Author: Joan Bellistri

Law Library Director for the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library

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Access to Justice lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Lawyer in the Library Wrap-up for December and January

In December and January, the Ask A Lawyer in the Library program provided legal advice to seventeen people. Thanks to volunteer attorneys, Steve Migdal, Jack Paltell, Saul McCormick, and Michele Manculich for providing this service to the public. In January we were happy to welcome new volunteer attorney, Patrice Clarke. Issues included student loan debt, landlord/tenant, expungement, estate planning and immigration.

The Ask a Lawyer in the Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program held every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and on the 3rd Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The program is sponsored by Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and hosted by the Anne Arundel County Public Library.  You can talk with a volunteer attorney for at least 20 minutes. Registration is required. All sessions are held remotely via Zoom videoconferencing or phone. More information can be found here.

Do you have a family law matter? Family Law matters are best addressed by the Family Court Help Center.

Do you have a criminal case? The Office of the Public Defender provides legal services to eligible individuals. Information about representation in criminal cases can be found here.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Lawyer in the Library Wrap-up: November

In November, the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program provided legal advice to thirteen people. Thanks to volunteer attorneys, Steve Migdal, Jack Paltell, Leonard Englander, and Michele Manculich for providing this service to the public. Issues included trustee compensation, disability insurance, employment, social security and debt collection.

The Ask a Lawyer In the Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program held every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and on the 3rd Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The program is sponsored by Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and hosted by the Anne Arundel County Public Library.  You can talk with a volunteer attorney for at least 20 minutes. Registration is required. All sessions are held remotely via Zoom videoconferencing or phone. More information can be found here.

Do you have a family law matter? Family Law matters are best addressed by the Family Court Help Center.

Do you have a criminal case? The Office of the Public Defender provides legal services to eligible individuals. Information about representation in criminal cases can be found here.

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Holiday

Law Library is closed November 24 & 25 2022

The Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County are closed today November 24, 2022 for the Thanksgiving Holiday and on Friday, November 25, 2022 for American Indian Heritage Day.

This article, Congress Establishes Thanksgiving, at the National Archives website describes how Thanksgiving became a holiday. President Obama signed H.J. Res. 40  “The Native American Heritage Day Resolution 2009,” designating the Friday after Thanksgiving as “Native American Heritage Day.” Read more here.

The Law Library will reopen on Monday, November 28, 2022. Except on Court Holidays, the Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

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Holiday lawlibrary

Law Library is closed for Veterans Day

The Anne Arundel County Public law Library and the Circuit Courts for Anne Arundel County will be closed for Veterans Day on November 11, 2022.

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I.  In 1954, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars. Read more here.

Except on Court Holidays, the law Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website here.

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Holiday lawlibrary

Law Library is closed for Election Day

The Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County will be closed for Election Day on November 8, 2022.

Find information on voting at the Maryland State Board of Elections.

VOTE IN-PERSON: All polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Find your polling place here.

VOTE BY MAIL-IN BALLOT: Marylanders can use a ballot drop box to return their mail-in ballot. The 2022 General Election ballot drop box locations are here (en español). Ballot drop boxes will be open until 8pm on November 8, 2022.

REGISTER TO VOTE: You can register to vote on election day. Go to the polling place assigned for your residence, and bring a document that proves where you live. You can find your polling place here. The document can be your MVA-issued license, ID card, or change of address card, or your paycheck, bank statement, utility bill, or other government document with your name and new address.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono

Lawyer in the Library Wrap-up: September and October 2022

In September and October, the Law Library held the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thanks to volunteer attorneys, Steve Migdal, Jack Paltell, Richard Ronay, Jennifer Jones, and Leonard Englander for providing this service to the public. Twenty nine people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney for assistance with issues such as contracts, landlord/tenant, unemployment, and estate administration.

The Ask a Lawyer In the Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program held every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and on the 3rd Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The program is sponsored by Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and hosted by the Anne Arundel County Public Library.  You can talk with a volunteer attorney for at least 20 minutes. Registration is required. All sessions are held remotely via Zoom videoconferencing or phone. More information can be found here.

Do you have a family law matter? Family Law matters are best addressed by the Family Court Help Center.

Do you have a criminal case? The Office of the Public Defender provides legal services to eligible individuals. Information about representation in criminal cases can be found here.

Categories
lawlibrary

AACPLL Annual Report for FY2022

The Annual Report of the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library for FY2022 has been posted to this site. This report provides a picture of library use, programs, resources, services, staff and finances. The strategic plan with goals and actions taken is included.

