Tag: lawlibrary

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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.

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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).

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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!

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

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Thank you Joe Gormley!

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, February 25, 2015,  the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program.  Thank you, Joe Gormley from Gormley Jarashow Bowman,  for volunteering and providing this service to the public. Seven people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as disability payments, unauthorized use of checks, bank liens, property liens, judgment collection and car titles.  The next program date is Wednesday, March 4, 2015.

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 read up on 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

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up


Turtle 7The 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, February 18, 2015, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you Michael Darrow from 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 foreclosure, unemployment, evidence and taxes. The next program date is Wednesday, February 25, 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.
 
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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Project

The Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Project is a free clinic open to homeowners facing foreclosure without legal representation. Launched in August 2014 by the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and Civil Justice, Inc., this walk-in clinic is staffed by attorneys in order to answer homeowners’ questions about foreclosure mediation, provide legal advice regarding foreclosure, and assist with understanding your foreclosure-related court documents.

What is foreclosure? Foreclosure is the legal process that the lender starts with the courts when you have not made your mortgage payments, and the lender wants to force the sale of the house to recover the balance of the mortgage.

What is foreclosure mediation? Foreclosure mediation is a confidential conversation between the homeowner and the lender with a mediator where the homeowner and lender can discuss the current mortgage and foreclosure situation. This mediation can be an opportunity for the homeowner to learn about available resources for their particular situation. In order for the homeowner to have the right to request a mediation, the homeowner must have been served an Order to Docket and a Final Loss Mitigation Affidavit by the lender. Please note that the clinic’s attorney cannot attend the mediation with you. More detailed information about the foreclosure process and foreclosure mediation  is available at the Maryland People’s Law Library at http://www.peoples-law.org/foreclosure-mediation.

The clinic is located at 11101 Gilroy Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21031 at the Office of Administrative Hearings (Administrative Law Building). Hours of operation are Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (new intakes are not accepted after 4:00 p.m.). The clinic is first-come, first-serve. Homeowners in any part of the foreclosure process are welcome at the clinic and do not need to make an appointment. If you have any questions regarding how to access these great resources, please contact the Law Library!

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer in the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

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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, February 11, 2015, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you, Chris Boucher, 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 wills, trusts, employment discrimination, landlord/tenant and debt issues. The next program date is Wednesday, February 18, 2015.

The Ask A Lawyer In The Library program is also hosted by the Anne Arundel County Public Library, Glen Burnie Regional Library, on every third Wednesday of the month, August through May, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Sign-up is at 4:15 p.m., and time slots are determined by lottery.  The Glen Burnie Regional Library is located at 1010 Eastway, Glen Burnie, Maryland 21060.  Their main telephone number is (410) 222 – 6270.

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 Legal Technology

Legal Research in the Blogosphere – SCOTUSblog

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.

Scotusblog was founded in 2002 by the wife and husband team of Amy Howe and Tom Goldstein. Currently, the blog has over twenty writers who publish posts on issues closely related to the Supreme Court, such as posts on every merits case before the Supreme Court (prior to argument, after argument and after decision). This can be a great resource for those legal researchers interested in following the Supreme Court’s current events.

For non-attorney readers, the blog publishes “Plain English” posts where cases are drafted in plain language. The blog also includes an introduction to Supreme Court procedure, a glossary of legal terms, and biographies of the Supreme Court Justices. For visual learners, the blog has a multimedia library with videos of interviews with the Supreme Court Justices, news footage, presentations, and other resources. You can read about the blog’s vision here.

Please note that the blog is not the official website for the Supreme Court. The official Supreme Court website is available at http://www.supremecourt.gov/default.aspx.  On the Supreme Court’s website you will also find a wealth of information, including biographies of the Supreme Court Justices, opinions, calendars for oral arguments, Court Rules, and guidance for attorneys. If you are interested in learning more about the Supreme Court and Supreme Court practice, please stop by the Law Library.

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lawlibrary

Practice of Law – Legal Writing Tips

photo 3 (2)Each month, the AACPLL Blog will publish a post with helpful legal research tips.  If you would like more information about any of the tips referenced in this post or series, please feel free to contact the Law Library!

Effective writing skills are a must for any attorney, whether your practice is big or small, transactional or litigation. Bryan A. Garner, perhaps best known as the editor-in-chief of Black’s Law Dictionary, published an article with the ABA Journal with ten tips to improve your legal writing. Embedded in these legal writing tips are helpful legal research tips such as understanding the client’s problem (Tip #1) and not relying exclusively on computer research (Tip #2). My favorite tip is to proofread one more time than you think necessary (Tip #10).  Mr. Garner suggests a dramatic, out loud reading as a proofreading technique, which I did for this blog post (although my dramatic reading was conducted in a whisper as I am working at the law library). Check out all ten tips at  http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/10_tips_for_better_legal_writing!

If you are interested in learning more about improving your legal writing, these resources are available at the Law Library!