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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer in the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

Dan Mellin
Dan Mellin

On Wednesday, August 19, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you, Dan Mellin of Hillman, Brown & Darrow, P.A., for volunteering and providing this service to the public. Four people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as contracts, unemployment, and real estate. The next program date is Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

The program was also held in the evening in Glen Burnie.  Sole practitioners Mary Albrecht-Jordan, Carole Brown and Todd Cagwin  were on hand to provide assistance
to 14 additional people who had questions on topics such as alimony, real estate, trusts, powers of attorney, mortgages, marriage, consumer and contract problems.  We welcome new program volunteers Carole and Todd and always appreciate the time of all of the program volunteers. This evening program well be held again next month on September 16, 2015.

Todd Cagwin and Mary Albrecht-Jordan
Todd Cagwin and Mary Albrecht-Jordan
Carole Brown
Carole Brown

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 held in the evening from 4:30 to 6:30 p.mat the Glen Burnie Regional Library of the Anne Arundel County Public Library on the third Wednesday of the month from August through May. Sign-up begins at 4:15 p.m., and time slots are determined by a lottery.  For more information on these programs, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.

Categories
Attorney Training

Attorney Training Opportunity

photo 3 (2)On September 2, 2015, there will be a free training and pro bono opportunity for attorneys to improve with legal writing in plain English skills.

When: Wednesday, September 2, 2015
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Judiciary Education and Conference Center
2011D Commerce Park Drive
Annapolis, MD 21401
Registration:  You must RSVP by August 21, 2015 at pll.eventbrite.com.

 

For more information about this training opportunity, check out this page on the People’s Law Library of Maryland .

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Attorney Training lawlibrary

Farewell, Westlaw Classic

Westlaw Classic is coming to an end, and all Westlaw users will be migrated to WestlawNext. At the Law Library, the sunset date is September 10, 2015. Starting on that date, anyone who attempts to access Westlaw Classic at the Law Library or the Circuit Courthouse will be automatically redirected to WestlawNext at http://next.westlaw.com.

If you are new to WestlawNext, there are self-paced training options available online. These self-paced training programs include general guides that provide an overview of WestlawNext, searching on WestlawNext and browsing on WestlawNext. Advanced, targeted trainings, such as form finder training, are also available. In addition, the Law Library is available to assist you with your online WestlawNext research.
If you want to learn more about WestlawNext or online legal databases, check out our blog posts here.

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Foreclosure Clinic Wrap-Up

mvls-logoLast week, the Law Library hosted its second Foreclosure Clinic. Thank you, Lonni Summers, Susan Mays, Diane Wessel, and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) for providing this much-needed service to Maryland’s self-represented litigants.

The next clinic date is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. individuals are served on a first-come, first-served basis. Consultations are usually twenty minutes. Please sign up, in-person, at the Law Library’s main service desk on September 16, 2015.

We recommend that you prepare for your meeting with the attorney. Here are a few suggestions.

  • Bring all your paperwork or other information related to the foreclosure.
  • Write a list of specific questions.Organize your paperwork from most recent on top to oldest on bottom.
  • Write a list of specific questions.
  • Prepare a timeline of your matter, including any deadlines.

If you need assistance prior to September 16, 2015, check out these resources.

  • Civil Justice – Civil Justice provides Marylanders with foreclosure assistance. Check out their website or call them at 410-706-0174 for more information.
  • Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Project – This is a free clinic open to homeowners facing foreclosure without legal representation. For information about the Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice project, check out our blog post from earlier this year.
  • Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) – MVLS may be able to represent you in your foreclosure matter. Call MVLS at 410-547-6537 for more information.

You can find a list of additional assistance resources at the People’s Law Library.

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

photo 1 (3)
Thank you Chris!

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, August 12, 2015, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you, Chris Boucher of Christopher Boucher, Esq., LLC, 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 related to appeals, property, unpaid wages and business issues. The next program date is Wednesday, August 19, 2015.

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/.

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

Juror Phone Scam Alert!

Recently, the Anne Arundel County Sherriff’s Office has warned of a phone scam where individuals posing as members of the Sheriff’s Office have demanded payment over the phone in connection with jury service at the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court. Be wary of these calls as the Circuit Court will never contact you to demand immediate payment over the phone.

To confirm information related to jury service at the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, please contact the Jury Office at (410) 222-1400. General information for jurors is available on the Circuit Court’s website.

For more information, please read this news release from the Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s Office.

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Free Legal Advice About Foreclosure Next Week!

mvls-logoWhen? Wednesday, August 12, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where? The clinic will be held at the Law Library, located on the third floor of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County at 8 Church Circle, Annapolis, Maryland. The Law Library’s suite number is 303. You can ask for directions to the Law Library at the Courthouse’s Information Desk.

Who? This is open to the public. However, if you already have an attorney representing you in the foreclosure matter, then the volunteer attorney CANNOT assist you.

How do I sign up? Please sign-up at the Law Library’s main service desk. Individuals will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis.

How to prepare for your meeting with the attorney? Here are a few suggestions for how to prepare for your consultation.

  • Bring all your paperwork or other information related to the foreclosure.
  • Write a list of specific questions.Organize your paperwork from most recent on top to oldest on bottom.
  • Write a list of specific questions.
  • Prepare a timeline of your matter, including any deadlines.

Please note that the attorneys will NOT represent you in court or at mediation! For more information, please contact the Law Library.

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

poster-ragland
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, August 5, 2015, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you, Mike Ragland, 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 related to service of process, trusts, contracts, bankruptcy and a writ of mandamus for a vehicle title. The next program date is Wednesday, August 12, 2015.

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/.

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
Attorney Training

Attorneys Must E-File in Anne Arundel County!

Starting today, August 3, 2015, in Anne Arundel County, attorneys must e-file criminal and traffic filings. This includes both District Court and Circuit Court. This e-filing requirement is part of the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) project, which is a statewide case management system that was launched in October 2014.

For more information about e-filing, please check out this page on the Maryland Courts website, which is a great resource for your MDEC questions. The website also provides links to publications for review.

Are you an attorney with questions about e-filing?  Check out these FAQs posted on the Maryland Courts website.  Attorneys with general questions may find these FAQs helpful.

Are you a member of the public with questions?  Check out these FAQs posted on the Maryland Courts website.
In addition, for more information about MDEC, check out our October 2014 blog post.

Categories
lawlibrary

New Materials Alert!

The Law Library is constantly striving to develop its collection to meet the needs of and challenges faced by its user communities. Check out these new materials, which have been recently added to the Law Library’ collection!


IMG_1550American Jurisprudence, 2d  – The Law Library has updated its print copies of American Jurisprudence, 2d, one of the most widely used legal encyclopedias. This secondary resource provides users with a comprehensive set of articles on a wide range of legal topics, organized in alphabetical order by topic. American Jurisprudence is a fantastic starting point for legal research as it provides general introductions to a vast array of legal topics as well as citations for other useful materials, including relevant primary materials such as cases and statutes.


IMG_1551American Jurisprudence Legal Forms – The Law Library has updated its print copies of American Jurisprudence Legal Forms, which can provide law library users with access to sample forms with practice notes, research references checklists and related subject guides, all organized by subject matter. You can review and copy forms related to a wide array of substantive law, including business organizations, commercial transactions, real estate, commercial transactions, estate planning and workers’ compensation.

In addition, you can access both resources through our subscription to Westlaw, which includes document delivery services (e.g., print, email, download). Please stop by the Law Library’s main service desk for assistance in locating these new materials as well as legal research instruction to increase your research efficiency and success!