Category: lawlibrary

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lawlibrary

Anne Arundel County 311 APP Announced

Anne Arundel County has announced the release of  an app and 311 voice services:

“This 311app allows Anne Arundel County citizens to report non-emergency incidents or problem requests digitally through their mobile devices. The 311 app has geo functions and is tied to both the AA County web and Facebook pages. The app allows citizens to track their reported incidents via the web or their mobile devices until such time as the incidents are closed. The app has a clean interface and is easy to navigate. Currently, the app enables Anne Arundel County users to report service requests such as:

• Lost and found pets
• Recycling cart requests
• Broken recycling carts
• Missed curbside collection
• Bulk pickup scheduling
• Potholes
• Drainage complaints
• Recreation and Park concerns
• Unregistered vehicles”

The App can be found in the iPhone App Store (search “AACounty 311″and at Google Play for Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.seeclickfix.annearundelcounty311.app

Citizens can still just call 3-1-1 and get the help they need if they aren’t comfortable with using an APP or don’t have a smart phone.

 

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Wrap-Up

The Law Library has been busy with the  Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. In addition to the weekly courthouse program held in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library on March 29  and April 5, the monthly evening program at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library was held on March 28.

Carole Brown, Carole BrownSaul McCormick of Lessans, Praley and McCormick, and Jerry Williams of Patel and Williams Jerry and Saulwere the  Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library volunteers on March 28 who helped with contracts, debt collection and leases.  March 29 was one of the few 5th Wednesdays of the month meaning that attorney Richard Ronay 

Richard Ronay

was on hand to help with such issues as garnishment, reverse mortgages, eviction, sale of real property and deeds. And today, Mike Ragland and Jack Paltell, jack-and-mike

both retired, helped with questions on bankruptcy and landlord/tenant.  Librarians, Leah Curtis of the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library and Joan Bellistri of the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library were on hand to coordinate and provide back up research assistance.  
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. In addition to the weekly program, the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is held monthly at two Anne Arundel County Public Library branches in the evening (4:30 pm to 6:30 pm): Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday and Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library. The next program date is Wednesday, April 12 , 2017, in the law library.

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lawlibrary Self Represented

The Maryland Custody and Divorce Client Notebook

People going through a divorce without the benefit of an attorney now have access to a great tool that will help them navigate the process: “The Maryland custody and divorce client notebook.”  The notebook can be found at the Maryland People’s Law Library: https://www.peoples-law.org/workbook  It was created by Dave Pantzer, People’s Law Web Content Coordinator, Maryland State Law Library, and Joanna Shapiro who staffs the Frederick County Courthouse Family Law Clinic.

The notebook will soon be distributed to clients of the Anne Arundel County Family Law Self-help Center thanks to a grant from the Judiciary’s Department of Family Law Administration.  This will allow those using the center to easily inform the attorney on duty where they are in their case.

The notebook is described on the webpage:

“The Maryland Custody & Divorce Client Notebook helps clients to navigate a family law case from start to finish, with the help of an attorney (or attorneys) from self-help, legal services, pro bono, or the paid private bar.  The notebook itself helps clients keep papers and evidence with them, and in one place.  Inside, the “Topic of Dispute” chart is the heart of the tool, helping clients to identify and understand the key issues and evidence that will make or break their case.  A calendar and journal help the client record facts and gather evidence even before they find a lawyer.  And the other sections help a lawyer (or the client, if no lawyer is involved) to navigate a settlement or a trial. “

In addition to the link to the actual document on the Maryland People’s Law Library page with which to create the notebook, there are links to articles that will answer the many questions that will come up along the way.  Examples include articles about custody and visitation:

C5. Decision-making Authority (Legal Custody) @ https://www.peoples-law.org/child-custody-maryland

C6. Parenting Time (Physical Custody) @ https://www.peoples-law.org/child-custody-maryland

C7. Access (Visitation) @ https://www.peoples-law.org/visitationsupervised-visitation)

and marital property:

D10. Who gets the home? @ : https://www.peoples-law.org/property-disposition-divorce

and D11. Who gets the vehicles? @ https://www.peoples-law.org/property-disposition-divorce

And to go with that notebook — there is always the Family Law Self Help Center located here in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library. The Center is open on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm.  The Center closes at 1:00 pm on Tuesday and Friday.

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lawlibrary

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

FullSizeRender (2)On Wednesday, March 22, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program.  Jeff Bowman of Gormley Jarashow Bowman  went above and beyond to help eight people with issues such as the sale of real property, guardianship, landlord/tenant, wills and estates, and administrative appeal. There will be two  program dates next week:  Tuesday, March 28 in Eastport and Wednesday, March 29, 2017 here in the law library.

