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PRO BONO GROUP
Director of Advocacy for Training and Pro Bono: Amy Petkovsek
Moderator: Bobbie Steyer
Pro Bono Forum Posts
Pro Bono Legal Resources
The Link Between Domestic Violence and Homelessness: A panel discussion
Date:
Wed, 10/09/2013 - 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Join five local and regional experts working to end homelessness for victims of domestic violence: Danielle Cover, Visiting Professor, Family Clinic, UB School of Law; Antonia Fasanelli, executive director, Homeless Persons Representation Project; Peg Hacskaylo, executive director, District Alliance for Safe Housing; Asma Hanif, executive director, Muslimat Al-Nissa Women's Shelter; and Janice Miller, director of client services, House of Ruth Maryland.
Sponsor:
UB Center on Applied Feminism
Speaker Series on the Importance of Housing
Date:
Mon, 09/16/2013 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
What is the National Trust Fund? How can it be funded? Can it end homelessness? Join keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings and a panel of experts who will discuss this important issue. Sponsored by the Homeless Persons Representation Project and the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition.The event is free and registration is not required. For questions, email info@hprplaw.org.
Sponsor:
Homeless Persons Representation Project and Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition
Courts Increasingly Un-Amused by Corporations Who Litigate in Court for a While Before Invoking Arbitration Clauses
A good review of current case law about arbitration clauses used against creditors.
Maryland Health Connection Opens Call Center
From Maryland Health Connection:
Maryland Health Connection has opened the first phase of its state-of-the-art customer call center in Baltimore to provide support for residents and small employers statewide. During August and September, the call center will assist Marylanders with general questions about health coverage and preparations for open enrollment. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 am-6 pm. The toll-free phone number is 855.642(MHC).8572, and 1.855.642(MHC).8573 for TTY service.
The call center will be fully operational and staffed with 125 representatives on Oct. 1, 2013, when residents can begin selecting health insurance plans through Maryland Health Connection. The call center will operate seven days a week during the open enrollment period, which ends on March 31, 2014.
Representatives, including bilingual staff, will guide Maryland residents and small employers through their health coverage options, explain financial assistance options available including federal tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, and answer customer service questions.
Interpretation services in 200 languages for individuals who require additional assistance are available, as well as TTY service is provided for the hearing impaired.
Representatives will be available during open enrollment (Oct. 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014) Monday through Friday, 8 am-8 pm, Saturday, 8 am-6 pm and Sunday, 9 am-2 pm.
Following open enrollment in March 2014, the call center will be open during normal business hours to serve Maryland residents, Monday through Friday, 8 am-8 pm and Saturday, 8am-noon.
16th Annual Maryland Partners for Justice Conference
Date:
Thu, 05/15/2014 - 8:15am - 3:30pm
SAVE THE DATE!
for the 16th annual
MARYLAND
PARTNERS FOR JUSTICE
CONFERENCE
Thursday, May 15, 2014
from 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM
Baltimore Convention Center
1 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Sponsor:
Maryland Legal Services Corporation and the Maryland State Bar Association Section of Delivery of Legal Services
Housing Enforcememt Task Force
Date:
Fri, 06/28/2013 - 1:00pm - 3:00pm
This may be of interest to Housing folks in Baltimore. Even though this is last minute, you may be able to be involved with the group by contacting Rob Strupp.
Happy Friday!
-Rachel
Friends, sorry this is last minute: Several years ago, we had an active Baltimore City Property Flipping and Predatory Lending Task Force. Through cooperation and joint efforts, dozens of people were prosecuted who preyed upon others through property flipping and mortgage fraud. The task force concluded its work and has not met in several years. The Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development and Baltimore Neighborhoods Inc. are inviting agencies and organizations to a meeting Friday, June 28th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm 417 East Fayette Street – 13th floor conference room to examine if a task force approach is needed now for any patterns of fraud and illegal real estate practices that may be persisting or recurring in the current housing market in Baltimore City. It was greatly beneficial in the past to have a sharing of information and strategies to protect families from fraud, discrimination, tenant/landlord violations and other illegal/unethical real estate practices. We feel it would be worthwhile to get together again and at least consider if we need that level of enforcement collaboration today. We hope you can attend!
Sponsor:
Baltimore City and BNI
Celebrate Pro Bono
Date:
Thu, 10/10/2013 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
On Thursday, October 10, 2013, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law will honor volunteer attorneys, law students and donors who have made noteworthy contributions to the delivery of pro bono legal services at our annual "Celebrate Pro Bono" event. Guests will enjoy a catered buffet, open beer and wine bar, networking with peers, a brief awards ceremony and remarks from a distinguished key-note speaker. The event will take place from 6pm-8pm at historic Westminster Hall in Baltimore.
