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lawlibrary Libraries Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

Brian Lyman
Brian Lyman

On Wednesday, March 18, 2015, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you Brian Lyman of Hillman, Brown & Darrow, P.A., 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 real estate, garnishment, and consumer debt. The next program date is Wednesday, March 25, 2015.

This Wednesday is the third Wednesday of the month and that means that the program is also held in the evening at the Glen Burnie Regional Library of the Anne Arundel Public Library.  Today 17 people participated in the program and three attorneys were available to answer questions on such topics as debt, wills, landlord and tenant, construction disputes, mortgages and debt.

Alan Forman, Kurt Roper, and Nathan Volke
Alan Forman, Kurt Roper, and Nathan Volke

We appreciate the time of the three attorneys who volunteered:  Kurt Roper of Staiti and DiBlasio, and Nathan Volke of the Law Office of Marla Zide, and Alan Forman.  The Glen Burnie program is held monthly, on the third Wednesday,  August through May. The next date for Glen Burnie will be April 15, 2015.

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

2015 AALL Local Advocate Lobby Day

Tomorrow is the American Association of Law Libraries’ third annual Local Advocate Lobby Day. Held in Washington, D.C., Local Advocate Lobby Day participants will head to Capitol Hill to meet with his or her members of Congress (or their staff) in order to communicate and promote discourse on the issues facing law libraries today. For those law librarians who would like to participate but cannot make the trip to Washington, D.C., the AALL has also organized virtual events. For more information, check out the AALL’s Washington Blawg’s coverage of the event. The Washington Blawg is the blog of the AALL’s Governmental Relations Office.

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

www.circuitcourt.org

Did you know that the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County has a website? You can access the website at www.circuitcourt.org. The Circuit Court’s website provides a wealth of information and referrals.

Is the courthouse closed? How do I get to the courthouse? Where can I park? If you are wondering about these and related questions, check out the links available under the website’s “About” section. Here’s a small sample.

Which courtroom should I be in? Check the daily docket. However, parties should verify this information on the day of the court proceeding by viewing the docket monitors physically located in the courthouse.

How do I find an official court interpreter? How do I obtain a transcript? Can I appear in court by telephone? If you are wondering about these and other “How Do I” questions, check out the links available under the website’s “How do I” section.

I have jury duty. What do I do? Check out the website’s section for Jurors at http://www.circuitcourt.org/for-jurors.

I need legal help. Who can help me? Where can I find more information? Check out the website’s “Legal Help” section at http://www.circuitcourt.org/legal-help for links and information about Civil Case Management, Family Law Self Help Center, Forms, the Law Library, the Ask a Lawyer in the Library program and other legal links. The website’s “Learn About…” section also provides more information on topics such as Civil Cases, Drug Court, and Family Law.

This post provides only a quick guide to the Circuit Court’s website. For more detailed information, check out the Circuit Court’s website, or you can always contact us!

Categories
lawlibrary Legal Technology

Looking for information about your case?

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search website provides the public with online access to the Maryland Judiciary’s case records. Available information includes party names, city and state, case number, date of brith, trial date, charge and case disposition for District Court traffic, criminal and civil case records as well as Circuit Court criminal and civil case records. Maryland Rules 16-1001 through 16-1011 govern the public’s access to these records.

Here are some frequently asked questions we receive at the Law Library regarding Case Search.

  1. Can I access case search from home? Yes! The website address is http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/inquiry-index.jsp. You can also access links to Case Search from the Circuit Court’s website (www.circuitcourt.org) or the Maryland Courts website (www.mdcourts.gov).
  2. Can I access Case Search at the courthouse? Yes! The Law Library has public access computers that you can use to access Case Search.
  3. Is this official information? No, Case Search does not provide the official case record. It is simply a brief summary of the case record.
  4. What if want additional case information or the official case record? You will need to ask the court either in person at the courthouse or in writing. The clerk’s office does not accept telephone requests.
  5. I need help understanding what the abbreviations mean. You can find information about event codes and descriptions here. Criminal event codes and descriptions are available here. Traffic event codes and descriptions are available here. Civil event codes and descriptions are available here.
  6. Why can’t I find my case information? Not all case records will be made available on Case Search. For example, certain cases are protected by the Maryland Rules, such as juvenile cases, adoptions and sealed cases. In addition, landlord/tenant and marriage license records are not available on Case Search. There are also differences in how far back in history the case records will go. For the District Court, criminal case records accessible via Case Search date back to late 1991, and civil case records date back to 1989. For the Circuit Court, it will vary by courthouse. A list of specific date ranges is available here.
  7. Where can I search for Circuit Court Judgments and Liens? Once you have accepted the terms and conditions for Case Search, click on the “Search for Circuit Court Judgments and Liens”  link at the top of the page. Note that federal and state liens may not always be available.
  8. Where can I find information about an estate? Check out Estate Search, which is available at http://registers.maryland.gov/main/search1.html.
  9. Where can I find land records or copies of deeds? Check out MdLandRec.net. You will need to register to use this site, and there may be a time delay due to this registration process.

If you have additional questions about Case Search, check out the FAQ page available at http://mdcourts.gov/casesearch2/faq.html.

 

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Recognizing Anne Arundel County Pro Bono Volunteers!

