E-bulletin 4.3.2019

Cases from Montgomery County Bar Foundation (MCBF)

Cases from Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

Cases from Catholic Charities Esperanza Center*

Sign up for the new Tax Hotline this April (MVLS)
Want to help recently furloughed federal employees, contractors,or low-income taxpayers? You can provide these taxpayers with brief advice and reputable resources from the comfort of your home or office! You will receive a resource guide to help answer questions. MVLS has partnered with the Comptroller of Maryland and the Taxation Section of the MSBA to establish this new Tax Hotline Service. Hotline volunteers will be entered into a drawing for 2 free tickets (an $80 value), to the MSBA Tax Section’s Annual Irving Shulbank Memorial Dinner & Program, May 22 at The Center Club. One entry per shift.
Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf69vHPsFi5AykAsbgMbdwlu73j1B3DJLQWrfdP8bqzWI_HEw/viewform or contact Janice Shih at jshih@mvlslaw.org

Volunteers needed for the 28^th Annual Law Day for Seniors
Senior Legal Services is hosting our 28^th Annual Law Day for Seniors on April 13^th at New Psalmist Baptist Church (6020 Marian Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215) from 8:00 am to 2:30 am. Law Day provides some 300 seniors with presentations on legal issues important to the senior community and access to vendors who provide needed resources. We need volunteers to help make the event a success!
Call 410-396-1322 for information.
 

Join the panel of Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS)
(Statewide)
MVLS offers mentorship, malpractice insurance, and trainings. Take on a full representation case, provide help through a legal clinic, or accept a reduced fee family law case through Judicare. Learn new areas of law, meet leaders in the field, and gain valuable courtroom experience while making a difference. MVLS clients need the legal help you can provide to win their struggles against instability and poverty.
Find out more and sign up today at http://mvlslaw.org/apply-volunteer-lawyer/.

Volunteer Attorneys Needed for Social Security Disability Benefits Hearings 
(Online video hearings)
Eric Conn pleaded guilty to engaging in a fraudulent scheme with ALJ Daugherty to approve  several thousand applications for Social Security Disability benefits. As a result, all the affected individuals were/are being noticed for hearings to review their disability status. In the first round (Appalred, NOSSCR, and various other helpers) recruited 153 volunteer attorneys around the country to help these claimants with their hearings. The hearings were conducted by video. The SSA has announced that there will be about 2000  more in Round 2. There are Training Videos on the Appalred website, www.ardfky.org (Legal Information and social Security tabs) The next round of hearings, currently slated to start in July and August, and to continue on probably throughout the next year or so.
You can contact Appalred’s Pro Bono Coordinator, Mary Going, directly by calling 606-886-3876 Ext. 1315, or by email, maryg@ardfky.org or contact John Rosenberg by phone at (606) 886-8851 (preferred)

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) In-Person or Telephonic Volunteer Spanish-English Interpreter/Translator
(Statewide)
KIND’s Baltimore field office is seeking volunteer bilingual Spanish/English interpreters and translators to assist pro bono attorneys in providing legal representation to unaccompanied children. 
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Leslie Espino at infobaltimore@supportkind.org.  

Stay Ever Current with PLI’s Upcoming Programs
(Statewide)
Practising Law Institute is pleased to send you our Pro Bono Calendar of Events to provide you with early notice about upcoming programs developed specifically to assist lawyers engaged in pro bono, public interest, and legal services activities. To register, please click on the program title below. In addition to our upcoming Live Programs and simultaneous Webcasts, PLI has a vast library of On-Demand programs on pro bono topics. To view our online programming, please visit www.pli.edu/ProBono. For specific information about our online immigration programs, visit www.pli.edu/immigration. Scholarships are available to qualified individuals who want to attend or view programs that have a fee associated with them.

Wicomico Expungement Cyber Clinic (MVLS)
April 10 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
MVLS Office, 201 N. Charles Street, Suite 1400, Baltimore
Volunteer attorneys connect remotely with expungement clients in Wicomico at the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service office.
Register online at https://mvlslaw.org/cyber-clinic/

Maryland Juvenile Lifer Parole Representation Project (MJLPRP) seeks Pro Bono Attorneys
(Statewide)
MJLPRP is a working group of organizations and individuals comprised of Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), The Maryland ACLU, the Maryland Restorative Justice Initiative, the University of Baltimore  School of Law Juvenile Justice Project and the American University Washington College of Law Criminal Justice Clinic, and others. If you are interested in learning more or taking a client, please contact Jane Murphy (jmurphy@ubalt.edu) or Lila Meadows(lmeadows@ubalt.edu) 

The Maryland Center for Legal Assistance Seeks Volunteers for Expungement Clinics
(Statewide)
Volunteers needed Wednesdays at the District Court Self-Help Center in Upper Marlboro.
CONTACT MEGAN CHALLENDER – mchallender@mdcla.org or 301-298-4139.
 

