Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP)
FOR TENANTS & CONSUMERS:
As of March 7, 2022, district courts in the State of Maryland are now open and hearing all cases. You can check the status of your case on Maryland Judiciary Case Search: http://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/
District Court Clerk’s Office contact information:
- Baltimore City District Court Clerk (Fayette Street): 410-878-8900
- Towson District Court Clerk: 410-512-2000
- Essex District Court Clerk: 410-512-2300
- Catonsville District Court Clerk: 410-512-2500
Consumers who have received a debt collection lawsuit in Baltimore City or Prince George’s County or need general advice regarding a consumer debt can reach a Consumer Protection Project attorney by calling 443-703-3053.
Tenants who have received a Failure to Pay Rent complaint in Baltimore City or Baltimore County or need general advice regarding a landlord/tenant matter can reach PBRC’s Tenant Assistance Hotline by calling 443-703-3053.
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 Volunteer Lawyer of the Day Program (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 Volunteer Lawyer of the Day Program (TVLD), 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, TVLD staff and volunteer attorneys have provided representation to over 2,250 tenants in eviction cases.
VIDEO: Attorney Volunteer Barry Bach on his experience volunteering with the Tenant Volunteer Lawyer of the Day Program
PBRC Tenant Volunteer Lawyer of the Day clinics
Baltimore City District Court
- 501 E. Fayette Street, Courtroom 2
- 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
The TVLD Program is supported by grant awards from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Access to Justice Department, Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC), and Wells Fargo.
The Rent Court Extended Program is supported by a grant award from Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC).
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 Fayette Street District Court:
- Wednesdays, 8:45 am - 12:00 pm
Prince George’s County Virtual Docket:
- 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 award from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Access to Justice Department.
Each volunteer opportunity has a relevant training to prepare you for the work. Take a training to get started!
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 Volunteer Lawyer of the Day (TVLD) Program Clinics
- Baltimore City District Court
- 501 E. Fayette Street, Courtroom 2
- 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
- 501 E. Fayette Street, Courtroom 2
Questions? Contact the CAP Team at CAPTeam@probonomd.org.