Organized and sponsored by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Services, this year’s National Pro Bono Week Celebration is October 25th through October 31st! The Law Library is excited to once again participate in National Pro Bono Week, which recognizes and promotes pro bono at both the national and local levels.
The Law Library’s promotion of pro bono and public services is ongoing. Here’s a brief overview of the ongoing programs and clinics at the Law Library that provide FREE legal services to the public!
Last week, on October 14, 2015, the Law Library hosted its fourth monthly Foreclosure Clinic! Thank you Susan Mays, Diane Wessel, Lonni Summers and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) for providing this much-needed service to Maryland’s self-represented litigants. Two people met with Susan and Diane to discuss their ongoing foreclosure matters. In addition, the Law Library assisted two people who arrived before the clinic began and who could not stay to attend the program. For those two participants, the Law Library provided referrals to the Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Project (see information below) and access to online materials.
The next clinic date is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Individuals are served on a first-come, first-served basis, and these consultations are usually twenty minutes.Please sign up, in-person, at the Law Library’s service desk on November 18, 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 November 18, 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. To speak with an attorney, you can CALL THE HELPLINE at (443) 808-0076 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30am-12:00pm and 2:00pm-4:00pm. You can also WALK-IN on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00am-4:30pm (no new intake after 4:00pm) at the Office of Administrative Hearings, Administrative Law Building, 11101 Gilroy Rd, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031. For more information, check out our blog post.
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.
As a public law library, the Law Library serves a wide range of communities, including self-represented litigants. In addition to providing self-represented litigants with reference, instruction, and referral services, the Law Library coordinates and hosts programs that provide limited legal advice and assistance for civil matters through a partnership with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service.
Last week was a busy week for the Law Library as we hosted four programs/clinics, all of which were open to the public. Here’s a recap!
Brian Lyman
Ask a Lawyer in the Library (Law Library) Next Program Date/Time: Wednesday, September 23, 2015 from 11am-1pm (sign-up via lottery is at 10:45am)
On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask a Lawyer in the Library program. Brian Lyman from Hillman Brown & Darrow, P.A., served as our volunteer attorney and met with six people. Brian assisted the program participants on issues such as bankruptcy, landlord/tenant matters, contracts, peace orders, procedure (motion for summary judgment), and benefits. If you’re interested in learning more about our weekly Lawyer in the Library program, check out our past blog posts here!
Lonni Summers
Free Legal Advice about Foreclosure Next Program Dates/Time: Wednesday, October 14, 2015, 1pm-3pm (sign-up is first-come, first-served)
On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the Law Library hosted its third Foreclosure Clinic! We are happy to announce that this will be an ongoing monthly program at the Law Library! Specific dates will vary, but the Law Library will host the clinic once a month. Upcoming dates are Wednesday, October 14, 2015, Wednesday, November 18, 2015 and Wednesday, December 16, 2015.
Thank you Fani Kartartziz, who provided consultations to three program participants and Lonni Summers of the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, who coordinated the program. Fani answered questions about foreclosure and provided information and advice about foreclosure-related court papers and documents. To learn more about this foreclosure clinic and other foreclosure resources, check out our past blog posts here.
Alan Forman
Ask a Lawyer in the Library (Glen Burnie Regional Library) Next Program Date/Time: Wednesday, October 21, 2015, 4:30-6:30pm (sign-up via lottery is at 4:15pm)
On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the Law Library coordinated another successful Ask a Lawyer in the Library program at the Glen Burnie Regional Library. This monthly program is held every third Wednesday of the month. Joan Bellistri provided on-site program coordination and administration. Our volunteer attorneys, Mary Albrecht-Jordan (The Law Office of Mary A Jordan), Andrew DiBlasio (Staiti & DiBlasio), Alan Forman (Forman Clothier Law Group), and Jenna Forman-Clothier (Forman Clothier Law Group) provided nine people with limited legal advice and assistance on issues such as income tax, wills, loan modifications, immigration, and property. This was Jenna Forman-Clothier’s first volunteer experience with the Lawyer in the Library program, and we are very excited to add her to our roster of volunteers!
Wayne Clark
Personal Bankruptcy Clinic Next Program Date/Time: Check out this schedule for future clinic dates in Baltimore.
On Thursday, September 17, 2015, the Law Library hosted a bankruptcy seminar, coordinated by Lonni Summers of the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. Wayne Clark, an experienced bankruptcy attorney, led the seminar. Wayne presented a class on bankruptcy, which included demonstrations on how to fill out bankruptcy forms. In addition, Wayne answered questions and reviewed the bankruptcy forms for the clinic’s attendees!
Thank you to all our volunteers for providing these valuable services to the public!
To learn more about the programs available at the Law Library or to volunteer, please contact us! Training opportunities are available for attorneys interested in volunteering!
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service will hold a free legal advice clinic for foreclosure next week!
When? Wednesday, September 16, 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.
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service will hold a bankruptcy seminar, led by an experienced bankruptcy attorney, at the Law Library! The attorney will present a class on bankruptcy, including demonstrations on how to fill out the necessary bankruptcy forms. In addition, the bankruptcy attorney will review the forms that you complete at the seminar.
When? Thursday, September 17, 2015 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 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, you must pre-register!
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.
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.
Last week, the Law Library hosted its first Foreclosure Clinic. One person was able to talk to an attorney about her foreclosure matter, including asking general questions about foreclosure and receiving information and advice about court papers and documents that she had received about her foreclosure. Thank you, Lonni Kyhos Summer, Phil Dales 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 August 12, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Individuals are served on a first-come, first-served basis. Consultations are usually last twenty minutes. Please sign up, in-person, at the Law Library’s main service desk on August 12, 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 August 12, 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.
Print copies of the article are available in the Law Library!
Law libraries provide essential services to self-represented litigants. To highlight the work that law libraries do to promote access to justice as well as available opportunities to expand services, your friendly Law Library Intern and Law Library Director, together with Sara Galligan of the Ramsey County Law Library, authored an article for the 2015 edition of Trends in State Courts. Published by the National Center for State Courts, Trends in State Courts is an annual, peer-reviewed publication targeted to the state court community to showcase court innovations, initiatives, policies and programs.
The 2015 Edition of Trends in State Courts is available in print and electronic format. Check out our article on page 77! Print copies of the article are available in the Law Library.
If you are interested in learning more about how law libraries can service self-represented litigants and promote access to justice, please contact us!
Here are some of the volunteers from last year’s Homeless Resource Day!
Attorney volunteers are still needed for the 8th Annual Anne Arundel County Homeless Resource Day, which will be held this Saturday, 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, 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!
For more information about Homeless Resource Day, check out this sites.
Organized and sponsored by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Services, this year’s National Pro Bono Week Celebration is October 25th through October 31st! The Law Library is excited to once again participate in National Pro Bono Week, which recognizes and promotes pro bono at both the national and local levels.
AACPLL Blog: Law Library News 