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lawlibrary Maryland Law

The Maryland General Assembly is in Session!

The Maryland General Assembly reconvenes today at 12:00 p.m. As Maryland’s legislative body, the General Assembly’s 47 Senators and 141 Delegates represent Maryland’s 47 districts.

Do you know who represents you? If not, check out these resources.

  • Legislator List – This page lists legislators by name and includes links to each legislator’s individual page on the General Assembly’s website. In addition, if you click on the “Who represents me?” link, you can find your elected officials based on your address.
  • You can also view your legislators by district or by county.
  • You can find information about the Senate’s Leadership and Officers as well as the address roster for current Senate members here.
  • Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., is the President of the Senate, and Michael E. Busch is the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

Do you want to learn more about the General Assembly and this year’s legislative session? Then check out their website at mgaleg.maryland.gov! Here are some highlights, but check out their website as it has a wealth of information.

There is a lot of information available on the website, which may be difficult for new users to navigate. For assistance, check out these video tutorials to help you navigate the General Assembly’s website, including how to find bill testimony, how to find budget testimony, how to contact committees, and how to view or listen to current proceedings.

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lawlibrary Maryland Law

The 2016 Edition of Michie’s Maryland Court Rules is available!

The 2016 Edition of Michie’s Maryland Court Rules is available at the Law Library!  The 2016 edition includes amendments adopted through October 20, 2015 and supersedes and replaces all previous editions and supplements.  The Maryland Rules are the rules of practice and procedure followed by Maryland courts and apply to all Maryland courts, unless noted otherwise.  Michie’s Maryland Rules are annotated, meaning that there are explanatory notes and comments added to the rules by the publisher’s editorial staff. Annotation sources include Maryland case law, the Maryland Law Review, the University of Baltimore Law Review, the University of Baltimore Law Forum and Opinions of the Attorney General.

If you are new to the Maryland Rules, the People’s Law Library has an online video tutorial on reading the Maryland Rules through Westlaw, which is available at http://www.screencast.com/t/My0FU44NZbwL.

Can I access the rules online? Yes, the current Maryland Code and Rules (without annotations) are available online, free of charge, through LexisNexis and Westlaw.  In addition, you can access the Law Library’s online subscriptions to LexisNexis and WestlawNext in-person at the library.

What about the superseded Maryland rules? The Law Library maintains copies of the superseded Maryland Rules from 1980 to the present in its collection. If you need to reference the superseded Maryland Rules, please drop by the Law Library’s service desk, and we can assist you in locating the appropriate resources.

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Ask a Lawyer in the Library: Wednesday Wrap-Up

Mike Ragland 20151007 pm
Mike Ragland

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, January 6, 2016, after a two-week hiatus due to the holidays, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you Mike Ragland and Jack Paltell for volunteering and providing this service to the public. Seven people were able to meet with the attorney to discuss issues related to employment, contracts, appeals in Circuit Court, bankruptcy, and administrative appeals.

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.poster-paltell (1)
  • 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

Happy New Year!

Untitled drawing (3)The Law Library would like to wish everyone a very happy new year!  2015 was the best year yet for this blog, as we published more posts (168!) and increased our readership. Thank you for reading and following our blog. In 2016, we will continue to focus on the library (e.g., news, resources, events), legal research (for both experienced and inexperienced researchers), access to justice, access to legal information and pro bono legal service. We look forward to continuing our growth and refining this blog and hope you stay tuned. We are always open to comments and suggestions. Please comment below to let us know how we can improve our blog!

For those of you interested in our stats, WordPress.com’s stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report. Here’s an excerpt:  A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed over 4,000 times in 2015. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 3 trips to carry that many people. Click here to see the entire report.

Categories
lawlibrary Legal Technology

Online Databases in the Limelight – Verdict Search*

Online databases can be invaluable, time-saving  tools to any legal researcher as they provide organized access to a wide array of legal resources as well as sophisticated search tools.  Many online databases, including fee-based databases, are available at the Law Library, free of charge, to library patrons.  This month, the blog will feature six of the online databases available at the Law Library.

Are you looking for assistance with case valuation (i.e., what is the amount of money that you can reasonably expect in damages)?  Then look no further because the Law Library subscribes to VerdictSearch, an online database for verdict and settlement research.  VerdictSearch at the Law Library provides users with access to federal and state cases from Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. Search results may assist you with your trial research and strategy development.

How do I search on VerdictSearch? You can search by keywords (e.g., “car accident”) and then use any of the following filters:

  • Type of Injury (e.g., back, neck, head)
  • Venue (state and/or federal)
  • Case type (e.g., motor vehicle, insurance, wrongful death)
  • Award Type (e.g., verdict-plaintiff, settlement, mediated settlement)
  • Date Range (any range from 1988 to 2015)
  • Award Amount (e.g., less than $10,000, $10,000 to $100,000)

You can further refine their searches by plaintiff type (e.g., age, gender), expert name, attorney name, judge name, and insurance carrier. Once you have your results, VerdictSearch’s document delivery includes printing and email (PDF and Word).

