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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask A Lawyer In The Library: Wednesday Wrap-Up

LIL Photo
Time slots are determined by a lottery!

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, October 15, 2014, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program.  Thank you, Cliff O’Connor and Nickola Sybblis, 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 dealing with a writ of summons, landlord/tenant issues and debt issues.  The next program date is Wednesday, October 22, 2014.

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.
 
 
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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Upcoming Pro Bono Events!

GENERIC_CELEBRATION_LOGO_3(1)The 2014 National Pro Bono Celebration this year is October 19th through October 25th. The Law Library is excited to once again be a Celebration Supporter! In honor of the National Pro Bono Celebration, this blog will be featuring posts focusing on pro bono and other free legal services for the entire month of October.  

Here is a very small sampling of some upcoming events in Maryland!

Monday, October 20th:  CLS Family Law Clinic for the Self Represented at the Prince George’s County Courthouse. More information about this clinic as well as other ongoing programs is available at http://www.clspgc.org/WhatWeDo/ProgramsClinics.

Tuesday, October 21st:  Pro Bono Connection at the University of Baltimore School of Law.  The event will provide free expungement training from 2:00 to 5:00 and a Pro Bono Fair and Reception, 5:00 – 7:00, connecting law students and lawyers with pro bono opportunities (includes lite fare, beer and wine). For more information, contact kpierre@probonomd.org.

Wednesday October 22nd:  Ask a Lawyer in the Law Library Program at the Anne Arundel County Public Law Library from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Information about the Ask a Lawyer in the Law Library program is available at http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library.  Also, check out our blog posts about this program.

Thursday October 23rd:  Pro Bono Family Mediation Project Clinic at the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.  For more information about the clinic, which is a joint venture among the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, the University of Balitmore School of Law and the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, see http://probonomd.org/about-us/about-family-mediation/ and/or contact Annie Brinkmann at abrinkmann@probonomd.org.

Friday October 24th:

  • Annual Conference and Career Fair sponsored by Equal Justice Works at the Bethesda North Marriott.  More information about the event, which connects law students and public interest employers, is available at http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/law-school/conference-and-careerfair.
  • Mid-Shore Pro Bono and Legal Logs is hosting a Lunch and Learn which will include updates to the MSPB Judicare and Collaborative Law programs, and a demonstration of Legal Logs.  The luncheon will be held on Friday, October 24,11:30 am – 1:30 pm, at the Washington Street Pub, 20 N. Washington Street, in Easton. RSVP megan@midshoreprobono.org or 410-690-812

Saturday October 25th:  Naturalization Clinic at the Esperanza Center Immigration Legal Services (Baltimore, Maryland).  For more information, please see http://www.catholiccharities-md.org/immigrants/immigration-legal-services/immigration-legal-services.html and/or contact Ouranitsa Abbas at oabbas@cc-md.org.

This is only a small sampling of the available services and opportunities to volunteer.  More Maryland events are available at http://www.probono.net/celebrateprobono/events/location.2014-10-01.Maryland. Information about nationwide events is available at http://www.probono.net/celebrateprobono/events/.

 

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Pro Bono at the Library – Ask A Lawyer In The Library

The 2014 National Pro Bono Celebration this year is October 19th through October 25th. The Law Library is excited to once again be a Celebration Supporter! In honor of the National Pro Bono Celebration, this blog will be featuring posts focusing on pro bono and other free legal services for the entire month of October.  

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.

To date, 121 attorneys have contributed over one thousand hours to meet with over two thousand clients.  Our statistics for recent years are as follows:  in 2013, volunteer attorneys contributed 229 hours to meet with 400 clients;  in 2012, volunteer attorneys contributed 205 hours to meet with 445 clients; and in 2011, volunteer attorneys contributed over 201 hours to meet with 479 clients.  The Law Library would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the volunteer attorneys!  If you are an attorney interested in volunteering with this program, please contact us.  For more information, please see http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library, or you can check out our past blog posts about the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program!

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Spotlight on the Family Law Self Help Center

FLSHC
Follow the signs to the Family Law Self-Help Center when you enter the Law Library.
The 2014 National Pro Bono Celebration this year is October 19th through October 25th. The Law Library is excited to once again be a Celebration Supporter! In honor of the National Pro Bono Celebration, this blog will be featuring posts focusing on pro bono and other free legal services for the entire month of October.  
 

Located in the back of the Law Library, the Family Law Self Help Center (FLSHC) assists unrepresented litigants in certain family law matters, such as divorce, child custody/visitation, child support and name changes. Below is a list of questions commonly asked at the Law Library’s Information Desk about the FLSHC.

1.  Who works at the FLSHC? Is the FLSHC part of the Law Library? The FLSHC is staffed entirely by the Annapolis office of the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau. Although the FLSHC is housed in the Law Library, it is a separate entity from the Law Library. Information about the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau is available at http://www.mdlab.org/.

2.  What are the self-help center’s hours? The FLSHC is open Monday through Friday. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the FLSHC’s hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Tuesdays and Fridays, the FLSHC’s hours are 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

3.  Do I need to sign-in? Yes, the FLSHC provides assistance on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a sign-in desk at the FLSHC. The sign-in desk is NOT located at the Law Library’s Information Desk.

