By Kayla Williams, Managing Attorney
The groundhog saw its shadow and predicted a few more weeks of Winter. With that being said, I think we can all rejoice in knowing that Spring is around the corner. Spring tends to be the beginning of some of our busiest months at CLS. With the days becoming longer and the weather getting warmer, we usually see an uptick in the number of community outreach events that we participate in, along with an increase in the number of cases we handle. CLS prides itself on serving the community and low–income individuals, and we aim to participate in as many outreach and legal clinics as we can. This year we plan to participate in an Expungement clinic in partnership with Reid Temple AME Church, and the Prince George’s County Bar Association, which will take place on April 29th. If you are interested in volunteering at this clinic, please email Kayla Williams at williams@clspgc.org. We provide training and mentorship. We have many other volunteer and
paid case opportunities for attorneys. If you are interested in learning more about our upcoming events and the cases we have available, please join our Newsletter, visit our website at www.clspgc.org, and check out our social media pages to stay informed. A list of our various programs are below. For additional information, please email Williams@clspgc.org.
Pro Bono Call to Action
The Maryland Attorney General, Maryland Judiciary, Maryland State Bar Association and Maryland’s Access to Justice Commission have delivered an urgent call to action for pro bono services. Attorneys are strongly encouraged to take at least one pro bono case or a designated number of pro bono service hours over the next year to provide legal services in areas including housing and family law. All Pro Bono providers in Maryland, including CLS, are taking part in this call to action. The Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland is helping to implement this call to action by matching interested attorneys with pro bono organizations throughout the state. For more information, visit probonomd.org.
Eviction Prevention Programs
CLS is seeking attorneys to provide representation to tenants at their Failure to Pay Rent hearings through our same–day tenant representation program. Stipends are available. CLS provides training, malpractice insurance coverage, mentoring, and support to our volunteers. Out–of–state attorneys are welcomed. CLS and the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland have put together a training on how to represent tenants in Prince George’s County rent court. This training includes Landlord/Tenant rules and perspectives, issue spotting in Failure to Pay Rent complaints, and practical advice for handling cases. If you wish to take this training, have questions about the program, or want to sign up to represent tenants at their rent court hearings, please contact Kayla Williams, Esq. at williams@clspgc.org. Participating attorneys must commit to volunteer to staff two clinics or take two landlord/tenant cases within one year of completing the training.
Beyond this volunteer commitment, a stipend of $100* will be provided to attorneys in exchange for their representation, with a potential maximum of $200 per day. *$100 per half day in court (AM or PM sessions)
Interpreters Needed
CLS is in need of interpreters to assist attorneys representing Limited English proficient clients. Training is available and no prior experience is required. We pay $30 per hour and up to 30 hours per case. For more information, please email info@clspgc.org.
Civil Cases Available for Attorneys and Other Volunteer Opportunities
Through our Lawyer Referral Program, we refer income eligible clients to attorneys for representation in their domestic cases. Judicare funding provides funding to pay attorneys $100.00 per hour with a cap of $3,000 per case.* CLS allows you to bill twice during the case. CLS invoices Maryland Legal Services Corporation for your billed time. As a result, Judicare payments are usually paid a month after an invoice is submitted. CLS uses Bill.com which allows for electronic payment for invoices. This funding program is administered by MLSC with funds from the Administrative Office of the Courts.
*For Judicare invoices received on or after April 1, 2022 the hourly rate will increase from $100 an hour to $120 an hour. Additionally, for cases closed on or after April 1, 2022, the cap on hours will be moved from 30 hours to 35 hours.
*For Judicare invoices received on or after April 1, 2022 the hourly rate will increase from $100 an hour to $120 an hour. Additionally, for cases closed on or after April 1, 2022, the cap on hours will be moved from 30 hours to 35 hours.
Foreclosure Prevention Program
CLS has funding for attorneys representing clients in Prince George’s County through our Foreclosure Prevention Program. In foreclosure prevention cases, the funding provides attorneys $80.00 an hour and up to thirty (30) hours of representation. Cases include representation at judicial proceedings, mediation preparation, representation at mediation, and negotiations. Additionally, funding is available for bankruptcy chapter 7, and other legal actions that may help the client save his home. If you are interested in being added to our foreclosure volunteer attorney pool, or require additional information, please email us at info@clspgc.org. Training, mentoring and malpractice insurance is provided. Funding is available from a generous grant provided by MLSC.
*The hourly rate for foreclosure cases will increase from $80 an hour to $120 an hour with a cap of 35 hours per case.
Domestic Violence Wellness Program
Are you interested in building your practice by adding Protective and Peace Orders? Training is available. CLS’s domestic violence program places protective order and peace order petitioners and respondents with attorneys. CLS will provide mentoring to help you prepare your case. You will also be able to shadow one of the staff attorneys during Protective and Peace Order hearings. CLS’s Domestic Violence Legal Wellness Program places protective order cases, petitioners and respondents with attorneys. Attorneys receive $80 per hour with a cap of $500 per case. We ask that for each case that an attorney takes paid, that the attorney also take one pro bono. Please contact Marcie Mininberg, Esq., at mininberg@clspgc.org for more information. *The hourly rate for DV cases is $120 an hour with a maximum of $750 per case.
Concluding Thoughts
CLS clients have limited means, but that does not negate the fact that they have significant legal issues that require legal representation. We encourage you to help bridge the Access to Justice gap by taking Judicare and pro bono cases. CLS provides our attorneys with training, mentoring, access to a litigation fund, and malpractice insurance. To join our volunteer pool, please apply on our website at www.clspgc.org or contact info@clspgc.org.
Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County, Inc., is a non–profit organization established to provide quality legal services to low–income residents of Prince George’s County, MD. CLS provides direct legal services through the generous contributions of members of the private bar. For more information about our funder, Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) and our Judicare Program, visit www.mlsc.org.
CLS clients have limited means, but that does not negate the fact that they have significant legal issues that require legal representation. We encourage you to help bridge the Access to Justice gap by taking Judicare and pro bono cases. CLS provides our attorneys with training, mentoring, access to a litigation fund, and malpractice insurance. To join our volunteer pool, please apply on our website at www.clspgc.org or contact info@clspgc.org.
Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County, Inc., is a non–profit organization established to provide quality legal services to low–income residents of Prince George’s County, MD. CLS provides direct legal services through the generous contributions of members of the private bar. For more information about our funder, Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) and our Judicare Program, visit www.mlsc.org.