Celebrate Pro Bono is free for attendees but advanced registration is required. Visit www.mvlslaw.org/awards2013 or contact Stephanie Austin at 443 451-4065 or saustin@mvlslaw.org to register.
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| SaveTheDate_20130531v5.png | 143.06 KB |
WriteClearly.org - Plain language legal documents
Many of the people we serve have limited literacy skills. Communicate with them more effectively by using plain language.
Roughly 50% of native English-speaking Americans are unable to read at the 8th grade level; another 20% are only functionally literate.
Limited English speakers find it particularly difficult to navigate legal texts that contain strange words and describe unfamiliar procedures. These readers are substantially disadvantaged in accessing legal information.
5th Annual Veterans' Legal Assistance Conference & Training
Date:
Fri, 06/07/2013 - 8:30am - 4:30pm
An Opportunity to Serve Those Who Served Our Country
Designed for lawyers, law students, veterans, policy makers and other service professionals, this conference will provide a forum for discussion of critical legal issues facing our veterans, including claims processing changes at the Baltimore VA Regional Office, women in combat, compliance with Service Members Civil Relief Act, and other issues. The conference also includes a training for lawyers interested in representing veterans pro bono in claims for service-connected disability benefits.
The conference & training are FREE, but advance registration is required. Out of State Attorneys Welcome.
To register for the conference or training, visit www.probonomd.org.
Questions? Contact Kiah Pierre at 443-703-3046 or kpierre@probonomd.org
Conference organizers include:
Homeless Persons Representation Project, Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law – Clinical Law Program, and the Veterans’ Affairs and Military Law Committee of the Maryland State Bar Association
Co-Sponsored by:
American Bar Association Commission on Homelessness & Poverty Veterans and Military Law Section of the Federal Bar Association
Sponsor:
Homeless Persons Representation Project, Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law – Clinical Law Program, the Veterans’ Affairs and Military Law Committee of the Maryland State Bar Association, American Bar Association Commission on Homelessness & Poverty Veterans and Military Law Section of the Federal Bar Association
| Attachment | Size |
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| VLACReg.pdf | 369.56 KB |
| 5VLACflyer.pdf | 448.77 KB |
Pro Bono Training: Immigration Relief for Vulnerable Populations
Date:
Thu, 06/20/2013 - 9:00am - 12:00pm
Co-Sponsored by Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), Tahirih Justice Center and Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland (PBRC)
Thursday, June 20, 2013
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Maryland Bar Center
520 West Fayette Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Faculty: Liz Shields, Esq.
Supervising Attorney, KIND
Deepa Bijpuria, Esq.
Immigration Staff Attorney, Tahirih Justice Center
Topics:
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
Participating attorneys are required to accept one pro bono case from KIND or Tahirih Justice Center within 1 year of the training. Malpractice insurance, regular mentoring, case support, and sample materials will be available to attorneys taking pro bono cases. Attorneys will also have the opportunity to have a mentor review all filings prior to submission.
To register, please visit www.probonomd.org/training to download a registration form.
Questions? Contact Kiah E. Pierre, Training & Records Manager, at 443-703-3046 or kpierre@probonomd.org.
Sponsor:
Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), Tahirih Justice Center and Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland (PBRC)
| Attachment | Size |
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| IRVPReg.pdf | 232.58 KB |
| IRVPFlyer.pdf | 223.5 KB |
MVLS Self-Help Bankruptcy Class
Date:
Thu, 04/11/2013 - 9:30am - 12:30pm
Sponsor:
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
45th Anniversary of the federal Fair Housing Act at BNI’s Meet & Greet & Annual Meeting
Date:
Tue, 05/21/2013 - 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Save the Date: Celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the federal Fair Housing Act at BNI’s Meet & Greet & Annual Meeting:
Keynote Speaker: Baltimore native, attorney Paulette Brown, partner and chief diversity officer of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP ( Madison, NJ). Ms. Brown co-authored the nationally acclaimed Commission on Women in the Profession Women of Color Research Initiative study, Visible Invisibility: Women of Color in Law Firms. A past president of the National Bar Association, Ms. Brown is slated to become the first woman of color to serve as American Bar Association president.
Where:Temple Oheb Shalom
7310 Park Heights Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21208
For more information contact:
Robert J. Strupp
Executive Director
Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc.
2530 N. Charles Street, Suite 200
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-243-4468 (office)
410-243-1342 (fax)
rstrupp@bni-maryland.org
www.bni-maryland.org
Sponsor:
Baltimore Neighborhoods Incorporated
Pro Bono Training: Practical Skills for Veterans Law Practice
Date:
Thu, 02/28/2013 - 10:00am - 3:00pm
Free Training Opportunity for Pro Bono Attorneys: Practical Skills for Veterans Law Practice
Thursday, February 28, 2013
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
MARYLAND BAR CENTER - 1st Floor Conference Room
520 W. Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Faculty: Rochelle E. Richardson, Esq.
Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow, HPRP
Katie Meyer Scott, Esq.