4.  Is assistance available in-person only? No, you can always call the Family Law Self Help Center at (410) 280-5374, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Also, you can call the Family Law Hotline at 1-800-845-8550. The Family Law Hotline is a statewide, free service, staffed by attorneys, that can provide service for basic family law questions.

5.  I made an error on a form provided to me by the FLSHC.  Can I get a new copy online? Some of the forms provided by the FLSHC are available online. You can check the Maryland Courts Website’s Family Law Forms Index,  Law Help Interactive and the Department of Family Administration’s Family Forms Finder. If you are in the courthouse, stop by the Law Library. We may be able to assist you in locating the desired form.

6.  Do I need to pay the FLSHC? No, the FLSHC is funded through a grant from the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. You do not pay the attorneys and paralegals for their assistance.

7.  Can I make copies? Can I type things up on the computer? Can I print something I prepared at home? There are two copy machines available for public use in the Law Library (copies are 25¢ each), and computers are available for use in the Law Library’s computer room. You can print from the computer room (25¢ per page after the first 5 pages, which are free). The Law Library can help you with the copy machines and computers. Come find us at the Information Desk.

Did you know that SASI-Calc, the Child Support and Alimony Calculator is available in the Law Library? If you would like to use SASI-Calc, it is available on select computers in the Law Library’s computer room. If you have any questions, come find us at the Information Desk or contact us!

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lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

Ask a Lawyer In the Library: Wednesday Wrap-up

LIL
Thank you, Richard Ronay!

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, October 8, 2014, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program.  Thank you, Richard Ronay,  for volunteering and providing this service to the public. Four people took part in the program and were able to speak with the attorney to request assistance with issues such as landlord/tenant, real estate, foreclosure and expungement.  The next program date is Wednesday, October 15, 2014.

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.

Are you an attorney interested in volunteering with the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program?  If so, you must be admitted to the Maryland Bar and be in good standing on the Client Security Trust Fund list.  Interested attorneys should contact the law library.

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

October is Pro Bono Month!

20141003_090150
You can find Pro Bono Chocolates, specially wrapped by Joan Bellistri, in the Law Library!

The 2014 National Pro Bono Celebration this year is October 19th through October 25th. This annual celebration of pro bono is organized and sponsored by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono to recognize and promote pro bono at the national level, but with a focus on local needs and local projects.  The Law Library is excited to once again be a Celebration Supporter!

In honor of the National Pro Bono Celebration, this blog will be featuring posts focusing on pro bono service for the entire month of October.  Stay tuned as we will highlight ongoing pro bono services and programs available at the Law Library, such as the Ask A Lawyer In The Library Program, as well as opportunities to get involved, such as the Anne Arundel Pro Bono Challenge.  For more information about the National Pro Bono Celebration, including background, events, resources and news, please visit http://www.probono.net/celebrateprobono/.

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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, October 1, 2014, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program.  Thank you, Mike Ragland and Jack Paltell, for volunteering and providing this service to the public.  Three people took part in the program and were able to speak with an attorney to request assistance with issues such as consumer debt, foreclosure and obtaining a car title.  The next program date is Wednesday, October 8, 2014.  

Are you an attorney interested in volunteering with the Ask A Lawyer In The Library program?  If so, you must be admitted to the Maryland Bar and be in good standing on the Client Security Trust Fund list.  Interested attorneys should contact the law library.

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

LIL Photo
Here is the Law Library’s Sign-Up Lottery Basket.

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, September 24, 2014, the Law Library hosted another successful Ask A Lawyer In The Library program.  Thank you, Baldwin, Kagan & Gormley, 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 such as home foreclosure, insurance liability, worker’s compensation and tax liens.  The next program date is Wednesday, October 1, 2014.

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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EJC2014 lawlibrary Pro Bono Self Represented

SRLN Pre-Conference at EJC 2014: Report of the SCCLL Incoming Chair

Maryruth Storer, the incoming chair of the  State Court and County Law Library Special Interest Section of the American Association of  Law Libraries, wrote an excellent account of the Self Represented Litigation Network (SRLN) pre-conference at the Equal Justice Conference.

Her article, A Newbie at the Equal Justice Conference, was published in the SCCLL News (Vol. 40, #2, Summer 2014) on page 10.

 

 

 

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lawlibrary

Newly Cataloged Materials-National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)

Recently, the Law Library cataloged a new set of valuable resources from the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC). The Center is described as the “nation’s consumer law expert,” assisting the general public, attorneys, advocates and public policy makers. Books that have been cataloged include Fair Credit Reporting, 8th Edition, Repossessions 8th Edition, Consumer Law Pleadings Website and Index Guide 2013, and Consumer Law on the Web December 2013.

In addition, to print resources NCLC comes with a companion website that patrons have access to. Also, NCLC website has free webinars, information on NCLC legal assistance programs, consulting services for attorneys and legislation/rulemakings on consumer topics.

Check out the website here: National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)

By: Julie Shenk, Law Library Intern

NCLC