Newsletters – Community Legal Services of Prince George County

May 2024

By Kayla Williams, Deputy Director

Now that Maryland’s 2024 legislative session has concluded, I thought this would be a good opportunity to summarize some of the important housing bills that passed, most of which will take effect in October 2024. This year, Governor Wes Moore unveiled his Housing legislative package which included several bills aimed to positively impact affordable housing and tenants’ rights. HB 693, also known as the Renter’s Rights and Stabilization Act, provides several key protections for renters including establishing an Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs to provide renters with information about their rights, requiring that a Maryland Tenant Bill of Rights be created, reducing required security deposits to one month instead of two, and perhaps most significantly, this legislation will increase eviction filing fees to put Maryland more in line with other states. CLS and many other legal advocates testified in favor of this bill, and we are very pleased with its passage. HB 1117, the Tenant Safety Act, strengthens Maryland’s rent escrow laws by allowing tenants living in the same building to join together to file a case against landlords who fail to fix conditions that threaten the life, health and safety of the occupants. HB 428, a bill that CLS also testified on, will allocate $10 million to prevent evictions and homelessness for thousands of Maryland families. Lastly, SB 0019 will require District Courts to shield Failure to Pay Rent court records that did not result in a judgment within 60 days from the final resolution of the case, this bill also allows the court to shield Failure to Pay Rent cases that resulted in a judgment in certain circumstances.

CLS will hold a community roundtable on June 27^th from 5:30 PM to 7 PM at the Capital Office Park Conference Center, Lobby Level, located at 6404 Ivy Lane, Greenbelt, MD 20770. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served. This event will convene community leaders, legal professionals, philanthropists, and like-minded individuals with the overarching goal of fostering broader collaborations and connections among those committed to promoting access to justice and legal assistance for underserved populations in Maryland. To RSVP, please contact Simone Joye, Director of Development and Communications at Joye@clspgc.org, (240) 571-1326.

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 programs which operate in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties. 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. This training includes statutes that attorneys should be familiar with, perspectives from the judiciary and landlord and tenant attorney advocates, 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 hearings, please contact Kayla Williams-Campbell, 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. Our Judicare program provides funding to pay attorneys $120 per hour, and up to $4,200 per case, with a cap of 35 hours. 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.

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 $120 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 are provided. Funding is available from a generous grant provided by MLSC.

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 are eligible to receive $120 per hour with a cap of $750 per case. We ask that for each case that an attorney takes paid, that the attorney also takes one pro bono. Please contact Ivy Finkenstadt Esq., at finkenstadt@clspgc.org for more information.

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.

April 2024

By Kayla Williams, Deputy Director

May is Mental Health Awareness month and I wanted to use this opportunity to check in with everyone. According to the American Bar Association’s Task Force on Lawyer Well Being, lawyers rank eighth in a study of suicide by occupation, with a rate of 1.33 times the national norm.[1] Additionally, a 2017 American Bar Association article reported that 28 percent of lawyers suffered from depression, 19 percent had severe anxiety, and 11.4 percent had suicidal thoughts in the previous year.[2] These statistics are concerning and do not take into account the additional negative impacts that the pandemic may have caused to lawyers’ mental health, and to the legal profession overall.

As the saying goes, in order to take care of others, we must first take care of ourselves. As problem solvers, we often see people and situations at their worst which can and often does take a toll on us personally. This is why we must be intentional about checking in on our mental health and seeking help when necessary. The Maryland State Bar Association’s Lawyer Assistance Program is an excellent place to start, as its website includes a variety of resources that can be used to proactively take charge of your mental health. It also includes resources for lawyers suffering from personal issues, including mental health and substance abuse.

In closing, as you continue to fight for your clients and seek justice by any means, make sure you are also fighting for yourself. Whether it be by therapy, exercise, yoga, or mediation, we all owe it to ourselves to practice self-care and work towards being our happiest selves.