Corporate Pro Bono Opportunity
(Statewide)
Community Law Center provides legal services to communities and nonprofit organizations throughout Maryland to promote stronger nonprofits and more vibrant neighborhoods. Our Pro Bono Program matches volunteer attorneys with nonprofits seeking assistance on legal matters To learn more, contact Shana Roth-Gormley at shanar@communitylaw.org or 410-366-0922 x 118.  Sign up here to receive updates about available pro bono opportunities every other week. 

Help a Parent in Maryland by Representing Mom, Dad or Grandparent Before the Office of Administrative Hearings
(Statewide)
Volunteer attorneys are needed to represent parents before the Office of Administrative Hearings.  Parents who may be investigated for abuse or neglect are placed on the Department of Human Resources (DHR) Central Registry.  Inclusion on the Central Registry can impact one’s ability to get a job and care for other children.   The Maryland Office of the Public Defender’s CINA Division is looking for attorneys to represent parents at administrative hearings challenging their inclusion on the DHR Central Registry. Interested attorneys should contact Melissa Rothstein, at mrothstein@opd.state.md.us.

Pro Bono with the Maryland People’s Law Library
(Online)
Want to use your legal writing and research skills to make a difference?  Want to do all that from the comfort of your home or office?  The Maryland People’s Law Library (www.peoples-law.org) (or “PLL”) is a free online encyclopedia of Maryland law and procedure, and is the Maryland Judiciary’s primary method of providing legal information and referral assistance to self-represented litigants. Use your language skills to help Maryland’s immigrant community. Thousands of Marylander’s need help learning about the law in their primary language. PLL supports Spanish, French, Korean, and Chinese and needs your help to increase our content in each language. We have a state of the art translation management system that lets you work at your own pace and training takes only 30 minutes. If you’ve been conflicted out of other pro bono activities due to government employment or other considerations, consider serving Maryland’s low- and moderate- income population with clearly written explanations of various legal topics. Your work will support PLL’s mission of educating Marylanders about the civil legal issues that self-represented litigants most frequently face in Maryland courts.  With your permission, you’ll also be publically recognized for your work. 
CONTRIBUTE TODAY – contact Lee Sampson at leland.sampson@mdcourts.gov 

The Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division is looking for volunteers to help mediate consumer complaints against businesses
(Baltimore City)
As a volunteer, you would learn consumer protection law and mediate consumer complaints by phone and letter. You would also be trained to answer our consumer hotline.  The position requires you to work two days per week, five hours per day, and we ask for at a least a six-month commitment. Our main office is in downtown Baltimore and we have a branch office in Largo in Prince George’s County. We also provide a stipend of $9.00 per day to help defray transportation expenses. 
For more information, please call 410-576-6358 or e-mail volunteer@oag.state.md.us 

Just Advice seeks volunteer attorneys
(Baltimore City)
This is one of the easiest and most rewarding pro bono experiences an attorney could have! Volunteer attorneys are needed for the University of Maryland Carey School of Law’s JustAdvice® Project. The project comprises bi-weekly brief-legal advice sessions- Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for three hours- that aim to address Maryland’s justice gap. Law students in the JustAdvice® Project conduct intake interviews; identify and research legal issues; and work with volunteer attorneys to give brief legal advice to individuals seeking assistance at JustAdvice® sessions. Sessions are at different Baltimore City locations.  Volunteer lawyers do not take on cases, they simply give advice for three hours.  An attorney can volunteer for just one session. For more information including a schedule of sessions, visit www.law.umaryland.edu/justadvice or contact Prof. Dawna Cobb, the Director of the program at 410-706-3584 or dcobb@law.umaryland.edu. She is happy to speak or meet with anyone interested in volunteering. 

