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MARYLAND ADVOCACY INSTITUTE
Director of Advocacy for Training and Pro Bono: Amy Petkovsek
MD Advocacy Institute Forum Posts
MD Advocacy Institute Resources
This group is for organizing, collecting, and distributing training that is useful for attorneys and advocates in legal services and the private bar providing services to clients in civil matters.
Maryland Access to Justice Commission - 2010 Annual Report
The 2010 Annual Report of the Maryland Access to Justice Commission includes a narrative report of the Commission's activities, the 2009-2010 Listening Events and key initiatives. Appendices includes key Commission work product including: Implementing a Civil Right to Counsel in Maryland, Fee-Shifting to Promote the Public Interest in Maryland, and draft rules and forms to support limited scope representation.
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Implementing a Civil Right to Counsel in Maryland
Anticipating a day when a right to counsel in civil matters involving basic human needs may be recognized in Maryland, the state’s Access to Justice Commission rolled up its sleeves and created a working framework for the implementation of such a right. Civil legal services providers and other Maryland stakeholders participated in developing the framework, which builds on the existing legal services delivery system. Among other resources, the Commission relied on the In the same report, the Maryland Commission also began the process of estimating the cost of providing counsel throughout the state in basic human needs cases, relying on data from the courts, legal services providers, self-help clinics, and other resources.
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MVLS Tax Controversy Training for Attorneys, Law Students, CPAs and EAs
Date:
Tue, 05/08/2018 - 9:00am - 1:00pm
TAX CONTROVERSY TRAINING FOR ATTORNEYS, LAW STUDENTS, CPAs and EAs
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
9am - 1pm
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service Office
201 N. Charles Street, #1400
Baltimore, MD 21201
Note: This training is also available for remote viewing by webinar
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 on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 from 9am to 1pm, at MVLS' office at 201 N. Charles Street, #1400. This class will also be available for viewing by webinar at the same time.
The course will be taught by experienced tax attorneys, Gerald Kelly and Cheri Wendt-Taczak; IRS Local Taxpayer Advocate, James Leith; and Assistant Director, Compliance Division, Comptroller of Maryland, Jay Maschas. While the training will cover handling tax cases generally, the focus of this session will be on the mechancics of advocating for the taxpayer who is battling with tax collection issues.
There is no fee to attend but each participant will be asked to accept one tax controversy case over the next six months. Please register at jshih@mvlslaw.org or contact Janice Shih at 443-451-4061 or jshih@mvlslaw.org for more information.
Continental breakfast will be served.
Nuts & Bolts of Collections: IRS and MD
Date:
Wed, 02/21/2018 - 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Nuts & Bolts of Collections: IRS and MD
February 21 5:30pm-7:30pm
Hosted by the Annapolis Office of Frost & Associates
888 Bestgate Road, Suite 400
Annapolis, MD 21401
Foreclosure Mediation Brief Advice Clinic-Anne Arundel
Your client brings in a letter from the IRS or the Maryland Comptroller threatening collection. What do you do?
Join Rebecca Sheppard, Esq. of Frost and Associates and Cheri Wendt-Taczak, Esq. of the Annapolis-based Law Office of Cheri Wendt-Taczak, LLC, as they discuss the different approaches to collection problems and how to choose the best one for your client.
there is no fee for this training but all participants will b asked to take a Tax Collections case within the next six months. Please contact Janice Shih at 443-451-4061 or jshih@mvlslaw.org for more information.
A light dinner will be served.