Pro Bono Call to Action

Eviction Prevention Programs

Interpreters Needed

Civil Cases Available for Attorneys and Other Volunteer Opportunities

Foreclosure Prevention Program

Domestic Violence Wellness Program

Concluding Thoughts

[1] These statistics were derived from an article published by The Daily Record. A link to this article can be found here: https://thedailyrecord.com/2022/11/30/lawyer-wellness-and-mental-health/

[2] A link to this article can be found here: https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/publications/youraba/2017/december-2017/secrecy-and-fear-of-stigma-among-the-barriers-to-lawyer-well-bei/

March 2024

By Kayla Williams-Campbell, Esq., Deputy Director

Spring has finally arrived and CLS has several exciting volunteer opportunities for attorneys looking to get involved. We currently have 3 upcoming expungement clinics scheduled on April 27^th, May 4^th, and June 22^nd. The April 27^th clinic will take place at Reid Temple AME church. The May 4^th clinic is in partnership with Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, and will take place in Baltimore City. The June 22^nd clinic is in partnership with Councilman Martin Mitchell’s office and will take place at the Laurel Library. In addition to these clinics, our office will continue to operate a virtual expungement clinic Monday through Friday.

On a similar note, May 1^st is Law Day and this year’s theme is “Voices of Democracy” which recognizes that in democracies, the people rule. Law Day is recognized nationally each year and is dedicated to celebrating the rule of law. Ways to get involved with Law Day include writing or speaking about this year’s theme, and joining local bar associations to volunteer at their Law Day events.

If you are interested in volunteering at any of our upcoming expungement clinics, or you are interested in learning more about Law Day and/or our various legal programs, please email me at Williams@clspgc.org.

Pro Bono Call to Action

Eviction Prevention Programs

Interpreters Needed

Civil Cases Available for Attorneys and Other Volunteer Opportunities

Foreclosure Prevention Program

Domestic Violence Wellness Program

Concluding Thoughts

February 2024

By Kayla Williams-Campbell, Esq., Deputy Director

March is Women’s History Month and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to celebrate women in the legal profession. According to a 2022 American Bar Association Survey, more than one third of all lawyers are women, and this number continues to grow. Women were not permitted to practice law in Maryland until 1902 when Etta Haynie Maddox became the first woman to do so. Maddox’s initial application to practice law was rejected by the Court of Appeals which reasoned that, “the right to practice law was not a natural inherent right belonging to every person, but instead was available only to males by statute.” Maddox went on to advocate before the Maryland General Assembly for a bill that would permit women to practice law in Maryland; this bill became law in April 1902 and the rest is history.[1]

Women are making strides in the legal profession every day. Whether it be through litigation and courtroom advocacy, lobbying for legislative changes, or serving on boards and local and specialty bar association committees, the impact of women having a seat at the table can be felt far and wide.

Community Legal Services’ Executive Director, Jessica Quincosa, has demonstrated her commitment to ensuring that women not only have a seat at the table, but also in leadership. For example, CLS is currently comprised of 37 employees, of which 27 are women. Furthermore, CLS’s board of directors, which is comprised of 19 board members, includes 10 women.

In closing, I would like to highlight a few women’s bar associations and organizations that do great work throughout the community. These organizations include the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys, J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association’s Women’s Committee, the Women’s Bar Association of Maryland, and the Women’s Law Center of Maryland, to name a few. I hope that you are able to find time to learn about the impact these organizations have on communities throughout Maryland.

Pro Bono Call to Action

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 programs which operate in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties. 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. This training includes statutes that attorneys should be familiar with, perspectives from the judicuary and landlord and tenant attorney advocates, 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 hearings, please contact Kayla Williams-Campbell, 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.