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Access to Justice lawlibrary Pro Bono

Celebrate Pro Bono in Anne Arundel

As we celebrate Pro Bono this week, it is a good time to recognize those attorneys who have donated their time helping those in need of legal assistance by volunteering for the Lawyer in the Library program.

Last year 11 attorneys helped 143 people by providing 86 hours of legal advice. Issues included landlord and tenant; wills and estates; consumer problems; and HOA neighbor disputes. Steve Migdal, last year’s recipient of the AABA President’s Award, was responsible for more than half of those hours. We would like to send a special thank you to all of the Lawyers in the Library:

Joe Gormley

William Moomau

Jessica Corace

Richard Ronay

Jennifer Jones

John Lynch

Carole Brown

Saul McCormick

Leonard Englander

Jack Paltell

Steve Migdal

Categories
Access to Justice Pro Bono

Pro Bono in Anne Arundel

Celebrate Pro Bono by volunteering to take a case or offer legal advice to those in need. See the following list of opportunities for Anne Arundel County attorneys:

Lawyer in the Library (virtual):  Volunteer at a free non-family, civil clinic for a two-hour session via Zoom.  Provide brief advice to pro se litigants on general legal issues.  This is a great way to help members of the community in a concrete, manageable way.  During each session, you could speak with a litigant and provide brief advice about issues related to small claims, landlord/tenant, simple wills, and other legal issues.  Contact Joan Bellistri at joan.bellistri@mdcourts.gov, for more information. 

Family Law Skills and Study Group:  Join this study group/skills-honing group and learn more about practicing family law in Anne Arundel County.  Take a pro bono family law case and meet with the group to learn more, exchange ideas, and share your experiences.  You can gain knowledge and experience while helping underserved litigants in Anne Arundel County. Contact Tasnima Apol at tapol@apollaw.org to learn more.

YWCA Legal Services:  Intimate partner protective order petition cases in Anne Arundel County, serving in both the District and Circuit Courts: Volunteer in the legal department or as an advocate. Contact: Davida Bortmes, Esq. at dbortmes@ywcaaac.org or 410-626-7800.

Maryland Court Help Center: Provide assistance with civil issues via chat and phone. Lawyers answer questions on a full range of civil case types handled by both Circuit and District courts. Legal issues include:

  • Landlord and Tenant Matters
  • Family Law Matters (divorce, custody, child support, and guardianship)
  • Small and Large Claims
  • Expungement and Shielding of Records
  • Consumer Matters (car repossessions, debt collection, and credit card cases)
  • Return of Property (replevin and detinue)
  • Domestic Violence/Peace Orders
  • Foreclosure

Contact: Tattiana Goluskin @ cgoluskin@mdcla.org

MVLS – Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service is Anne Arundel County’s Pro Bono Referral Service: https://mvlslaw.org/volunteer/#

Volunteers are supported with malpractice insurance, mentors, free training, use of MVLS offices to meet with clients, and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

Maryland Free Legal Answers – (Pro Bono in your PJs): Provide legal advice via email to low income Marylanders.

Sign-up here:https://maryland.freelegalanswers.org/

PBRC – Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland is Maryland’s clearinghouse for and source of many pro bono opportunities: https://probonomd.org/volunteers/

​​​Not sure what is best for you? The Maryland Call to Action will match you with a Pro Bono Opportunity:  https://probonomd.org/call-to-action/  

The Joint COVID-19 Access to Justice Task Force, the Maryland Attorney General, Maryland Judiciary, Maryland State Bar Association and Maryland Access to Justice Commission joined forces to deliver an urgent call to action for pro bono. They urge every attorney in Maryland to take at least one pro bono case or provide a designated number of pro bono service hours over the next year to help in the areas with the most acute need, namely housing, consumer, public benefits or family law.

If you have questions or additional ideas about pro bono projects that you would like to see developed, please contact the law library at 410-222-1387 or AALawLibrarian@mdcourts.gov.

Categories
lawlibrary

Law Library is closed for the Columbus Day Holiday

The Law Library is closed today, Monday, October 10, 2022, for the Columbus Day holiday.  Read about the holiday at History.com.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is also celebrated on the second Monday in October. There was a Presidential Proclamation in 2021 recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Anne Arundel County Resolution 41-20 was passed in 2020 recognizing Monday, October 12, 2020 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Anne Arundel County.

H.R. 5473 was introduced but not passed in the United States Congress last year “to designate Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a legal public holiday and replace the term “Columbus Day” with the term “Indigenous Peoples’ Day.”

Records of the indigenous peoples of Maryland can be found at the Mayis Indigenous Records site of the Maryland archives.

The Law Library will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Except on Court Holidays, the Library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website.