Author: Chi Song

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

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The Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by the Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can talk with a volunteer attorney for up to 20 minutes. No appointment is necessary, but sign-up is required at the law library’s information desk. Sign-up begins at 10:45 a.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

On Wednesday, March 23, 2016, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you Paul Farmer of Gormley Jarashow Bowman LLC for volunteering and providing this service to the public. Two people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with bankruptcy and insurance administration issues. The next program date is Wednesday, March 30, 2016.

Do you have a criminal law matter?  Criminal Law matters are best addressed by the Office of the Public Defender.  Information about the Office of the Public Defender is available at http://www.opd.state.md.us/.

More information about Ask a Lawyer in the Library program is available at http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library. The Ask A Lawyer In The Law Library program is a limited legal advice service. The program is not a substitute for representation. If you need an attorney to represent you, you can contact the Anne Arundel Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service.

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Attorney Training lawlibrary

Solo Practitioner Blogs

Are you a solo practitioner looking for some helpful blogs? If so, check out these three.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Foreclosure Clinic Wrap-Up

mvls-logoOn Wednesday, March 16, 2016, the Law Library hosted its monthly Foreclosure Clinic. Four people were able to talk to an attorney about their foreclosure matters. Thank you Fani Kantartzis and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) for providing this much-needed service to Maryland’s self-represented litigants.

The next clinic date is scheduled for April 20, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Individuals are served on a first-come, first-served basis. Consultations usually last twenty minutes. Please sign up, in-person, at the Law Library’s main service desk on April 20, 2016.

We recommend that you prepare for your meeting with the attorney. Here are a few suggestions.

  • Bring all your paperwork or other information related to the foreclosure.
  • Write a list of specific questions. Organize your paperwork from most recent on top to oldest on bottom.
  • Write a list of specific questions.
  • Prepare a timeline of your matter, including any deadlines.

If you need assistance prior to the next clinic date, check out these resources.

  • Civil Justice – Civil Justice provides Marylanders with foreclosure assistance. Check out their website or call them at 410-706-0174 for more information.
  • Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Project Helpline– You can call the helpline at (443) 808-0076 on Mondays from 1:30 pm—6:00 pm and Wednesdays from 8:00 am—12:00 pm.
  • Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) – MVLS may be able to represent you in your foreclosure matter. Check out their website or call MVLS at 410-547-6537 for more information.
  • You can find a list of additional assistance resources at the People’s Law Library.
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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

IMG_1127The Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by The Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can talk with a volunteer attorney for up to 20 minutes. No appointment is necessary, but sign-up is required at the law library’s information desk. Sign-up begins at 10:45 a.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

On Wednesday, March 16, 2016, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you Samuel Brown of Hillman, Brown & Darrow, P.A., for volunteering and providing this service to the public. Five people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as foreclosure, property transfers, bankruptcy, estates, and vexatious litigation. The next program date at the Law Library is Wednesday, March 23, 2016.

In addition, the Glen Burnie Regional Library hosted the monthly Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Eleven people were able to meet with our volunteer attorney, Cliff O’Connor of Holmes & O’Connor, to discuss issues such as estates, property, collection, arbitration, wills, guardianship, appeals, disability, and trusts. The next program date at the Glen Burnie Regional Library is Wednesday, April 20, 2016, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and sign-up is via lottery at 4:15 p.m.

It is helpful to prepare for your session with the attorney.  Here are some helpful tips:

  • Write a list of specific questions for the attorney.
  • Bring any paperwork and information related to the case.
  • Organize any paperwork from most recent on the top to oldest at the bottom.
  • Identify all deadlines.
  • Prepare a timeline of the legal issue.

If you would like to research your issue prior to your session with the attorney, please come find us at the Law Library’s information desk.  We are happy to assist you.

More information about the program is available at http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library. The Ask A Lawyer In The Law Library program is a limited legal advice service. The program is not a substitute for representation. If you need an attorney to represent you, you can contact the Anne Arundel Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service.

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lawlibrary

President Obama Announces Supreme Court Nominee

Today, President Obama announced that he is nominating Federal Appeals Court Judge Merrick Brian Garland to the Supreme Court. You can read more about the announcement and watch at video of the announcement here.

To learn more about the Supreme Court Appointment Process, check out this 2010 publication from the Congressional Research Service, which details the nomination and appointment procedure and provides background information about the process.
Additional research resources are available through the Georgetown Law Library’s website, which includes a research guide on Supreme Court Nominations, the SCOTUSblog and NPR.
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lawlibrary Legal Technology

Tech Troubles?

If you are having tech troubles or you’re not sure if your firm’s technology is up to snuff, check out these articles.

Also, the ABA TECHSHOW, a conference and tech expo for lawyers, legal professionals and technology, is this week. You can learn more about the TECHSHOW, including CLE programming and education here.

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lawlibrary

Don’t Forget to Change Your Clocks This Weekend!