Interpreters Needed

Civil Cases Available for Attorneys and Other Volunteer Opportunities

Foreclosure Prevention Program

Domestic Violence Wellness Program

Concluding Thoughts

[1] Maryland State Bar Association: From Exclusion to Acceptance: Women Lawyers in Maryland (2022)

January 2024

By Kayla Williams-Campbell, Esq., Managing Attorney

As we begin filling up our calendars for the New Year, I thought that now would the perfect time to provide an update on our various programs and clinics in hopes that you will find time to volunteer and make providing pro bono services part of your new year’s resolutions. In FY23, we provided free legal advice and representation in more than 12,000 cases involving family law, domestic violence, foreclosure prevention, landlord/tenant, bankruptcy chapter 7, and other non-fee generating civil legal issues. Through our various clinics and programs, which are described below, we assist clients with their legal needs which in turn, increases their economic status by freeing them from legal hardships and providing them with access to equitable legal representation which positively impacts many of their personal, financial, and professional lives.

In total, we have 6 clinics and programs and all have various ways that attorneys can get involved. Our Latino Access clinic provides legal advice and representation to low-income Latino and Spanish speaking individuals in family law matters including custody, child support, standby guardianship, and domestic violence cases. This clinic is located in Langley Park, Maryland, which is a predominately Hispanic community, and it focuses on ensuring that Latino and Spanish speaking residents have equitable access to legal representation, since this demographic encompasses a significant portion of Prince George’s County residents. This clinic is staffed by a full-time CLS attorney and paralegal who are both bilingual, and it operates every Tuesday and Thursday in-person, with a virtual option on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Our Self-Represented Clinic operates out of the Prince George’s County Circuit Courthouse in Upper Marlboro five days a week. This clinic provides legal advice and document preparation in civil cases in which the client intends to represent themselves. Our Foreclosure Prevention and Bankruptcy Clinic also provides legal advice and representation through this clinic on Friday afternoons, and virtually throughout the week.

Our Eviction Prevention Programs provide same-day and extended scope representation, along with legal advice and document preparation, to tenants facing eviction in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties. Our clinics operate at the Hyattsville, Glen Burnie, and Annapolis District courts. CLS attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants are present at each courthouse daily during each docket. In addition to full-time staff, both programs utilize volunteer attorneys to ensure we are able to meet the demand in need for our services. Since 2018, we have provided representation and legal advice in more than 10,000 cases, many of which resulted in case dismissals, referrals for rental assistance, and evictions being avoided.

Our Domestic Violence Wellness Program (DVLW) represents victims of domestic violence in Protective Order cases. Our staff attorney personally handles dozens of cases per year, and we place approximately 60 cases per year with other pro bono attorneys. Moreover, clients of the DVLW program often receive pro bono representation from volunteer attorneys for their family law matters after their protective orders are secured. This year, CLS expanded its program to add an additional staff attorney to assist clients with same-day representation in Temporary Protective Order Hearings.

Finally, we recently expanded our services to include a Cannabis and Expungement Law Outreach and Education Program which provides legal advice, training, and expungement assistance to individuals throughout Prince George’s County. This program also staffs our jail clinic hotline for detainees of the Prince George’s County Detention Center to call with their civil law legal concerns.

Additional information about our programs is included below. If you have any questions, or are interested in volunteering with any of these programs, please email Kayla Williams-Campbell at williams@clspgc.org.

Pro Bono Call to Action

Eviction Prevention Programs

Interpreters Needed

Civil Cases Available for Attorneys and Other Volunteer Opportunities

Foreclosure Prevention Program

Domestic Violence Wellness Program

Concluding Thoughts

November 2023

By Michelle Pereira Santiago, Staff Attorney

November is typically the month when Americans give thanks for everything that has happened during the year. Many people take time away from work, school, and other responsibilities to celebrate Thanksgiving, spending quality time with their families and friends. However, during this holiday season not everyone has the ability or resources to do this. That is why we at Community Legal Services (CLS) want to remind everyone that November can also be a month when we give back to the community.