MVLS TAX CONTROVERSY TRAINING FOR ATTORNEYS, LAW STUDENTS, CPAs and EAs
Date:
Wed, 11/01/2017 - 9:00am - 1:00pm
2017 Welfare Advocates Conference
The 2017 Welfare Advocates Conference is coming up on November 2 at the Radisson Hotel in Timonium, MD. This year, we are excited that our keynote speaker will be Marc Steiner, and he'll be talking about how to amplify the stories and voices of individuals who are marginalized. We are also having an interactive closing plenary where local leaders –including the CEOs of United Way, Catholic Charities, Advocates for Children and Youth, and the Jobs Opportunity Task Force - are being pitched the question "How Do We End Poverty?" that they’ll each answer from their own perspectives. Our theme this year is Casting a Wide Net, speaking to the need for inclusivity in our organizations, in our communities, and in our policies. Along that theme, we are having workshops on assisting our immigrant neighbors, working with LGBTQ youth, and violence prevention efforts in West Baltimore, among others. Our 1-day conference also offers 5 Category 1 CEUs for social workers! Need more convincing? On top of a delicious Italian lunch, we have incredible door prizes this year including (for the first time) tickets to the National Aquarium, tickets to see Madam Butterfly, two different ski packages at two different resorts, and several area restaurant gift cards!
For more information - and to register - please follow this link: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07eemdqtmk39.... It's really a great conference and we hope to see you there!
Building Your Resume with Pro Bono
Date:
Thu, 10/26/2017 - 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) and University of Baltimore School of Law are hosting a panel discussion about building up your resume with pro bono work. Panelists include Hong Le (Law Office of P. Hong Le, LLC), Anthony Butler (Founding Partner of TBMG Law), and Adrianne Blake (UB law student, class of 2018) with MVLS Staff Attorney and UB Alum Ellyn Riedl moderating. This is a free event.
Sponsor:
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, University of Baltimore School of Law
Tax Controversy Training for Attorneys
Date:
Wed, 06/21/2017 - 9:00am - 1:00pm
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service invites interested attorneys to attend a free training session on handling IRS and Maryland tax controversy cases for low-income taxpayers on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at MVLS’ office at 201 N. Charles St., Suite 1400, Baltimore, MD 21201. This case will also available for viewing by webinar.
The course will be taught by experienced tax attorneys, Gerald Kelly and Cheri Wendt-Taczak; IRS Local Taxpayer Advocate, James Leith; and Assistant Director, Compliance Division, Comptroller of Maryland, Jay Maschas. While the training will cover handling tax cases generally, the focus of this session will be on the mechanics of advocating for the taxpayer who is battling with tax collection issues.
There is no fee to attend but each participant will be asked to accept one tax controversy case over the next six months. Please contact Janice Shih at 443-451-4061 or jshih@mvlslaw.org for more information.
Continental breakfast will be served.
Maryland Tax Controversy Training & Discussion for Attorneys, Enrolled Agents and CPAs
Date:
Wed, 02/22/2017 - 9:00am - 11:00am
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service invites interested attorneys, enrolled agents, and CPAs to attend a free training and discussion session on handling Maryland tax controversy cases for low-income taxpayers.
The training will be taught by Assistant Director, Compliance Division, Comptroller of Maryland, Jay Maschas and experienced tax attorney, Cheri Wendt-Taczak, so these issues will be approached from both sides. The focus of this session will be on the mechanics of advocating for the taxpayer who is battling with tax collection issues.
There is no fee to attend but each participant is asked to register. Please contact Janice Shih at 443-451-4061 or jshih@mvlslaw.org to register. This training will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 from 9am - 11am at the MVLS Conference Room, 201 N. Charles Street, #1400, Baltimore, MD 21201.
A continental breakfast will be served.
MVLS' Tax Controversy Training for Attorneys
Date:
Thu, 09/15/2016 - 9:00am - 1:00pm
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) is offering an exciting training for attorneys of all backgrounds to attend and make a difference for low-income Marylanders in need of tax help. Tax controversy is an area of law that any attorney can support with and typically requires limited time, but has a big impact for our clients in need. Much of it is rules-based and involves gathering the right information to complete a form, and can be easily done in short bursts of time.
MVLS invites all interested attorneys to attend a FREE training session on handling IRS and Maryland tax controversy cases for low-income taxpayers. This course is meant for all attorneys who are new to tax controversy or need a refresher. The training will cover handling tax controversy cases generally, the focus of this session will be on the mechanics of advocating for the taxpayer who is struggling with tax collection issues. Participants will be asked to take one (1) MVLS tax controversy case over the next six months. Continental Breakfast will be served.