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The Law Library hosted the Annual Pro Bono Recognition Lunch on Tuesday, February 24, 2014. Sponsored by the Law Library, the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service (MVLS), the event recognizes and celebrates the attorneys, facilitators and other professionals who provide pro bono service in Anne Arundel County through the Ask a Lawyer in the Library programs held at the Law Library and the Glen Burnie Regional Library as well as the annual Anne Arundel County Homeless Resource Day. Thank you to all of the volunteers for their pro bono service and the Anne Arundel Local Pro Bono Committee for its leadership in providing pro bono service to Anne Arundel County!

 You can see photos from past luncheons on our blog.

 If you are interested in pro bono service, check out this page or contact us!

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

Valadez
Thank you Mike Valadez!

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, March 11, 2015, 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. Five people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as property, estates, deeds and guardianship. The next program date is Wednesday, March 18, 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 lawlibrary Pro Bono

Looking for Attorney Volunteers for Homeless Resource Day!

The 8th Annual Anne Arundel County Homeless Resource Day will be held on March 28, 2015 at Annapolis High School from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Volunteer attorneys are among the many service providers available on this day to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness. During this “one-day, one-stop” program, volunteer attorneys provide limited legal advice on a wide range of topics, including expungement (the most asked about issue), family law, benefits, debt, housing and foreclosure. Homeless Resource Day provides individuals and families experiencing homelessness with invaluable services and benefits that can assist them on the path to housing and self-sufficiency.

Volunteers are needed throughout the day, which is divided into two shifts. The morning shift is from 8:30am to 12:30pm, and the afternoon shift is from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Volunteers can sign up for one or both shifts or specify a different time-range that works best for the attorney. Based on past experience, the morning hours are the busiest hours. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here or contact us!

HPRP (Homeless Persons Representation Project) will provide attorney volunteers with a lunchtime training on expungement prior to Homeless Resource Day on March 19, 2015 at the Law Library.

For more information about Homeless Resource Day, check out this sites.

Categories
lawlibrary Legal Technology

Legal Research in the Blogosphere – Copyright

Legal research can be challenging, even for experienced attorneys; however, there are many resources available to assist both attorneys and non-attorneys with their legal research needs.  The Legal Research in the Blogosphere series will share blog posts and online sites that legal researchers may find useful.

Copyright issues are hot topics in the legal and library worlds. Rachel Englander, one of the Communications Chairs for the Law Library Association of Maryland (LLAM)  is writing an ongoing series of blog posts for the LLAM blog dealing with copyrights. Check out her posts, which discuss copyright generally, licensing rights, and Digital Rights Management (DRM).

Categories
lawlibrary Maryland Law UELMA

UELMA Update

An interior view of the State House dome.

Today, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will have a hearing on the Maryland Uniform Legal Materials Act (UELMA, “yoo-el-mah”). This proposed law would require legal materials that are only published in electronic form to be designated as “official”. The law would then require “official” materials to be capable of authentication, preserved, and permanently accessible to the public.

Why is UELMA so important? Many state governments have moved to online only publication of legal information. Consumers of this information, which include students, attorneys, legislators, and librarians are increasingly accessing this information online. It is critical that there is a way for everyone to know that the electronic information is accurate. UELMA provides Maryland’s citizens with this assurance and ensures that the law in the digital age will be accessible, authenticated, and preserved.

For more background information, check out our blog post from January here. If you have any questions about UELMA or navigating the Maryland General Assembly’s website, please contact us at the Law Library!

*The Maryland Uniform Legal Materials Act, sponsored by Delegates Vitale, Ghrist, Glass, McComas, McConkey, McMillan, Metzgar, Saab, and B. Wilson, was introduced to the House of Delegates and first read on January 28, 2015.* The proposed act, sponsored by Senator Astle, was introduced to the Senate on February 6, 2015. The text of Senate Bill 611 is available here, and the text of House Bill 162 is available here. For those of you interested in tracking the progress of the proposed act through the Maryland General Assembly, check out these summary pages here and here.

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lawlibrary Library Legislative Day Pro Bono Self Represented

Maryland Library Legislative Day Recap

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On February 18, 2015, the Law Library participated in Maryland Library Legislative Day! Librarians and library supporters from across the state convened in Annapolis to support and advocate for Maryland public libraries. The day got off to an early start with a continental breakfast provided by the Law Library Association of Maryland (LLAM). During breakfast, the Legislative Panel of the Maryland Library Association (MLA) briefed the participating librarians and library supporters on talking points and the key issues to keep in mind as librarians and library supporters met with legislators and other officials.

After breakfast, participants headed to the State House for the Senate presentation and the House presented. John Venditta, MLA President, and Irene Padilla, State Librarian, presented on the House Floor. John Venditta and Irene Padilla, along with Jay Bansbach from Maryland State Department of Education School Libraries/Maryland Association of School Librarians and Jim Rettig from the Congress of American Library Directors of Maryland presented on the Senate Floor. At the conclusion of the presentations, participants made delegation visits. That evening, participants took part in the Legislative Reception in the President’s Reception Room in the Senate Office Building.

Why do we support and advocate for Maryland public libraries? Over 58% 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 resources and legal information as well as host legal aid programs such as our Ask A Lawyer in the Library Program.

Save the date for the 2015 AALL Lobby Day, organized by the American Association of Law Libraries, on March 18, 2015 and National Library Legislative Day (NLLD), organized by the American Library Association, on May 4, 2015 and May 5, 2015. Both national events are in Washington, D.C., and aim to champion funding for libraries and raise awareness of library-related issues. Participants will include library supporters, leaders, and patrons who gather to meet with their respective members of Congress. If you are unable to make the trip to Washington, D.C., do not fret, virtual events are also available!