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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In the Library – Report for August and September

In August and September, 18 attorneys volunteered 31 hours to help 77 people with legal issues such as bankruptcy, protective orders, wills, and family law for the Ask a Lawyer in the Library program .  The Eastport program just began in June and the numbers of those using the service is increasing from 3 at the first to 7 at the program held on September 27.  We are happy to welcome the new volunteers who have helped in this new location: Jerry Williams, Stacy Rice, Michelle Smith, Kelly Kylis, Elizabeth Pfenson, Matthew Chalker, Kathleen McLaughlin and Kurt Karsten.

The MVLS Foreclosure Clinic scheduled on the 3rd Wednesday of the month is now held during the same hours as the Ask A Lawyer in the Law Library program: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lately, only one person has attended giving them ample time to discuss their case with the volunteer attorney, Susan Mays.

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. The program is also held at two additional locations, monthly, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:3o p.m. On the 3rd Wednesday of the month it is held  at the Glen Burnie Regional Library and on the last (not the 4th) Tuesday of the month at the Eastport -Annapolis Neck Community Library.  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

Do you have a criminal case? The Office of the Public Defender provides legal services to eligible individuals. Information about the Office of the Public Defender is available at http://www.opd.state.md.us/.

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 the  Glen Burnie District Court at   at 7500 Gov. Ritchie Highway,Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061.  More information is available at: http://www.courts.state.md.us/legalhelp/districtctselfhelpctr.html 

 

 

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lawlibrary

Why no posts in September?

books

In August, Chi Song began working at the Maryland State Law Library after working in the AACPLL during the two years while she was pursuing her Master of Library and Information Science.  Chi was a great asset to the library and is very much missed by me and those who use the library. Obviously, one cannot manage this library alone especially since ThomsonReuters (West)  seems to be sending so many updates recently. Things should improve once the new Law Library Associate starts later this month.  Until then I will continue to juggle the many tasks needed to keep the law library going.

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lawlibrary Maryland Law

New Maryland Laws in Effect Today, October 1, 2016

The 2016 supplement to the Maryland Code has arrived in the law library reflecting the more than 300 laws that will go into effect today. “Noah’s Law”  or the Drunk Driving Reduction Act of 2016 is mentioned in most news stories on the new laws. “Noah’s Law”(SB945/CH512) requires “the Motor Vehicle Administration to require a person who is convicted of specified offenses relating to driving under the influence of alcohol to participate in the Ignition Interlock System Program for specified periods of time….” Now the first offense rather than the second will require use of the device.

The Justice Reinvestment Act (SB1005/CH515) creates the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board and makes changes that relate to sentencing, criminal penalties, and inmate rehabilitation. One of the many changes pertains to expungement. New code section 10-110 of the Criminal Procedure Article will allow for the expungement of certain misdemeanors after 10 years. However, this and most of the provisions will not take effect until next October 1, 2017.

SB771/CH579 puts restrictions on certain consumer debt collection actions including  “that certain actions may not revive or extend a certain statute of limitation and  prohibiting a debt buyer or a certain collector from initiating a certain consumer debt collection action unless the debt buyer or the collector possesses certain documents.”

The provision that there be corroborating witness in a divorce action as states in section 7-101 of the Family Law Article was removed per SB359/CH379 and HB274/CH380.  The disability of a parent in a child custody action was addressed by SB765/CH423. It states that “in any custody or visitation proceeding, the disability of a party is relevant only to the extent that the court finds, based on evidence in the record, that the disability affects the best interest of the child; requiring in a specified custody or visitation proceeding, the party alleging that the disability of the other party affects the best interest of the child to bear a specified burden of proof…”

For a detailed summary of the laws passed by the 2016 session see the 90 Day Report:  A Review of the 2016 Session prepared by the Department of Legislative Services or check out the article in the Baltimore Sun today, “New Maryland laws go into effect today.”

 

 

 

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lawlibrary

New Maryland Laws Effective July 2016 With More to Come October 2016

Many new Maryland laws became effective on July 1, 2016 .  Still, keep an eye-out for more laws that are scheduled to take effect October 1, 2016 .
 

