James Bell

James Bell

Maryland Legal Aid

Moderator and Coordinator, Rent Escrow and Habitability After the Tenant Safety Act

James Bell is a staff attorney at Maryland Legal Aid current working in the Anne Arundel/Howard County Office. Mr. Bell moved to Maryland in 2005. Mr. Bell graduated from Bowie State University with honors; and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore with honors.

Before attending law school Mr. Bell taught for Prince George's County Public Schools. After obtaining his JD, Mr. Bell spent seven years practicing consumer bankruptcy and foreclosure. Mr. Bell started at MLA in 2021 as part of the Eviction Rapid Response Team (ERRT), transitioned into the housing team in the Baltimore County office, and is now part of the Anne Arundel/Howard County housing team.

Mr. Bell has presented on various housing topics at county and state level conferences. Mr. Bell co-authored "Tenant Safety Act: Rent Escrow, Damages, Fee Shifting, and the Rebirth of Maryland's Habitability Law." published in Volume 6 Issue 2 of the Maryland Bar journal.

Mr. Bell is involved in the MSBA and is currently on the Board of Governors, and in his community is the Chair of the Howard County Consumer Protection Advisory Board.

Aside from his work in Maryland Housing, Mr. Bell is an avid Orioles fan, collects vinyl, enjoys going "garage sale hunting."