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.
Last 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.
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 seehttp://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/.
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.
When? 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.
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 seehttp://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/.
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.
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!
American 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.
American 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!
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 seehttp://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.
On Wednesday, July 29, 2015, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you, Richard Ronay of the Law Office of J. Richard Ronay, 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 related to a writ of mandamus, estates, social security benefits, and an ongoing civil litigation matter. The next program date is Wednesday, August 5, 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/.
Here are some of the resources available at the Law Library!
In connection with the Law Library’s celebration of Law Day, we will be publishing a series of eight posts that focus on the basics of the Maryland court system and legal research.
The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) was created in 1990 through the Administrative Procedure Act, which provides for the resolution of contested agency actions through an impartial administrative hearing process. This means that Marylanders may contest actions of Maryland state agencies through OAH. In Maryland, administrative agencies may include “any agency, board, department, district, commission, authority, commissioner, official, the Maryland Tax Court, or other unit of the State or of a political subdivision of the State and the Client Protection Fund of the Bar of Maryland.”* Examples of Maryland agencies include the Motor Vehicle Administration, Workers’ Compensation Commission and Maryland Insurance Administration. The hearing process is overseen by an Administrative Law Judge, who is an attorney trained to hear these types of matters and is independent from the Maryland agencies. To learn more about OAH and the administrative hearing process, check out this FAQ page.
OAH Library – At OAH’s main office in Hunt Valley, Maryland, the OAH has a library that is open to the public. The library’s collection includes OAH decisions, published state agency policies and other materials. Please note that in order to see an OAH decision, library users must first make a written public information request and receive approval for that request before visiting the library. For more information, please see the library’s website. Note that some decisions may not be available because they may contain confidential or privileged information.
Appealing an Administrative Decision – If you are looking to appeal an administrative decision, read this article published on the People’s Law Library, which provides an overview of the process for appealing an administrative decision. In addition, check out the Law Library’s Administrative Appeals wiki page, which includes links to useful resources and a sample form with a guide. If you have more questions, please contact us!
Foreclosure Mediation – The Administrative Law Judges at OAH also conduct mediations referred to the OAH by the Circuit Court pursuant to Maryland’s Foreclosure Mediation Law. If you want to learn more about foreclosure mediation provided by OAH, check out this page.
*Maryland Rule 2-701.
Additional Law Library Resources – Check out these materials, which are available at the Law Library.
West’s Maryland Law Encyclopedia, 1 M. L. E., Administrative Law and Procedure §§ 64-82
Maryland Civil Procedure Forms 3rd ed. / Robert D. Klein (LEXIS, 2000) – Title 7- Chapter 200
Practice Manual for the Maryland Lawyer 4th ed. / Jack L. B. Gohn, Esq. (MSBA, 2012) – §2- Chapter 8: “Challenges to Agency Action”.
Principles and Practice of Maryland Administrative Law / Arnold Rochvarg, M. (Carolina Academic Press, 2011)
Pleading Causes of Action in Maryland 5th ed. / Paul Mark Sandler & James K. Archibald (MSBA, 2013)
Appellate Practice for the Maryland Lawyer: State and Federal 3rd ed. / Paul Mark Sandler & Andrew D. Levy, eds. (MICPEL, 2007) – Chapter 22: “Appeals From Administrative Agencies” by Honorable Paul W. Grimm & Robert B. Levin
Judicial Review of Agency Decisions / Alan M. Wilner, (MICPEL, 1997)
AACPLL Blog: Law Library News 