The Bar Association of Baltimore City-Senior Legal Services
(Baltimore City)
Senior Legal Services is seeking volunteer attorneys to draft simple estate plans for low income seniors ( Wills,  Advance Medical Directives, Financial Powers of Attorney, or all of the above) Due to disability, nursing home and home visits are included. Otherwise, volunteers are welcome to schedule a date and time to meet with senior clients at our offices located at: Courthouse East, 111 N. Calvert Street, Room 631, Baltimore, MD  21202. Interested attorneys can contact Jacqueline A. Jones at 410-396-5605 and/or jjones@baltimorebar.org.  

Women’s Law Center of Maryland Employment Law Hotline -VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
(Baltimore City)
The Women’s Law Center of Maryland operates an Employment Law Hotline 
on Tuesdays from 9:30 am to 1 pm. We are seeking more volunteers on the hotline, hoping you will take 2-4 shifts a year. Volunteers need some experience in employment law, so you can screen the calls effectively. The shift can be done from your office (or anywhere with a phone). You are eligible to receive referrals of cases that come in through the hotline, if desired. For more information, call Mary Keating at (410) 532-8900 or email at mkeating@wlcmd.org. 

Help low income Marylanders with the Montgomery County Bar Foundation
(Montgomery County)
https://www.barmont.org/general/custom.asp?page=ClinicsClinicas
To access additional information pertaining to the Pro Bono Program: https://www.barmont.org/general/custom.asp?page=116 You can direct any questions to Deborah Mantilla Craven, Pro Bono Program Coordinator, at Debbie@mcbfprobono.org or 301.762.5831.

Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County seeks pro bono attorneys 
(Prince George’s County)
Are you interested in earning pro bono hours?  In giving back to the Prince George’s County Community? In expanding your practice areas?  In mentoring a less seasoned attorney? In providing advice at a bankruptcy clinic? If you said yes to any of these, please sign up to volunteer for Community Legal Services. How CLS can support you during your pro bono hours: Flexible Clinic hours; Judicare Cases (Paid cases and eligible for the litigation fund); Pro Bono Cases; Mentoring Program; Liability Insurance; Training. For additional information, please contact Jessica A. Quincosa, Esq., Executive Director at quincosa@clspgc.org or 240-391-6532.  

Litigation Skills Lunch & Learn: Tips for the trial lawyer considering an appeal (Successfully noting an appeal for the trial court)
April 5 @ 12:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Joseph Greenwald & Laake, P.A., Greenbelt, MD, 20770
Each meeting includes a one-hour skills training, followed by a one-hour mentoring roundtable, where attendees can bring up litigation questions they’re currently facing (whether related to the presentation topic or not), and get input from the group. Experienced litigators will be present during the second hour, and a light lunch will be provided. Participation is open to attorneys who have already accepted a pro bono commitment through a PBRC training within the past 12 months OR who commit to answer at least three legal questions for low-income Marylanders, using the https://Maryland.FreeLegalAnswers.org website. (Instructions will be provided.)
Register online at probonomd.org/litigation-mentioring

Criminal Record Expungement in Maryland
Thursday, April 18 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Gordon Feinblatt, LLC, Baltimore, MD, 21202
The training will cover Maryland criminal record expungement law, working with low-income and homeless clients, expungement filing and Court process, and expungement mistakes and how to avoid them. Participating attorneys must agree to accept 3 client cases from Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP) within 1 year of training.

Representing Immigrant Children in Custody Matters Relating to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
The presentation will cover an overview of unaccompanied immigrant children and the laws that affect them; working with child clients and interpreters; family court and immigration proceedings for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases in Maryland; and cases available for placement. This introductory training is required for new KIND pro bono attorneys prior to taking on their first KIND case but there is no requirement of accepting a case to attend the training. The training will take place at Bar Association of Montgomery County Building, 27 W. Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 21201.
Please RSVP to infobaltimore@supportkind.org by Monday, April 15th. Leslie Espino (443) 738-4538

Annapolis Advanced Topic Training: So Your Client’s Bank Account is Frozen? (MVLS)
(Annapolis)
Tuesday, May 7 | 4:30 – 6:30 pm | 839 Bestgate Road – Suite 400, Annapolis, MD 21401
The IRS and the Maryland Comptroller have multiple ways to enforce collection action, including freezing your client’s bank account. Join Rebecca Sheppard, Esq. and Kaitlyn Loughner, CPA Esq. of Frost and Associates for a light dinner and networking, followed by a discussion about how one manages a lien or a levy, and what the options are for dealing with them. There is no fee for this training but participants will be asked to take a Tax Collections case within the next six months.
Register at: https://st464.infusionsoft.app/app/form/web-form-submitted5?cookieUUID=812aba47-9d5c-4c80-83e5-dd319a93de64 and please contact Janice Shih at 443-451-4061 for more information.