In Maryland, when both chambers of the General Assembly (House and Senate) have passed a bill, it is submitted to the Governor for his signature to make the bill into law or, if the Governor rejects the bill by a veto, the bill becomes law through three-fifths vote of the membership of each chamber. The Maryland Constitution requires new laws to take effect on the first day of June after the session which they were passed, unless another date is scheduled. In the past, Maryland bills were scheduled to become effective in July, but lately, many laws also get scheduled to take effect at the start of the  federal government’s new fiscal year, in October or at the start of the new calendar year, in January.

Media outlets, like the Baltimore Sun and the Capital Gazette have highlighted a few of the new laws that rolled-out in July. The most talked about law was the minimum wage increase to $8.75 per hour. This law is an example of how changes in state law can occur on a regularly-scheduled basis. This minimum wage change is part of an incremental increase under the Maryland Minimum Wage Act of 2014. It will reach $10.10 by July 2018.

To learn more about how a bill becomes a law in Maryland see the Maryland Manual On-Line’s page on the Legislative Process. See all Legislation passed by both chambers here. To read about more laws resulting from the 2016 session, see the Department of Legislative Services’ “90 Day Report”, a comprehensive review of legislation that was considered during the session. Also, see the “2016 Chapters: Chronological by Effective Date,” a list of new laws by Chapter Number and Bill Number in order of effective date.

 

 

 

 

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In The Library: July 2016

 

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.

In addition to the weekly program in the courthouse, the program is offered monthly in branches of the Anne Arundel County Public Library. These programs are held in the evening from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with the lottery at 4:15 p.m. This was the second month for the Eastpost Annapolis-Neck Community Library. The Eastport program will continue on the last Tuesday of the month with the next date on August 30. The program at the Glen Burnie Regional Library will resume on August 17 after its summer break. The Glen Burnie program is offered on the third Wednesday of the month.

Twenty six people took part in the program this month and were able to speak with an attorney to request assistance with issues such as leases, bankruptcy, power of attorney, trusts and estates, patents, mortgages and procedure. Volunteer attorneys were Mike Ragland, retired from Bell, Ragland, Gauges & Paltell; Chris Boucher; Dan Mellin of Hillman, Brown and Darrow; Paul Farmer of Gormley Jarashow Bowman; Jimmy Praley of Lessans, Praley & McCormick; and Elizabeth Pfenson and Kelly Kylis of Brassel, Alexander and Rice.

Paul Farmer
Mike Ragland
Chris Boucher
Dan Mellin

 

This month issues included topics such as leases, bankruptcy, power of attorney, trusts and estates, patents, mortgages and procedure.

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.

Questions about foreclosure? The law library hosts the MVLS Foreclosure Brief Advice Clinic on the third Wednesday of the month for 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The next Foreclosure Clinic will be on August 17.

Do you have a family law matter? Family law issues are best addressed by the Family Law Self Help Center, which is also located in the library. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/family-law.

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/.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer in the Library Expands to the Eastport Annapolis-Neck Community Library

IMG_1279
Carole Brown and Joan Bellistri

Eastport Annapolis-Neck Community Library offered its first “Ask a Lawyer in the Library” program on June 28, 2016.  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.

Four attorneys volunteered for the first night: Nathan Volke of the Law Offices of Laura E. Burrows; Carole Brown, Jimmy Praley of Lessans, Praley and McCormick; and Jerry Williams of Patel and Williams.

Jimmy Praley, Amanda Spino and Jerry Willliams
Jimmy Praley, Amanda Spino and Jerry Willliams

They were assisted by librarians Amanda  Spino of the Eastport Annapolis-Neck Community Library and Joan Bellistri of the Law Library. The attorneys were able to help with issues such as divorce, breach of contract and estate planning.

The “Ask a Lawyer” program  will continue monthly on the last Tuesday of the month. This is the second Anne Arundel County Public Library branch to offer the program with the other being  offered at the Glen Burnie Regional Library on the third Wednesday. The program is offered from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at both libraries. The next date for Eastport will be July, 26. The Glen Burnie program will resume on August 17.  It is also offered every Wednesday in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library in the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

 

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

New Hours for the Free Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Project in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library

The Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Project in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library has NEW HOURS!

  • Registration: None. First come, first served basis.
  • When: 3rd Wednesday of the month,  11:00 am—1:00 pm
  • Where: Anne Arundel County Public Law Library, Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County – RM 303, 8 Church Circle
    Annapolis, Maryland 21401

July 20, 2016 is the date of the next Foreclosure clinic in the Law Library at the new time.

The Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Project, a service of the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, provides FREE brief legal consultations for homeowners facing foreclosure who do not have legal representation.  Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Attorneys will:

  • Answer questions about foreclosure mediation;
  • Give legal advice regarding your foreclosure;
  • Help you understand court papers and documents you received regarding your foreclosure.

Foreclosure is the legal process that the lender starts with the courts when you have not made your mortgage payments, and the lender wants to force the sale of the house to recover the balance of the mortgage. Foreclosure mediation allows the homeowner to discuss their situation with the lender under the facilitation of a mediator. Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Attorneys will NOT attend mediation with you, but may help direct you to other options for obtaining legal representation for your mediation.

More detailed information about the foreclosure process and foreclosure mediation  is available on the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library Self Help and Pro Bono Wiki  and the Maryland People’s Law Library.

Can’t make it to the clinic?  Call the helpline: 443-808-0076
      Mondays from 1:30 pm—6:00 pm
Wednesdays from 8:00 am—12:00 pm

MVLS offers the program in other locations.  Check the website for more information.

 

 

 

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lawlibrary

Best Practices and Technology to Better Serve Self-Represented Litigants with Low Literacy or Visual Impairments

When self-represented litigants (SRLs) seek help from Maryland Court Self-Help Centers, Maryland Law Libraries, and other access to justice programs, they may need special assistance to use the resources available at these centers.

Imagine this everyday scenario: a staff member identifies the SRL’s legal issue and proceeds to help the SRL by looking up the relevant section in a law publication, by pulling-up a Plain English article on a legal topic, by downloading a template for a court form, or by handing them a pamphlet with referral information.

In this scenario, the services provider has exchanged words with the SRL without being aware of their difficulties with reading and writing. Almost 21 million Americans report vision problems, and 3.4 million over 40 are legally blind. Many Americans face barriers accessing basic corrective vision care. According to the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute of Literacy, 1 in 7 adults lack basic literacy skills, severely hindering their ability to participate in the judicial process.

Many adults will hide their difficulties rather than ask for help. They may become embarrassed or antagonistic if their literacy difficulties start to show. This can lead to unresolved legal issues.

WHAT CAN LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS DO TO HELP?

IDENTIFY LITERACY ISSUES

If you come across the following situations, you may have come across someone who has trouble reading and writing:

Continue reading “Best Practices and Technology to Better Serve Self-Represented Litigants with Low Literacy or Visual Impairments”
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lawlibrary

Family Law Self Help Center Expansion in the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court

The Ribbon Cutting for the Anne Arundel County Family Law Self Help Center (FLSHC) was held on Friday, June 24, 2016.  The area dedicated to the Family Law Self Help Center which is located in the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library has just about doubled.  The result is increased privacy and access for those using the services of the center. The expansion was made  possible by a grant from the Access to Justice Department of the Maryland Judiciary. Family Law Division funds were used as well to supplement the grant.

Family Law Self Help Center moved to the law library 5 years ago on April 25, 2011.  Since that time the law library and FLSHC have worked together to serve the needs representing themselves in family law issues such as divorce, child custody, visitation and name changes.  The law library provides a self-help computer room and collection of materials written for the non-attorney. Librarians are able to guide Center users to appropriate resources when referred by FLSHC staff.

Law Library Intern, Chi Song, was responsible for the grant application and management; research and ordering of the workstations and computer equipment;  and the planning and reorganization of the law library, including the moving of thousands of books.

View the slideshow to see the before and after.  

The event was covered by the Capital. Please see the 6/27 online article, “Self-help family law center expands, thanks to grants” written by Lauren Loricchio for more information, pictures and a video. (It was also published  in the  print Capital  on June 28, 2016 but titled “Fulfilling a growing need.”)

 

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lawlibrary Libraries Pro Bono

Upcoming Expungement Clinic

The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) is hosting a FREE Expungement Clinic next week at Maryland City at Russett Community Library. Volunteer attorneys will provide FREE legal assistance and information concerning the expungement of criminal records. No registration or appointments necessary; legal services are provided on a first come, first serve basis.

When? Tuesday, July 12, 2016 | 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Where? Maryland City at Russett Community Library, Anne Arundel County Public Library, 3501 Russett Common, Laurel, MD 20724

For more information about the FREE clinic, please contact the Law Library at (410) 222-1387. You can also reach us via email at lawlibrary@aacounty.org or via fax at (410) 268-9762.

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