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Greetings Attorneys,   You may have seen that the Attorney Information System (AIS) is now open for you to file your annual pro bono and IOLTA reports online between now and September 10. We invite you to be in touch with Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service directly if you would like our help tallying your pro bono hours with us between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021.   Inquire about my hours   After filing your reports, you will…

The Maryland Attorney General, Maryland Judiciary, Maryland State Bar Association – MSBA, and Maryland Access to Justice Commission Issue Pro Bono Call to Action to Maryland’s legal community.   “As COVID becomes less of a health risk, the risk of financial devastation looms large for many families who have suffered job loss, other revenue loss,…

Happy Summer?      Like many, we at MVLS are trying to adjust yet again to the complexities of figuring out how to move safely into this next phase of the pandemic. We are filled with a bit of optimism and much hesitancy.  While MVLS staff have been hard at work all along, we began returning more consistently to our physical office…

Check out the June entry of our tip column with The Baltimore Times, Access to Justice – A Legal Tip Column for Marylanders:   Believe it or not, this is a common problem. If it has happened to you, you should not panic, but rather, reach out for help. Here is a general guideline as…

On May 3, 2021, Mayor Scott announced that many owner occupants on this year’s tax sale list will be removed from tax sale. This news was a huge relief to MVLS clients, who faced losing their homes during the pandemic. We applaud this announcement from the Scott administration and remain dedicated to continue to working…

Greetings,   On March 24, 1981, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service was officially created to give voice to the voiceless in the judicial system.  And here we are, 40 years later, focused on achieving our founders’ vision of providing access to justice for all, not just for those that can afford it.  In our first 40 years, MVLS and our volunteers have ensured…

Starting this week, a third Economic Impact Payment (EIP) could be coming your way.  With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, the federal government will be issuing checks.  This time, the amounts will be $1400 per individual, $2800 for married couples.  The difference this time is that instead of receiving lower amounts for dependent…

How do you spell RELIEF?    Maryland residents who filed a 2019 tax return and received the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) will be automatically receiving an economic impact payment from the Maryland Comptroller in the coming week. The Recovery for the Economy, Livelihoods, Industries, Entrepreneurs, and Families (RELIEF) Act provides for automatic payments of $300 to individual…

      The 2020 MVLS digital annual report includes stories about the impact we were able to have at the beginning of the pandemic through June to the end of our fiscal year. Please take a few minutes reviewing what hope can look like in the form of determined advocates who will not stop lending a critical…