Director of Pro Bono Programs, HPRP
Topics:
· The VA Claims Process;
· Appealing a VA Regional Office Decision;
· Service Connection Claims;
· Increased Ratings Claims; and
· Non-service Connected Pension Claims.
Participating attorneys must be barred in any state and must commit to either volunteering 7 hours at the Homeless Persons Representation Project VA legal clinic or accepting 1 case referral. Mentors, case support and malpractice insurance will be available to participating attorneys.
Questions? Contact Kiah Elmore at 443-703-3046 or kelmore@probonomd.org.
Sponsor:
Homeless Persons Representation Project & Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| PSVLFlyer.pdf | 875.4 KB |
| PSVetReg.pdf | 288.78 KB |
PJC's Guide to Judgment Enforcement
PJC recently published a guide to collecting on judgments in Maryland. It is helpful not only after you have a judgment, but may also help you decide to litigate a case where you might have thought suing someone would result in a mere paper judgment. The guide focuses on judgments for unpaid wages and related damages, but is also useful for judgments in other cases.
The three fundamental components of this manual are: (1) pre- and post-judgment defendant investigation and asset research; (2) prejudgment tools to proactively prevent employers and other potential judgment debtors from hiding or selling off assets; and (3) judgment enforcement, including enforcement for unpaid wages.
Check it out here:
Family Law Related Legislative Update 1/30/13
Here's an update of the proposed legislation before the General Assembly related to family law and children.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2013 1-30 Legislation Update.doc | 95 KB |
Civil Justice Inc. Seeks Administrative Assistant
Civil Justice, Inc
Administrative Assistant
The Administrative Assistant supports Civil Justice Inc.’s (CJ) program and legal service program. The Administrative Assistance coordinates office services such as legal referral service, drafting correspondence, managing client intake and electronic filing system, and other administrative activities for the organization; exercises independent judgment in the resolution of administrative problems. This position reports to the Executive Director.
The Administrative Assistant:
•Maintains confidentiality of information.
•Receives, screens and responds to inquiries on the phone or in writing. Provides general information about CJ and the multiple projects CJ currently operates. Makes appropriate referrals on inquiries requiring specific legal advice.
•Sorts and files mail received on a daily basis.
•Coordinates calendars for the Executive Director and other staff.
•Orders supplies for the office.
•Maintains all client files, including pleadings, motions, retainer agreements, and correspondence.
•Assists with special event planning such as board meetings, attorney member functions, and trainings.
•Operates personal computer to access e-mail, electronic calendars, and other basic office support software.
•Uses various software applications, such as MS Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, and Adobe Acrobat to assemble, manipulate and/or format data and/or reports.
The Administrative Assistant has no special certification requirements.
The Physical Requirements for the Administrative Assistant include:
•Sitting in a normal seated position for extended periods of time
•Reaching by extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction
•Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than with whole hand(s) or arm(s), for example, using a keyboard
•Communication skills using the spoken word
•Ability to see within normal parameters
•Ability to hear within normal range
•Ability to move about
This Position Description describes the general nature and level of work to be performed and is not to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities. The Board of Directors reserves the right to change this description at any time.
Hours: Approximately 24 hours per week, Four Days a Week. Some Flex Time Possible.
Location: Adjacent to UMD School of Law
Wage: Dependent Upon Experience
If interested, please submit cover letter and resume to Admin Assistant Search, 520 W. Fayette St., Ste. 410, Baltimore, MD 21201 or via email to cj@civiljusticenetwork.org.
| Attachment | Size |
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| Admin assistant Job Description.pdf | 95.47 KB |
2000 – Musser vs. Christie – Neglect of a Minor is Not Abuse Under the DV Statute
Musser v. Christie, 131 Md.App. 200, 748 A.2d 1027 (2000)
Grandmother sought, and was granted, a protective order and
custody of Child based on the finding that Mother abused Child. Mother
appealed. The Court of Special Appeals reversed:
Evidence did not support the trial court’s finding of “abuse,” thus requiring reversal of its order granting the maternal grandmother’s petition for an emergency protective order, which gave the maternal grandmother custody of the child for one year. It was undisputed that the mother had left the child in the maternal grandmother’s care for days without any contact from the mother, and that the mother later violated court’s ex parte order precluding the mother from contacting either the child or the maternal grandmother; however, there was no evidence that any act of the mother placed the child “in fear of imminent serious bodily harm.”
| Attachment | Size |
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| Musser vs Christie.pdf | 16.34 KB |
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