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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

This week, the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program was offered in two different locations and at two different times.  On Tuesday evening the program was held at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library starting at 4:30 p.m. in addition to the weekly, Wednesday program held in the law library from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Jerry Williams
John Bailey

In Eastport, Jerry Williams and John Bailey assisted six people with issues such as bankruptcy, wills, child support, and zoning infractions.  Richard Ronay was the lawyer for the weekly Wednesday program from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m..  He provided assistance with questions about defamation, a foreclosure eviction, contracts and employment.

The next program date is Wednesday, September 6, 2017 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.  On the 3rd Wednesday of the month the MVLS Brief Limited Advice Foreclosure Clinic is hosted by the library.  Participants are encouraged to register for the clinic by calling 410-547-6537, but pre-registration is not required. The Ask a Lawyer program is also held monthly in the evening at two Anne Arundel County Public Library locations – at the Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and at the  Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday of the month. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

Do you have a question about foreclosure?  The law library is hosting a monthly foreclosure clinic through the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS). The next clinic will be held on September 20, 2017 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the law library. Registration is not required but suggested.  Contact the law library for more information at 410-222-1387 or lawlibrary@aacounty.org.

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lawlibrary Libraries

Library Curses

monkA tweet by Tinkering Librarians @tinkeringlib  on August 23 caught my eye with its link to this article Protect Your Library the Medieval Way, With Horrifying Book Curses on  Atlas Obscura,  a website exploring hidden spots around the world.

In the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library we hope that no one ever takes anything from the law library without asking but when anything goes missing, the curse I first saw in Mel Hirshman’s Maryland Bar Journal column (July/August, 1994, p. 52) comes to mind. Mel Hirshman was Bar Counsel for the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission for almost 30 years. This column , “By Special Request (Sad Information From Our Law Librarians),” reported on the problem with books missing from Maryland law libraries. It included the curse found on the door of an ancient monastic library in Barcelona, Spain:

For him that stealeth a book from this library, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him languish in pain, crying aloud for mercy and let there be no surcease to his agony til he sink in dissolution.

Let bookworms knaw his entrails in token of the worm that dieth not, and when at last he goeth to his final judgment, let flames of hell consume him forever and aye.

So next time you are tempted to “borrow” something from a library permanently, beware of the library curse.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

paul-farmer-20150826
Paul Farmer

On Wednesday, August 23, 2017, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you, Paul Farmer of Gormley Jarashow Bowman, for volunteering and providing this service to the public.  Eight people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as trusts and estates, guardianship, a claim for damages against a local government, deeds, improper liquidation of assets by a family caregiver, an arbitration appeal, foreclosure and powers of attorney. The next program date at the Law Library is Wednesday, August 30, 2017. In addition, the next evening program will be held in Eastport  the day before on Tuesday, August 29.

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 (August until June) 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 Self Represented

Bankruptcy: new topic added to the WIKI FAQs

bankruptcyThe topic of Bankruptcy now has a page in the AACPLL Self Help and Pro Bono WIKI. Bankruptcy can be found on the FAQ page where numerous topics are listed.  Each FAQ provide links to appropriate code sections, online resources including forms, and a list of materials held in the a law library.  You will also find links to organizations or programs that offer legal assistance.

 

 

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library – Wednesday Wrap-Up

On Wednesday, August 16, 2017 there were three limited legal advice programs offered to the public.  We had the “Ask a Lawyer in the Library” twice: once in the law library from 11:00 to 1:00 and in the evening at the Glen Burnie Regional Library from 4:30 to 6:30. During the law library “Ask a Lawyer in the Library” program, we were able to offer the MVLS remote Foreclosure Clinic.

Jonathan_Pasterick

Jonathan Pasterick of Hillman, Brown and Darrow was able to assist three people with such issues as a reverse mortgage, social security, and personal injury.  At the same time, Amy Hennen, an MVLS attorney, was mvls-logoable to help two clients with foreclosure issues.  Using Google Hangouts and a webcam, she was able to talk to the clients in the law library while reviewing documents scanned by the law library in her Baltimore office.