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. In addition to the weekly program, the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is held monthly at two Anne Arundel County Public Library branches: Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday and Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

 

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lawlibrary

What’s New?

mpjiThe new  Maryland Civil Pattern Jury Instructions, 5th Edition, has arrived.  The  new edition is the first since the 2002, 4th edition, that was last updated in 2013.  There are two brand new chapters on Employment Law and Maryland Constitutional Torts.

All of the instructions are available in Word and Wordperfect format on the accompanying CD-ROM accessible in the law library.  The instructions are also on Westlaw and Lexis.  Just ask if you need help accessing the new jury instructions in any format.

(The book is shelved at KFM1742.6.M37 2017.)

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

On Wednesday, March 15, the “Ask A Lawyer In The Library” program was held in both  the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and the Glen Burnie Regional Library. Brian Lyman

Brian Lyman
Brian Lyman

of Hillman, Brown and Darrow helped participants with a dispute with a car dealer and a contract in the morning. Alan Forman of Forman Clothier Law Group with Cliff O’Connor and Katelyn Maloney of Holmes and  O’Connor

cliff-and-katelyn
Cliff O’Connor and Katelyn Maloney

helped nine people with such issues as divorce,wills, fee disputes, and landlord/tenant. The next program date is Wednesday, March 22 , 2017.

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 read up on 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.

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. In addition to the weekly program, the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is held monthly at two Anne Arundel County Public Library branches: Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday and Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

Do you know that legal help is available from the Maryland Courts Self Help Center from 8:30 am until 8:00 pm during the week, Monday through Friday? This is a virtual service via phone (410-260-1392) or online chat.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono

Pro Bono Opportunities for Anne Arundel Attorneys

Anne Arundel County Pro Bono attorneys were recognized at the Annual Pro Bono Recognition Lunch on February 28. The work of these volunteers is much appreciated. However, the Final Report: Current Status of Pro Bono Service Among Maryland Lawyers, Year 2015 showed that only 17.7% of Anne Arundel attorneys reported more than the recommended 50 hours of pro bono service. Here is a review of the many pro bono opportunities available to Anne Arundel attorneys with the hope that awareness will bring more pro bono to Anne Arundel. And if lack of reporting is the problem, take note of the Local Pro Bono Committee’s reporting tool. The Local Pro Bono Committee will send a report at the end of the year to make reporting easier for attorneys who use the tools and the attorney who reports the most hours will be recognized.

NEW: 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/

More information here:

https://maryland.freelegalanswers.org/Attorneys/Account/Agreement

MVLS – Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service acts as Anne Arundel County’s Pro Bono Referral Service: http://www.mvlslaw.org/lawyers/volunteer/

Volunteers are still needed for the monthly Foreclosure Clinic in the Law Library but there are also many cases that need an attorney for full representation.

Volunteers are supported with:

Malpractice insurance

Mentors

Free training

Use of MVLS offices to meet with clients

Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

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

Sign-up to receive the PBRC E-Bulletin for a monthly list of cases needing an attorney.Help with immigration needed now. 

YWCA Legal Services: intimate partner peace and protective order petition cases in Anne Arundel County

To register:

Send an email to apotthast@ywcaaac.orgSubject: pro bono peace and protective order representationBody of the email should include your interest/experience etc., as well as your business number, or the phone number where you wish to be contacted.

Lawyer in the Library Programs sponsored by MVLS -Circuit Court and Anne Arundel County Public Library (Eastport and Glen Burnie):

Glen Burnie Regional Library – 3rd Wednesday of the Month

Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library – the last (not the 4th) Tuesday of the month.

Three attorneys are needed for each of the public library  events from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm. For more information and to volunteer contact Joan Bellistri in the law library: joan.bellistri@aacounty.org or 410-222-1387.

Anne Arundel County Annual Homeless Resource Day

The 10th HRD will be held in the fall of 2017. Attorneys are able to assist the homeless and those in danger of becoming homeless with a variety of legal issues, especially expungement and child support. More information will be available as we get closer to the date. For more information and to volunteer contact Joan Bellistri in the law library: joan.bellistri@aacounty.org or 410-222-1387.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Update

The Law Library has been busy with the  Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. In addition to the weekly courthouse program held in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library on March 1 and March 8, the monthly evening program at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library was held on February 28.

John Bailey

We are happy to introduce two new volunteer attorneys: Saul McCormick of Lessans, Praley and McCormick and John Bailey who has a private practice.  Saul McCormick and John Bailey joined Carole Brown

Carole Brown
Carole Brown

in Eastport where they helped 11 people with such issues as wills and probate, judicial review, landlord and tenant, divorce, debt collection, formation of an LLC, and home improvement contracts.