To register please contact MVLS LITC Attorney Janice Shih, jshih@mvlslaw.org or 443-451-4061
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service's Celebrate Pro Bono/35th Anniversary Celebration
Date:
Wed, 10/05/2016 - 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Join Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service on October 5, 2016 to Celebrate Pro Bono as we honor volunteers, law firms and supporters who have made noteworthy contributions to the delivery of pro bono legal services over the past year. This annual recognition and awards reception, kicks off MVLS’ participation in the American Bar Association’s national Celebrate Pro Bono Week (October 23-29). MVLS will also celebrate our 35th anniversary of providing quality pro bono legal services to Marylanders.
Celebrate Pro Bono is free but this will be a seated event with a served dinner and registration is REQUIRED to attend. Please visit www.mvlslaw.org/cpb2016 to register online or contact Kim Lennon at 443-451-4065 or klennon@mvlslaw.org to reserve your seat today.
MVLS' "March Madness" Themed Benefit'
Date:
Thu, 03/17/2016 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Get ready for another slam dunk event! To celebrate 35 years of providing access to justice, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) will host a “March Madness” themed benefit on Thursday, March 17, 2016 from 6pm-9pm at M&T Bank Stadium on the Southeast Club Level. Guests will enjoy upscale tailgate fare, open beer and wine bar, behind-the-scenes stadium tour that includes field access, interactive basketball games, and more.
All funds raised from this popular annual event supports MVLS' mission of providing free legal assistance to low income Marylanders. General admission tickets are $100 and tickets for law firm associates and non-profit staff are $75. Buy your tickets before February 19 and save 10%! More information can be found at www.mvlslaw.org/benefit-2016/ or by contacting Kim Lennon at 443 451-4065 or klennon@mvlslaw.org.
Sponsor:
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
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Caregiver Conference
The Howard County Office on Aging is hosting a conference for people caring for aging loved ones on Saturday, November 14th from 8am-3pm at the North Laurel Community Center in Laurel, MD. Details and registration are here: www.howardcountyaging/org/caregiver and in the attached flier.
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Survey About Mediation in Circuit Court Non-Family Cases
*CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY: http://circuitcourtmediation.questionpro.com*
The Salisbury University Bosserman Center for Conflict Resolution is working with the Maryland Judiciary on a survey research project about attorney experience in Circuit Court Mediation Programs for Civil Non-Family Cases. The survey takes on average 7 minutes to complete and any attorney in Maryland that practices in the circuit court is eligible. The purpose is to examine the rate of use and explore issues and concerns that attorneys say enhances or limits the use of mediation.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY: http://circuitcourtmediation.questionpro.com
This survey research is being overseen by the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution. The results will be disseminated by MACRO at the conclusion of the project and will be used to improve the use of mediation, when appropriate, in civil non-family cases.
Questions regarding the research can be directed to Brian Polkinghorn, Ph.D., Executive Director, Bosserman Center for Conflict Resolution at bdpolkinghorn@salisbury.edu.
Juvenile Expungements and Sealing Training
Date:
Thu, 10/01/2015 - 9:30am - 1:00pm
What: Juvenile Expungements and Sealing Training - A new
law came into effect last fall that permits juvenile expungements in certain
circumstances. This training will provide the basics on how to proceed with
requests for juvenile expungements and record sealing.
Sponsored by:
Maryland
Volunteer Lawyers Service, Office of the Public Defender
Where:
Maryland
Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS)
201
N. Charles Street, Suite 1400 Baltimore,
MD 21201
For more information contact Susan Francis at (443)248-1560 or sfrancis@mvlslaw.org.
Register online by clicking on this link
- https://mvlslaw.org/oct-2-juvenile-expungements-and-sealing/
Sponsor:
MVLS,
Senior Legal Services all-day estate planning clinic
Date:
Thu, 10/01/2015 - 9:00am - 3:30pm
All-day estate planning clinic for low-income Baltimore seniors age 60+.