In the evening, the Ask a Lawyer in the Library” at the Glen Burnie Regional Library started up again after the summer break. Cliff O’Connor and Katelyn Maloney of Holmes and O’Connor with Nickola Sybblis were kept busy assisting CLIFF Katelyn Nickola 2017 0815 people with issues such as  divorce, guardianship, wills, deeds, and even copyright. Once the program ended two more people came in for help before I could leave.  I was able to refer a question about a security deposit to the District Court Self Help Resource Center and the Maryland Courts Self Help Center.  The second question involved a search arrant and I was able to provide the code section cited there.

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.

 

 

Categories
lawlibrary Legal Technology

Updated MDEC Manual Available Online

MDEC_manualThe Judiciary’s August newsletter included an article on recent updates to the MDEC Policies and Procedures Manual (See page 36 in the version 1.19 regarding submissions in an envelope.)

The Manual can be found on the judiciary’s website MDEC page’s Here you can find links to information on registration and to MDEC FAQs for attorneys and the public. The link to the Manual can be found in the E-Filing Resource List on the efiling page that includes links to the e-filing brochure, MDEC Acronyms, attorney efiling codes and an overview of MDEC Rules.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In The Library: Wednesday Wrap-Up

On Wednesday, August 9, 2017 the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer

photo 1 (3)
Chris Boucher

In The Library program.  Chris Boucher provided legal advice to six people on topics such as employment, health records, home owner association fees, and credit.

The next program date is Wednesday, August 16, 2017.  

Next week is also the 3rd Wednesday of the month which means that the MVLS Brief Limited Advice Foreclosure Clinic will also be held in the law library from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm., the same time as the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Participants are encouraged to register for the clinic by calling 410-547-6537, but pre-registration is not required.

Also on the 3rd Wednesday,  The Ask a Lawyer program will be held in the evening at the 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.  On the 3rd Wednesday of the month the MVLS Brief Limited Advice Foreclosure Clinic is hosted by the library.  Participants are encouraged to register for the clinic by calling 410-547-6537, but pre-registration is not required. The Ask a Lawyer program is also held monthly in the evening at two Anne Arundel County Public Library locations – at the Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday of the month and at the  Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday of the month. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

Categories
lawlibrary

Harrison Gage, Field Study Intern

20170810_142710Today we were sorry to have to say good-bye to Harrison Gage, a University of Maryland Masters of Library and Information Science Field Study Intern, who spent the summer in the law library helping with a number of projects.  Thanks to Harrison, the cataloging backlog is gone, we have procedures for creating serial records, and an inventory of the law library’s art work.  We wish her well in completing her program and know that she will be a welcome addition to the staff of any library or archives.  Good luck, Harrison!

Categories
lawlibrary Maryland Law Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In The Library: Wednesday Wrap-Up

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.

On Wednesday, August 2, 2017, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program.  Mike Ragland and Jack Paltell, both retired, were on hand to assist five people who requested help with issues such as filing a civil action for fraud, drafting and execution of a deed pursuant to a divorce decree, a real-property issue, a lien on property and foreclosure procedure.jack-and-mike

The next program date is Wednesday, August 9, 2017. In addition, the Ask A Lawyer In the Library program is also hosted at two Anne Arundel County Public Library branches: the Glen Burnie Regional Library on the 3rd Wednesday of the month (from August until May), and the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library on the last Tuesday of every month. The programs at these public library branches are held from 4:30 to 6:30. Sign-up at both locations is at 4:15 p.m., and time slots are determined by lottery.

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.

Do you have a family law matter?  Family Law matters are best addressed by the 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 fo the Public Defender is available at http://www.opd.state.md.us

Need help with the 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/districtselfhelpctr.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 a link for chat can be found here: http://www.mdcourts.gov/selfhelp/index.html#maryland

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library – Tuesday and Wednesday Wrap-Up

This week we offered the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program in two different locations and at two different times.  On Tuesday evening the program was held at the Eastport-Annapolis Neck Community Library starting at 4:30 p.m.

Carole Brown assisted four people with child custody, divorce, preparation for a juvenile hearing and an insurance question.  Joe Gormley of Gormley Jarashow Bowman was the lawyer on call for the weekly Wednesday program from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 pm.m.  He provided assistance with questions about an unemployment appeal and summary judgment.

Joe Gormley
Carole Brown

The next program date is Wednesday, August 2 , 2017 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, in the evening from 4:30 – 6:30, 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.