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lawlibrary Libraries Library Legislative Day

MLA Legislative Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow, February 3, 2016 is the Maryland Library Association’s (MLA) Library Legislative Day. Librarians and library supporters from across the state of Maryland will convene in Annapolis to support and advocate for public libraries in Maryland. The day will begin here at the Law Library with a breakfast provided by the Law Library Association of Maryland (LLAM). During breakfast, the Legislative Panel of the Maryland Library Association (MLA) will provide a briefing on current issues affecting public libraries in Maryland and provide talking points for library supporters to keep in mind as they meet with their Maryland senators, delegates and other officials later in the day. For more information, check out MLA’s website and the MLA Legislative Panel Blog!

Why do we support and advocate for Maryland public libraries? The majority of Maryland’s total population are card carrying library users, and these 3 million plus library users span every age group. Public libraries provide support, resources and educational opportunities for children of all ages with programs such as pre-school reading preparedness, STEM and coding classes for school-aged children and summer learning opportunities. Library users also include adults of all ages and occupations. Maryland public libraries support and sustain Maryland’s workforce and communities through professional development, job search assistance and resume writing. Public law libraries, like the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library, provide library users, including self-represented litigants, with access to legal information and legal resources, which include FREE legal aid programs such as our weekly Ask A Lawyer in the Library Program and monthly Foreclosure Clinic.

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lawlibrary 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. For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

On Wednesday, January 20, 2016, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you Michael Darrow of Hillman, Brown & Darrow, P.A., for volunteering and providing this service to the public. Five people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as appeals procedure, deeds, garnishment, contracts, property, estates and trusts.

On Wednesday, January 27, 2016, two people took part in the program and were able to speak with our volunteer attorney, Richard Ronay of the Law Office of J. Richard Ronay, to request assistance with issues such as employment discrimination and defamation. The next program date at the Law Library is Wednesday, February 3, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and sign-up is via lottery at 10:45 a.m.

In addition, the Law Library coordinated the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program at the Glen Burnie Regional Library in Glen Burnie, Maryland on Wednesday, January 20, 2016. Nine people were able to meet with our volunteer attorneys, Alan Forman of Forman Clothier Law Group and Andrew DiBlasio of Staiti & DiBlasio, to discuss issues such as auto repair, business disputes, wills, real estate and security deposits. The next program date at the Glen Burnie Regional Library is February 17, 2016, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and sign-up is via lottery at 4:15 p.m. 

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 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 Pro Bono Self Represented

Expungement & Shielding Clinic Next Week!

CaptureThe Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and the Anne Arundel Pro Bono Committee are sponsoring a FREE Expungement and Shielding Clinic next week at the Glen Burnie Regional Library. No registration is required. The volunteer attorneys will provide FREE legal assistance and information concerning the expungement or shielding of criminal records.

When? Tuesday, January 26, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Where? Glen Burnie Regional Library, 1010 Eastway, Glen Burnie, Maryland

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 and expungement resources, check out these articles on the Maryland People’s Law Library, our wiki page and our past blog posts! In addition, the Maryland Courts website includes information on how to expunge your records.

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Holiday lawlibrary

Court Holiday

The Law Library is closed today, January 18, 2016, as today is a Court Holiday.  The Law Library will reopen tomorrow, January 19, 2016.  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, Suite 303, 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

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

Valadez
Thank you Mike!

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 13, 2016, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you Mike Valadez for volunteering and providing this service to the public. Six people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as employment, wills, car repair, contracts, defamation, attorney fees, and real estate. The next program date is Wednesday, January 20, 2016.

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 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.

Categories
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.

Categories
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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lawlibrary

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.