1. Start with the Clemson University service area, not a generic software brief
Clemson University CDP is recorded in Pickens County, South Carolina. The 2020–2024 American Community Survey five-year population estimate for the CDP is 7,015, with a margin of error of 161. That is geographic context, not evidence of legal demand, case volume, competition or revenue. For a firm serving Clemson University, the practical implication is narrower: define exactly whether the proposed tool is for matters connected to the university, a broader Pickens County practice, or another South Carolina service area. Those are different scopes and should not be blended in a requirements discussion.
Recommended approach
Write the service boundary into the consultation brief. Identify which office or practice group will use the tool, which people or organizations it serves, and whether Clemson University is a specific service relationship or simply one part of a wider geographic focus. Keep the location label separate from the software’s permissions, records and workflow rules.