For
more information contact Jacqueline Jones at 410-396-5278 or jjones@baltimorebar.org. Or visit Senior Legal Services Website - www.baltimoreseniorlegalservices.org.
To register to have a Will or Advance
Medical Directive drafted by an attorney at no charge, seniors should call SLS
at 410-396-5278.
Sponsor:
Senior Legal Services, Bar Association of Baltimore City, Exelon, and, McGuire Woods, LLP
Free Brief Legal Advice for Nonprofits
Date:
Sat, 10/03/2015 - 9:00am - 4:00pm
What: Free Brief Legal Advice for Nonprofits - University of Baltimore School of Law’s Community Development Clinic and Community Law Center are pleased to present free legal consultations and advice for nonprofits at our fall 2015 brief advice event.
Sponsored by:
University of
Baltimore School of Law Community Development Clinic, and Community Law Center
For more call (410.837.5653) or email communitylaw@ubalt.edu to schedule a 45-minute appointment. Walk-ins are welcome, but we cannot guarantee assistance without an appointment. Register here: http://communitylaw.org/Free+Brief+Legal+Advice+for+Nonprofits.
Sponsor:
Community Law Center, University of Baltimore School of Law Community Development Clinic
Breaking Barriers 2015
Date:
Thu, 09/24/2015 - 5:30pm - 9:00pm
On Thursday, Sept.
24, 2015, Maryland Disability Law Center (MDLC) will hold its signature
community event, Breaking Barriers.
This year, our central theme will be the 25th Anniversary of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Breaking Barriers celebrates the
achievements of individuals and organizations engaged in the struggle for the
legal rights of people with disabilities, while highlighting the work that lies
ahead. In recognition and celebration of the ADA’s 25th anniversary,
we will screen Independent Lens’ outstanding documentary “Lives Worth Living” chronicling
key events leading to the passage of the ADA. A revered leader of the
disability rights movement who features prominently in the film given her contributions to the ADA and other achievements, Judith Heumann,
Special Advisor for International Disability Rights at the U.S. State
Department, will be present to accept MDLC’s “Lorraine Sheehan Lifetime
Achievement Award.” Congressman Steny Hoyer who was instrumental to passing this landmark civil rights law will accept the Public Policy Award, Sidley Austin LLP will receive the Legal Advocate Award, and the Grassroots Advocate Award will
be dedicated to the late MDLC attorney Gayle Hafner and presented to Thomas Hicks of Helping Other People through Empowerment (HOPE).
Breaking Barriers brings together
people from the disability, legal, nonprofit and business communities from
across the state. This event will be held at the University of Baltimore’s
modern, accessible Wright Theater and Bogomolny Room, conveniently located at Mount
Royal and Maryland Avenues in Baltimore. Our event tickets will be reasonably
priced to attract a broad audience and include scrumptious food and drink.
For more info, visit: http://www.mdlclaw.org/news-events/breaking-barriers.
For tickets, see: http://breakingbarriers2015.brownpapertickets.com.
Sponsor:
Maryland Disabilty Law Center
For-Profit Educator Will Pay the U.S. $13 Million to Settle Fraud Claims
Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
For-Profit Education Company to Pay $13 Million to Resolve Several Cases Alleging Submission of False Claims for Federal Student Aid
Settlement Resolves Allegations and Administrative Claims Involving Schools in Five States
Education Affiliates (EA), a for-profit education company based in White Marsh, Maryland, has agreed to pay $13 million to the United States to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the Department of Education for federal student aid for students enrolled in its programs. EA operates 50 campuses in the United States under various trade names, including All State Career, Fortis Institute, Fortis College, Tri-State Business Institute Inc., Technical Career Institute Inc., Capps College Inc., Driveco CDL Learning Center, Denver School of Nursing and Saint Paul’s School of Nursing, which provide post-secondary education training programs in several professions in the states of Alabama, Florida, Maryland, Ohio and Texas.