Can I access VerdictSearch at the Library? Yes! The Law Library offers FREE, in-person access to VerdictSearch on a designated computer in our computer room. Please come to the service desk to request assistance in accessing VerdictSearch.

What to do if you need help with VerdictSearch? Please ask for help at the Law Library’s service desk. We can provide technical and research assistance.

Can I access the Law Library’s VerdictSearch subscription from home? No. The Law Library’s current subscription permits in-person use at the library only.

*This blog post is an update of a blog post previously published on December 22, 2014.

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lawlibrary

CANCELLED TODAY – Ask a Lawyer in the Library

The Ask a Lawyer in the Library is cancelled today, December 30, 2015. The next program date is Wednesday, January 6, 2016.

Categories
lawlibrary Legal Technology Self Represented

Online Databases in the Limelight – NOLO

Online databases can be invaluable, time-saving  tools to any legal researcher as they provide organized access to a wide array of legal resources as well as sophisticated search tools.  Many online databases, including fee-based databases, are available at the Law Library, free of charge, to library patrons.  This month, the blog will feature six of the online databases available at the Law Library.

NOLO publishes do-it-yourself manuals, a lawyer directory and form books in print and electronic formats all written in plain English, meaning that you do not need a legal background to understand the text. For legal research, NOLO’s materials can be a great starting point to get a general understanding of the law in a specific subject. Through the library’s online subscription, you have access NOLO’s publications, which include titles on topics such as auto accidents, bankruptcy, business law, criminal law, debt management, disability law, LGBT law, medical malpractice, real estate, small businesses, workers’ compensation and much more! You can search for specific keywords or browse titles. However, NOLO does not provide legal advice, and you should not consider these materials as a substitute for legal advice from an attorney.

Can I access NOLO at the Library? Yes! The Law Library offers FREE, in-person access to the NOLO database.

How to use NOLO in the Library? You can access NOLO from any of the public access computers available at the Law Library.

What to do if you need help with NOLO? Please ask for help at the Law Library’s service desk. We can provide technical and research assistance.

Can I access the Law Library’s NOLO subscription from home? No. The Law Library’s current subscription permits in-person use at the library only. However, NOLO offers many free articles on topics like accidents, bankruptcy, immigration, taxes, wills, and much more. You can access this free information at www.nolo.com.

Do you prefer print resources? Then check out the Law Library’s print collection of NOLO titles, which includes the following:

  • NOLO’s Encyclopedia of Everyday Law (SELF HELP KF387 .N65 2014);
  • NOLO’s Essential Guide to Divorce (SELF HELP KF535 .D67 2014);
  • NOLO’s Guide to Social Security Disability (SELF HELP KF3649 .M6 2014);
  • Patent, Copyright & Trademark (SELF HELP KF2980 .E44 2014);
  • Contracts: The Essential Business Desk Reference (SELF HELP KF801 .S75 2011);
  • Neighbor Law: Fences, Trees, Boundaries & Noise (SELF HELP KF639 .J67 2014);
  • Plus many more!

For more information about understanding legal research, including the difference between primary and secondary legal resources, check out these research guides.

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Holiday lawlibrary

Court Holiday

The Law Library is closed today, December 25, 2015, as today is a Court Holiday.  The Law Library will be open on Monday, December 28, 2015.  A list of Court Holidays is available on the Circuit Court’s website at http://www.circuitcourt.org/court-holidays.

Except on Court Holidays, the Library is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. We are located on the third floor (main floor) of the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court at 8 Church Circle, Annapolis, Maryland.

If you cannot make it to the library in person, you can always reach us via email at lawlibrary@aacounty.org, via phone at (410) 222-1387 or via fax at (410) 268-9762.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

MVLS Annual Report

Established in 1981 to meet Maryland’s unmet civil legal services needs, the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service is a private, non-profit legal services provider that serves Marylanders throughout the state. The Law Library’s partnerships with MVLS include the weekly Ask A Lawyer in the Library Program at the Law Library, the monthly Foreclosure Clinic at the Law Library, the monthly Ask A Lawyer in the Library Program at the Glen Burnie Regional Library, and the Personal Bankruptcy Clinics (select dates) at the Law Library. With 80% of low-income Marylanders representing themselves in court for civil matters, the Law Library’s partnerships are vital to promote access to justice for Marylanders. To learn more about MVLS, check out their 2015 Annual Report, which is available here.

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lawlibrary

CANCELLED TODAY – Ask a Lawyer in the Library

The Ask a Lawyer in the Library is cancelled today, December 23, 2015, and next week, December 30, 2015. The next program date is Wednesday, January 6, 2016.