Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP)
FOR TENANTS & CONSUMERS:
Tenants in Baltimore City or Baltimore County who have received a Failure to Pay Rent complaint, and consumers in Baltimore City or Prince George’s County who have received a debt collection lawsuit or need general advice about consumer debt, can call PBRC’s CAP Hotline at 443-703-3053 to speak with an attorney or paralegal.
The Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP) is an innovative pro bono program using a clinic model to provide day-of-court, limited scope representation for tenants at risk of eviction and consumers sued under affidavit in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Prince George’s County District Courts. CAP Courthouse Clinics are staffed by PBRC staff attorneys and paralegals who provide direct legal services while also working with and mentoring volunteer attorneys to ensure that as many tenants and consumers as possible can benefit from representation. CAP staff attorneys also provide full representation for clients in Escrow, Tenant Holding Over, Breach of Lease and Illegal Eviction actions and consumer actions related to landlord/tenant disputes.
CAP staff have also been instrumental in working to improve the rights of low-income tenants statewide and helping to pass and implement the Access to Counsel in Evictions Legislation through systemic advocacy, coordination of state-wide trainings and direct assistance and mentoring for legal services providers in other jurisdictions.
Tenant Justice Program (formerly TVLD)– Providing Access to Counsel for Tenants facing eviction
Over 100,000 Failure to Pay Rent complaints were filed in 2022 in Baltimore City and Baltimore County alone. While Landlords often have counsel or agents appearing on their behalf, tenants in Rent Court are almost always unrepresented, unfamiliar with court procedures, unaware of their rights as renters, and not prepared to assert valid defenses to a complaint. Some of these defenses may include a lack of licensure by the landlord, the rent amount claimed due and owing is incorrect, or serious threats to life, health, and safety exist on the property.
In 2022 Maryland became the second state in the nation to pass legislation granting Access to Counsel for income-eligible tenants facing eviction. As an organization with years of experience providing same-day advocacy and legal representation in Rent Court, PBRC has been instrumental in helping to build a system to deliver similar services state-wide.
PBRC’s Tenant Justice Program (TJP), is designed to protect tenants’ rights through same-day advocacy and legal representation in Rent Court. PBRC operated its first limited-scope pro bono clinic in Baltimore City Rent Court in 2017 and expanded to Baltimore County in 2021. Since then, TJP staff and volunteer attorneys have provided representation to over 2,250 tenants in eviction cases.
PBRC Tenant Justice Program Rent Court clinics
Baltimore City District Court
- 500 N. Calvert Street, Courtroom 1
- Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays, 8:30 am - 11:30 am
- Wednesdays, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Fridays, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Baltimore County District Courts
- Essex District Court
- Mondays, 8:30 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
- Catonsville District Court
- Tuesdays, 8:30 am - 11:30 am & 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
- Towson District Court
- Thursdays & Fridays, 8:30 am - 11:30 am
The Tenant Justice Program is supported by grant awards from the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC), Wells Fargo and the Krieger Fund.
VIDEO: Attorney Volunteer Cory Zajdel on his experience volunteering with the Consumer Protection Project
Consumer Protection Project (CPP)
Tens of thousands of Marylanders are sued each year under “affidavit,” a process by which a creditor can secure a money judgment in district court by filing an affidavit with documents to support their debt collection claim. Debt lawsuits filed under affidavit include hospital bills, auto loans, bail bonds, credit cards, and purchased debt. If debt collection lawsuits are not settled or disputed, consumers are subject to a money judgment and may be garnished to satisfy the debt. In contested cases, the consumer must go to trial against the creditor’s attorney. The collateral consequences of a money judgment—even for a small amount—can be devastating.
In 2012, PBRC’s Consumer Protection Project (CPP) operated its first limited-scope pro bono clinic in Baltimore City District Court and Prince George’s County District Court in Upper Marlboro. Since then, CPP staff and volunteer attorneys have provided limited-scope, day-of-court representation to over 4,490 clients at CPP Clinics.
PBRC’s Consumer Protection Project Clinics
Baltimore City Calvert Street District Court:
- Wednesdays, 8:45 am - 12:00 pm
Prince George’s County District Court
- 1st three Fridays of the month, 8:15 am - 11:00 am
CPP is operated in partnership with Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) and is supported by a grant awards from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Access to Justice Department, Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) and the American College of Bankruptcy.
Consumer Protection Project (CPP) Clinics
- Baltimore City: Wednesdays, 8:45 am - 12:00 pm
- Prince George's County: 1st three Fridays of the month, 8:15 am - 11:00 am
Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP) Hotline
Remote Tenant and Consumer Assistance:
- Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm; 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Tenant Justice Program (TJP) Clinics
Baltimore City District Court
- 500 N. Calvert Street, Courtroom 1
- Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, 8:30 am - 11:30 am
- Wednesdays and Fridays, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Baltimore County District Courts
- Essex District Court
- Mondays, 8:30 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
- Catonsville District Court
- Tuesdays, 8:30 am - 11:00 am & 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
- Towson District Court
- Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays, 8:30 am - 11:30 am
- Fridays, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Questions? Contact the CAP Team at CAPTeam@probonomd.org.