“Today’s settlement is an excellent example of cooperation among multiple offices of the federal government to achieve a result that protects federal student aid funding and the interests of individual students,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Schools have an obligation to live up to their commitment to the government and their students when they accept federal student aid funds.”
The government alleged that employees at EA’s All State Career campus in Baltimore altered admissions test results so as to admit unqualified students, created false or fraudulent high school diplomas and falsified students’ federal aid applications, and that multiple EA schools referred prospective students to “diploma mills” to obtain invalid online high school diplomas. These allegations also led to criminal convictions of two All State Careers admission representatives, Barry Sugarman and Jesse Moore, and a test proctor, Jacqueline Caldwell.
“Students who apply for federal financial aid to attend trade and professional schools are required to show that they have the necessary skills to complete the educational program and work in the field,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein of the District of Maryland. “This settlement resolves the government's allegations that Education Affiliates defrauded the government by changing students' test scores and enrolling students with invalid diploma mill high school ‘diplomas’ ordered online.”
“The various cases that were settled here include numerous allegations of predatory conduct that victimized students and bilked taxpayers,” said Under Secretary Ted Mitchell of the U.S. Department of Education. “In particular, the settlement provides for repayment of $1.9 million in liabilities ordered by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan that resulted from EA awarding federal financial aid to students at its Fortis-Miami campus based on invalid high school credentials issued by a diploma mill. Secretary Duncan made clear that such abusive behavior would not be tolerated, and we will continue to work with the Justice Department and other federal agencies to ensure that postsecondary institutions face consequences when they violate the law.”
The settlement agreement also resolves allegations related to EA schools in Birmingham, Alabama, Houston and Cincinnati, including violations of the ban on incentive compensation for enrollment personnel, misrepresentations of graduation and job placement rates, alteration of attendance records and enrollment of unqualified students.
“Using fake high school diplomas is a particularly insidious abuse of the federal student aid system,” said Inspector General Kathleen Tighe of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). “Students received only a worthless piece of paper.” Tighe commended the efforts of OIG staff and Department of Justice attorneys, whose outstanding investigative work led to this significant settlement.
The settlement resolves five lawsuits filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private citizens to sue on behalf of the United States and share in the recovery. As part of this resolution, the five whistleblowers will receive payments totaling approximately $1.8 million.
The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices of the District of Maryland, the Southern District of Texas, the Northern District of Alabama, Southern District of Ohio and the Middle District of Tennessee, as well as the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, and the Department of Education and its OIG.
The cases are captioned United States ex rel. Roman v. All State Career, Inc. and Education Affiliates, Inc., Civil Case No. JKB-10-1730 (D.Md.); United States ex rel. Thomas v. Education Affiliates, Inc., Civil Case No. JKB-14-332 (D.Md.); United States ex rel. Andrews v. Education Affiliates, Inc., et al., Civil Case No. H-13-2366 (S.D. Tex.); United States ex rel. Atkins, et al. v. Fortis Institute and Education Affiliates, LLC, Civil Case No. CV-14-1107-S (N.D. Ala.); and United States ex rel. McArthur, Gruff & Associates LLC v. Education Affiliates, Inc., Civil Case No. 1:14-CV-977 (S.D. Oh.). The False Claims Act claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
AS A RESULT: Some of our clients may be eligible for:
1) False certification relief. Apparently this school falsely certified non-h.s. graduates through fake diploma mills, and most students had no idea this was illegal. NYLAG just filed a false cert. application on behalf of similar students. This is a big issue, and the Dep’t has so far stated that it will not grant false cert. discharges to these students under current regs. because there is no longer any ability-to-benefit program for student loans.
2) Defense-to-repayment claims. These students may benefit from the new procedures that the Special Master is working on. You might be able to help these students through clinics or by representing them, once these procedures are out.
Thanks Donna Bernstein for passing this on ...
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