IMG_2408Each year, beginning on the second Sunday of March, at 2:00 a.m., and ending on the first Sunday of November, at 2:00 a.m., the standard time in each time zone in the United States moves forward/advances one hour. This means that the Law Library will, on Sunday, March 13th, “spring” forward one hour at 2:00 a.m.

Why do we do this? The Uniform Time Act, as amended, is the federal law that mandates this annual standard time change. You can read the act here. The U.S. Department of Transportation oversees Daylight Saving Time, and, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Daylight Saving Time saves energy, prevents traffic injuries and reduces crime. You can read more about it here.

Here are a few fun facts about Uniform Time.

  • The correct spelling is “Daylight Saving”, not “Daylight Savings”.
  • Federal oversight of time zones actually began in 1918 with the Standard Time Act, which originally placed oversight responsibility with the Interstate Commerce Commission. However, as the Standard Time Act was overturned the following year. So between 1919 and 1966, local officials determined the usage of daylight saving time.
  • States can choose not to observe Daylight Saving Time — Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe it.

The boundaries between these time zones are not set in stone and can be changed by Congress or the Secretary of Transportation. For example, in 2006 and 2007, there were several changes to the time zone boundaries in Indiana. Some counties in Indiana were moved from the central time zone to the eastern time zone. You can read about recent time zone proceedings here.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

ValadezThe Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is a civil, non-family law, self-help program sponsored by The Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Every Wednesday, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can talk with a volunteer attorney for up to 20 minutes. No appointment is necessary, but sign-up is required at the law library’s information desk. Sign-up begins at 10:45 a.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

On Wednesday, March 10, 2016, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Mike Valadez, our volunteer attorney, assisted two people with matters including an en banc appeal in the Circuit Court and a family business . The next program date is Wednesday, March 16, 2016.

Are you looking for assistance with your foreclosure matter? Each month, the Law Library hosts a FREE Foreclosure Clinic staffed by volunteer attorneys through the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Program participants can meet with the volunteer attorneys on a first-come, first-served basis. The next clinic date is Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Please sign up, in-person, at the Law Library’s service desk on March 16, 2016.

If you need assistance prior to March 16, 2016, check out these resources.

More information about Ask a Lawyer in the Library program is available at http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library. The Ask A Lawyer In The Law Library program is a limited legal advice service. The program is not a substitute for representation. If you need an attorney to represent you, you can contact the Anne Arundel Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service.

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lawlibrary Legal Technology Pro Bono Self Represented

Getting Acquainted with the Law and the Justice System

Last month, a patron asked your friendly law librarian if Black’s Law Dictionary was a good place to begin reading if someone wanted to start learning about the law and the justice system. The answer is no — unless you really love reading dictionaries, in which case, the Law Library has several editions of Black’s Law Dictionary, Ballentine’s Law Dictionary and Bouvier’s Law Dictionary available for your perusal.

Where to start your research will really depend on your interests and goals. The library user that inspired this post did not have a specific question or topic in mind. He just thought it was a good idea to learn about the law and the justice system. If you’re of the same mind, then check out these resources, which will help you get started.

  • Court Websites
  • Legal Information Websites
  • Legal Encyclopedias
    • American Jurisprudence 2d – available in print and online through the Law Library’s WestlawNext subscription
    • Maryland Law Encyclopedia – available in print and online through the Law Library’s WestlawNext subscription

We will publish a more detailed post on each resource throughout the month of March, so stay tuned! There are many more great resources to help you get acquainted with the law and the justice system. If you would like more personalized guidance, please contact the Law Library!

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Pro Bono Self Represented

Expungement and Shielding Clinic Wrap-Up

Thank you to our volunteers!
Thank you to our volunteers!

Last week, the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) and the Anne Arundel Pro Bono Committee sponsored a FREE Expungement and Shielding Clinic at the Glen Burnie Regional Library. Volunteer attorneys provided free legal assistance and information regarding expungement and shielding of criminal records on a first-come, first-served basis. 52 people took part in the program and over 200 petitions were filed!

The clinic was well coordinated and organized by Matthew Stubenburg, MVLS staff attorney and Director of IT, and Daria Pugh, paralegal.

Thank you to our volunteer attorneys! There were 13 volunteer attorneys, six of whom are from Anne Arundel County:

  • Michelle Moodispaw, Chair, Anne Arundel Pro Bono Committee
  • Lauren Wallace, Co-Chair,  Anne Arundel Pro Bono Committee
  • Diane Wessel
  • Susan Mays
  • Robert Waldman
  • David Schult

In addition, seven of the volunteers are from other Maryland counties — we really appreciate your traveling to Glen Burnie to assist the citizens of Anne Arundel County.

  • Rob Johnson
  • Anthony Hayes Davis, II
  • Farrah Champagne
  • Lisa Magil
  • Melinda McBeth
  • Kia Chandler
  • Dwight Clark

To learn more about expungement and expungement resources, check out these articles on the Maryland People’s Law Library, our wiki page and our past blog posts! In addition, the Maryland Courts website includes information on how to expunge your records.

It is hoped that this will be a recurring event.  Dates for next fall are being considered now.