consultation to discuss your situation.
Payment plans are available for the more complex matters.

Serving Clients Across the South Carolina Lowcountry

We represent clients across Municipal, Magistrate, and General Sessions Courts.

If you or a loved one, spouse or child, have been charged with a Municipal or Magistrates’ level offense in Charleston or the surrounding areas, contact The Law Office of Peter David Brown for a FREE consultation. No pressure. Just clear answers about your rights and options.

City of Charleston Municipal Court
Mount Pleasant Municipal Court
Sullivan’s Island Town Court
Isle of Palms Municipal Court
Charleston County Magistrates’ Court
Berkeley County Magistrates’ Court
Dorchester County Magistrates’ Court
Orangeburg Magistrates’ court
Goose Creek Municipal Court
Summerville Municipal Court
Moncks Corner Municipal Court
Folly Beach Municipal Court
North Charleston Municipal Court
Hanahan Municipal Court
All other municipal courts and traffic courts throughout the Lowcountry

Charleston Underage Defense Lawyer