Name Changes in Maryland (MVLS)
(Online)
Thursday, May 16 | 12 – 1pm | Webinar
The webinar will focus on the legal process for name changes and birth certificate changes in Maryland. Chris Rahl, of Gordon Feinblatt, will walk through the law and the various steps in the process including when and how to file for adults and minors, court forms, potential service issues, and correcting misspellings. Please note, this training is free, but you are required to be on the MVLS volunteer panel.
Register at: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/538965602996521729

Tax Controversy Training (MVLS)
(Baltimore City)
Monday, May 20 | 9AM – 1PM | 201 N. Charles Street, 3rd Floor
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service invites interested attorneys, law students, CPAs and EAs to attend a free training session on handling IRS and Maryland tax controversy cases for low-income taxpayers. Continental breakfast will be served. The course will be taught by Gerald Kelly and Cheri Wendt-Taczak; IRS Local Taxpayer Advocate, James Leith; and Assistant Director, Compliance Division, Comptroller of Maryland, Jay Maschas. The focus of this session will be on the mechanics of advocating for the taxpayer who is battling with tax collection issues.
Register at: https://mvlslaw.org/event/may-20-tax-controversy-training/ or please contact Janice Shih at 443-451-4061 for more information.
 

Landlord-Tenant 101 Training (MVLS)
(Baltimore City)
Monday, May 20 | 1:30-5PM | 201 N. Charles Street, 3rd Floor
This training will focus on representing tenants in several areas including the rent escrow process, security deposits, breach of lease, tenant holding over and potential affirmative claims. This training requires the acceptance of a pro bono case.  This training is being filmed, we will not provide a webinar option. Space is limited – only register if you intend to attend the training. Trainers include P. Hong Le, Law Office of P. Hong Le; Emanwel Turnbull, Holland Law Firm; and Amy Hennen, Managing Attorney for Consumer and Housing, at MVLS.
Register at: https://mvlslaw.org/event/landlord-tenant-101-training/
 

WEBCASTS AVAILABLE: PROBONOMD.ORG/TRAINING
Contact Kiah Pierre, Trainings and Records Manager
Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, Inc.
520 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
410-703-3046; 800-396-1274 ext. 3046
kpierre@probonomd.org

MSBA CLE COURSES
The MSBA and PBRC are offering free and discounted slots for a selection of MSBA CLE courses. Volunteer attorneys are eligible for one of three (3) free slots in exchange for accepting a pro bono case referral from a recognized pro bono legal services program. Staff legal services attorneys may register for one of three (3) discounted slots offered at 50% off the regular course cost. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, visit http://probonomd.org/training/continuing-legal-education/.

Children/Family Law Staff Attorney – AYUDA
(Washington DC)
Ayuda seeks a Staff Attorney for its Domestic Violence/Family Law Program, which helps low-income immigrants who are survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault achieve safety and stability in their lives. The Staff Attorney will help survivors obtain protective orders, custody of their children, child support and divorce by providing legal representation and advice and will also conduct outreach and training on these topics to immigrant communities and partner organizations. This position is for our soon-to-be opened MD office.
https://www.ayuda.com/job/children-family-law-staff-attorney/

Domestic Violence/Family Law Staff Attorney – AYUDA
(Washington DC)
Ayuda seeks a Staff Attorney to help low-income immigrant children and survivors of family violence, domestic violence or sexual assault achieve safety and stability in their lives. The Staff Attorney will provide legal representation and advice to children and their caregivers in obtaining predicate orders for those eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). The Staff Attorney will also provide legal representation and advice to immigrant survivors of family violence, domestic violence or sexual assault in obtaining protective orders, custody of their children, third-party custody, child support and divorce. This position is for our soon-to-be opened MD office.
https://www.ayuda.com/job/domestic-violence-family-law-staff-attorney-md/

