Maryland Legal Aid has added a number of videos in response to the effects of COVID on certain areas of law on YouTube. Right now you can find a video on the following topics:
More articles on COVID resources can be found on our Coronavirus/COVID19 Resources page.
The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) has updated the article, Major Consumer Protections Announced in Response to COVID-19. This article covers many topics of concern to consumers as related to COVID-19:
This article also includes links to the first chapters of all of the NCLC publications. Titles include Home Foreclosures, Fair Debt Collection, Mortgage Lending and many more. These titles are a part of the law library’s collection with print and online access. Check out the library’s online catalog by searching “NCLC” for a listing of library holdings. Call the law library if you need information from any of the NCLC titles.
The Law Day webpage of American Bar Association states that Law Day is held on May 1st every year to celebrate the role of law in our society and to cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal profession. Read the ABA’s History of Law Day to find out more.
To celebrate please visit the exhibit at the Library of Congress online, Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote.
National Library Week begins today. The original theme was “Find Your Place at the Law Library.” With so much change in how libraries of all types are operating, an alternate theme was devised.
Maryland Court Law Libraries will be unable to provide in-person assistance until June and as a result are trying to make sure that previous in-person users are aware that law libraries can be accessed remotely.
Maryland public libraries, like the Anne Arundel County Public Library, are offering online programming and access. The Anne Arundel County Public Library provides access to their digital library, resources for learning and an “ask a question” link.
Please take time to visit your local public library and law library in Anne Arundel County to celebrate National Library Week. I know that we will be happy to “see” you online and look forward to seeing you in person in the future.
Information on power of attorney, health care power of attorney (health care directives) and standby guardianship for children (delegation of parental authority) can now be found here, all in one place, on the Maryland Judiciary’s website.
The page states:
This page provides some standard legal forms to help you prepare for death, incapacity, or unavailability. These documents are complicated and can have serious consequences. Consider consulting with a lawyer before you sign any paperwork.
With the limited access to the courts now, and the law libraries and walk-in self- help centers housed there, it is the perfect time to download the new and improved Maryland Law Help App.
New features listed on the Maryland Law Help webpage include:
This APP is your direct link to the Maryland People’s Law Library and the remote Maryland Courts Self-Help Center.
The Access to Justice Commission has added a number of legal information one-pagers to their COVID-19 Resource Page. Topics include
The Self Litigation Litigation Network (SRLN) has been hosting problem solving calls for who provide service to the unrepresented or the SRL. One concern is the availability of certain forms such as power of attorney, health care directives and standby guardianship for children. In Maryland these forms can be found online:
Maryland Legal Service providers are continuing to provide services and intake remotely:
Updated 4/28/2020
The Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy‘s newest edition of its E-News, Guidelines E-News Vol. 15, No. 2, reports that there is a new Sentencing Guidelines Offense Table, Appendix A of the Maryland Sentencing Guidelines Manual. The changes are effective today, April 1, 2020. The E-News summarizes the changes:
(1) classification of a new offense passed during the 2019 Legislative Session;
(2) addition of CJIS codes for a number of offenses; and
(3) minor edits to the table.
The Maryland People’s Law Library has added a link to a special page for a COVID-19 Update.
Resources there include:
And a link to find out accessibility of Maryland Court Law Libraries.
The Maryland People’s Law Library is always a great source for information on Maryland law written for the non-lawyer.
The National Consumer Law Center has published an article, Major Consumer Protections Announced in Response to COVID-19, that covers the following topics:
NCLC books are available in the law library in print and online. If you need information on any of these consumer topics, please call (410-222-1387) or email the library (AALawLibrarian@mdcourts.gov)
AACPLL Blog: Law Library News 