Categories
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!

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, 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.
 
Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

admin-ajaxThe 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 4, 2015, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you, Mike Ragland and Jack Paltell, from Bell, Ragland, Gauges & Paltell, 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 severance packages, foreclosure, garnishment, car titles, bankruptcy and unemployment. The next program date is Wednesday, February 11, 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 Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

photo 1
Thank you Kemp!

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, January 28, 2015,  the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program.  Thank you, Kemp Hammond from Baldwin, Kagan & Gormley, 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 unemployment, mortgages, requesting injunctions and civil procedure.  The next program date is Wednesday, February 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.
 
Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

AACPLL Self Help and Pro Bono Wiki

Untitled drawing (7)
Here is a screen shot of the main page of the wiki.

In 2009, in response to the growing number of self-represented litigants in Anne Arundel County, the Law Library and the Pro Bono Committee of the Anne Arundel Bar Association collaborated to develop a wiki that serves as a guide to pro bono and self-help resources and referrals.  The wiki facilitates the sharing of information for the administration and development of pro bono projects in Anne Arundel County by providing those in need of services and service providers with helpful resources. One of the many resources available on the wiki site is a directory of pro bono and reduced fee civil legal services.  In addition, you can find family law resources, resources for unaccompanied homeless youth, and legal self-help centers.

Check out the wiki at aacpll.pbworks.com!

Categories
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, January 21, 2015, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program. Thank you, Crighton Chase of 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 garnishment, foreclosure, estates, power of attorney and torts. The next program date is Wednesday, January 28, 2015.

Do you have a family law matter?  Family law issues are best addressed by the Family Law Self Help Center, which is also located in the library.  For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/family-law.

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 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, January 14, 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. Seven people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as administrative appeals, bankruptcy, property, leasing, mortgage fraud and estates. The next program date is Wednesday, January 21, 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 Pro Bono Self Represented

2014 – Year in Review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt:  A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,500 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 42 trips to carry that many people. Click here to see the entire report.

2014 was a transitional year for this blog as we moved towards a more regular posting schedule and introduced several ongoing series, including the weekly Ask a Lawyer in the Library Wednesday Wrap-Up series and the monthly Legal Research in the Blogosphere series.  We also debuted three short-term series, including our National Pro Bono Week series, New Laws series, and the Online Databases in the Limelight series, all of which will return to the blog in 2015.

This year, expect to see 3+ new posts each and every week.  We will focus on the library (e.g.,  news, resources, events), legal research (for both experienced and inexperienced researchers), access to legal information and pro bono legal service.  In addition, we will be introducing several new series to the blog, such as our Practice of Law series and Legal Research 101 series.  We are looking forward to growing and refining this blog and hope you stay tuned. We are always open to comments and suggestions. Please comment below to let us know how we can improve our blog!

Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

admin-ajax
Thank you Mike Ragland (l)  and Jack Paltell (r)!

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, January 7, 2015,  the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program.  Thank you, Mike Ragland and Jack Paltell, from Bell, Ragland, Gauges & Paltell, 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 employment termination, foreclosure, property, wills and trusts.  The next program date is Wednesday, January 14, 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.
 
Categories
lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

The Ask a Lawyer in the Library Program is cancelled today.

The Ask a Lawyer in the Library Program is cancelled today.  The program will restart on Wednesday, January 7, 2015.