Associate Attorney
(Montgomery County)
Law Office of Jaime Winthuysen Aparisi LLC, a boutique full-service immigration law firm in downtown Silver Spring, MD is seeking an entry-level associate to join our team of experienced immigration attorneys. Interested candidates must be fluent in Spanish. This position offers a competitive salary, health insurance, 401k, paid federal holidays, paid winter break from Christmas through New Years, 10 days PTO, a relaxed work environment, and mentoring from senior attorneys.
For full posting visit https://careers.aila.org/jobs/11640199/associate-attorney

Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc. – Housing Attorney
(Baltimore City)
Are you passionate about housing justice? Do you want to use your legal skills to advocate to end homelessness? If you desire a position where you have the opportunity to provide direct legal representation and advocate for systemic change that prevents and ends homelessness, the Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP) is seeking a full-time Housing Attorney.
To Apply: E-MAIL resume, cover letter, a writing sample, and names and contact information of three references to jobs@hprplaw.org (and specify “Housing Attorney” in the subject line). At least one reference should include a person who supervised your legal work as an attorney; references will not be checked until after the final interview.
Full job description details http://www.hprplaw.org/who_we_are/employment/housing_attorney_baltimore_office

The Pew Charitable Trusts
Senior Associate, Technical Assistance, Civil Legal System Modernization
(Washington, DC)
The senior associate, technical assistance, provides intensive technical assistance to court systems and legal system stakeholders in order to successfully implement new technologies and process improvements…Click link for more…https://jobs-pct.icims.com/jobs/5679/senior-associate,-technical-assistance,-civil-legal-system-modernization/job

Officer, Civil Legal System Modernization
(Washington, DC)
The officer, research, reports to the senior officer and is responsible for managing, writing, editing, and conducting research that supports technical assistance on civil legal system modernization at the state level, as well as broader research that illustrates challenges with the civil legal system in the U.S. in general…click link for more…https://jobs-pct.icims.com/jobs/5678/officer,-civil-legal-system-modernization/job

MD Crime Victims Eastern Shore Staff Attorney
(Eastern Shore)
Attorney needed to represent crime victims regarding their crime victims’ rights in criminal and juvenile delinquency cases Attorney will respond to incoming requests for legal assistance, Complete legal evaluations, Develop cases, Conduct outreach activities and trainings, Provide direct legal representation to victims regarding their crime victim’s rights, Other duties as assigned, Law degree and bar membership required. Maryland bar preferred. Preferred experience with criminal and juvenile delinquency cases. Please email your resume to dfo@mdcrimevictims.org. Full job description https://www.mdcrimevictims.org/jobs/

Monday, April 15th – Elder Law Day
1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring MD
Learn about a wide range of issues affecting seniors 55+.
Sponsored by the Bar Association of Montgomery County and Montgomery County Recreation.
To register reserve your appointment via phone at 240-777-8085 by 4/10 (hablanos espanol)

28^th Annual Law Day for Seniors
Senior Legal Services is hosting our 28^th Annual Law Day for Seniors on April 13^th at New Psalmist Baptist Church (6020 Marian Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215) from 8:00 am to 2:30 am. Law Day provides some 300 seniors with presentations on legal issues important to the senior community and access to vendors who provide needed resources. 
Call 410-396-1322 for information.

UPCOMING PRO BONO RESOURCE CENTER OF MARYLAND EVENTS:
Maryland Partners for Justice Conference
Save the Date! Thursday, May 23, 2019
Find out more: Probonomd.org/conference

05/02/19 | Answer Party in the Law Library – Montgomery County Circuit Court | 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
05/23/19 | 21^st Annual Maryland Partners for Justice Conference, Baltimore City | 8:15 AM to 3:30 PM
06/07/19  | 11^st Annual Veterans Legal Assistance Conference, Baltimore City | 8:00 AM to4:45 PM
06/08/19 | PBRC’s Run for Justice, Meadowood Regional Park, Baltimore County  | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM

UPCOMING LEGAL CLINICS
Estate Planning Clinics Baltimore City
Estate Planning Clinics Prince George’s County
Tax Sale Clinics in Baltimore City
Tax Sale Clinics in Prince George’s County

Tenant Volunteer Lawyer of the Day Project – Tuesdays through Fridays at the Baltimore District Court
To Volunteer Email: DFleyzor@probonomd.org.

Consumer Protection Project – Wednesdays at Baltimore City District Court, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Fridays at Prince George’s County District Court. To Volunteer Email: sdunning@probonomd.org.

Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project – Brief Advice clinics on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Baltimore City Immigration Court. To Volunteer Email: mlarsen@probonomd.org.