John was on call  the very next day to take on Jack Paltell’s shift if needed at the courthouse.   Mike Ragland

Mike Ragland 20151007 pm
Mike Ragland

helped two people with questions on estates and administrative appeals. This week  was much busier. Mike Valadez was able to help seven people with questions on wills and estates, injunctions, foster care, and procedure in an insurance dispute.

The next program date is Wednesday, March 15, 2017 for 2 locations.  It will be held during the day in the in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library and in the evening at Glen Burnie Regional Library.

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. In addition to the weekly program, the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is held monthly at two Anne Arundel County Public Library branches: Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday and Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

Do you have a family law matter? Family Law matters are best addressed by Family Law Self-Help Center which is located in the back of the law library.  For more information: http://www.circuitcourt.org/legal-help/family-law

Need help with a District Court matter such as landlord/tenant, small claims (less than $5,000), consumer matters, or return of property (replevin and detinue).The District Court Self-Help Resource Center provides limited legal services for people who are not represented by an attorney. Services are provided in-person (in Glen Burnie, Upper Marlboro and Salisbury). More information is available at .http://www.courts.state.md.us/legalhelp/districtctselfhelpctr.html

Help with family and civil questions is available by phone and online chat from the Maryland Courts Self Help Center, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. More information and link for chat can be found here:   http://mdcourts.gov/selfhelp/index.html#maryland

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lawlibrary Pro Bono

Recognizing Anne Arundel County Pro Bono Volunteers!

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The Law Library hosted the Annual Pro Bono Recognition Lunch on Tuesday, February 28 2017. This event recognizes and celebrates the attorneys who provide pro bono legal service in Anne Arundel County. Joan Bellistri, Law Librarian and Liaison, Court of Appeals’ Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services, and the Hon. Ronald Silkworth, Circuit Court Judicial member of the Anne Arundel Local Pro Bono Committee, provided opening introductions. Administrative Judge, Hon. Laura Kiessling, thanked the volunteers for their service and introduced special guest, Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, Hon. Mary Ellen Barbera. It was such an honor to have the Chief Judge recognize the work of Anne Arundel County pro bono attorneys. Hon. Barbera also helped, Tasnima Apol, Anne Arundel County Pro Bono Committee Chair, distribute the pro bono volunteer certificates.

Thank you to the Court Facilitators and attorney volunteers from the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, the Law Library’s Ask a Lawyer in the Library program and Foreclosure Clinic and the annual Anne Arundel County Homeless Resource Day for your pro bono service! Check out our Program  to see the full list of volunteer attorneys and facilitators.

We had a great turnout for the event, and we would like to thank the following judges and magistrates from the Court of Appeals and the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County joining us.

  • Hon. Mary Ellen Barbera
  • Hon. Laura Kiessling
  • Hon. Paul Harris
  • Hon. Michele Jaklitsch
  • Hon. Glenn Klavans
  • Hon. Stacy W. McCormack
  • Hon. Diane O. Leasure
  • Hon. William Mulford
  • Hon. Donna M. Schaeffer
  • Hon. Ronald Silkworth
  • Hon. Michael Wachs
  • Hon. Charles J. Muskin
  • Hon. Timothy P. Thurtle
  • Hon. Jennifer Cassel

Also, we would like to thank Douglas Hofstedt and Nancy Faulkner from Court Administration and Kim Klein, Erin McCarthy and Sarah Adams from Case Management for attending the Recognition Lunch. It was great to see Bonnie Sullivan and Susan Francis from Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. MVLS’ support of Anne Arundel County programs is much appreciated. Special recognition and thanks must also be given to the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office for funding the lunch provided by Main and Market.

Last, but not least, thank you to the Anne Arundel Local Pro Bono Committee for its leadership in providing pro bono service to Anne Arundel County! Chair, Tasnima Apol, Joan Bellistri, Anita Bailey, Nancy Faulkner, Kim Klein, Lisa Sarro,and Hon. Ronald Silkworth, all members of the committee, were present for the event.

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lawlibrary

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

On Wednesday, February 22, 2017,the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program.   

Paul Farmer 20150826
Paul Farmer

Paul Farmer from Gormley Jarashow Bowman, was the “lawyer in the library” this week. Six people were able to take part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as administrative appeals, condo fees, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant, marital property, and real estate.

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. In addition to the weekly program, the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is held monthly at two Anne Arundel County Public Library branches: Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday and Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

The program will be offered twice next week: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 in the evening at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library  and  Wednesday, March 1, 2017 for the 11:00 courthouse library location.