Many of us are familiar with special events happening in November such as Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. However, a lesser-known event also takes place on the fourth Tuesday of November: The National Day of Giving. This year the celebration, also known as Giving Tuesday, will occur on November 28th and its main purpose is to promote generosity among the general public to help people in need and raise funds for charities. The date for this celebration is no coincidence, as it was chosen because the fourth Tuesday of November falls just after major shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Giving Tuesday was created back in 2012 with the intention of incentivizing the public to donate and help others facing difficult circumstances. For this reason, we at CLS want to encourage everyone who is able to do so, to share joy during this holiday season with those in need. By supporting organizations that can provide assistance to people who need it the most. Donations do not have to be exclusively monetary or in goods, anyone who wishes to do so can donate their time and volunteer for one of the many nonprofit organizations that offer aid to Marylanders.

If you are interested in donating funds, goods or your time, reach out to local charities in your area to find out more about their activities during this holiday season and what are the best ways to help them. Finally, always remember to research the cause and organization you will be supporting to make sure they are a legitimate service provider or nonprofit and that your donations will reach the intended beneficiaries.

Pro Bono Call to Action

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.

Interpreters Needed

Civil Cases Available for Attorneys and Other Volunteer Opportunities

Foreclosure Prevention Program

Domestic Violence Wellness Program

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 are eligible to receive $120 per hour with a cap of $750 per case. We ask that for each case that an attorney takes paid, that the attorney also takes one pro bono. Please contact Ivy Finkenstadt Esq. at finkenstadt@clspgc.org for more information.

Concluding Thoughts

February 2023

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.

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.

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.

January 2023 Newsletter

By Kayla Williams, Managing Attorney

Although the pandemic is still ongoing, court filings are trending towards pre–pandemic levels. This can especially be seen in landlord/tenant cases. The Maryland Judiciary recently released a report highlighting the number of landlord/tenant filings throughout the state as of September 2022. In September, there were 33,942 Failure to Pay Rent filings, 786 Tenant Holding Over filings, and 212 Breach of Lease filings. To put this into perspective, in 2019 there were 58,942 Failure to Pay Rent filings, 250 Tenant Holding Over filings, and 137 Breach of Lease cases filed.

These numbers are troublesome, and with the courts in full operation and many leases nearing expiration or having already expired, I think it’s safe to say that we can expect these numbers to continue trending upward.

It is no secret that the pandemic has exacerbated America’s eviction and housing crisis. High rent and housing costs, coupled with inflation, illness, and an unpredictable job market have further enhanced these issues. Additionally, the future of widespread rental assistance programs is unclear. Through the implementation of Access to Counsel in Eviction proceedings, CLS and many other legal services providers have answered the call to action to provide representation to tenants in need of assistance. Our office currently provides free representation to income–eligible tenants in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties.

If you are interested in volunteering with either of our Eviction Prevention programs, please email me at Williams@clspgc.org.

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).

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.

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.

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.

June 2021 CLS Article

COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES OF PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, INC.

By Catrina Aquilino, Supervising Attorney

Summer is here, vaccinations are available to all adults, and many are cautiously reuniting with family members and friends in person. CLS is ensuring that we are as prepared as possible for when the rent and foreclosure moratoria end. Many in our community will be facing evictions, foreclosure, collections cases, and bankruptcies. Our volunteer attorneys and staff are integral to providing advice and representation to many families who will continue to suffer the effects of the pandemic for months and years to come. We continue to meet clients where most convenient for them, either by phone, video, or in person. Like many, we will continue a hybrid approach as it offers flexibility for both clients and attorneys.

We continue to work with non-profits, faith based organizations, civic organizations, and more throughout the County in order to bring about access to justice for all. We are always in need of volunteer attorneys to take on a variety of cases, with training and mentorship available. If you are interested in learning more about our opportunities, please review the various programs listed below and send me an email at aquilino@clspgc.org if you have any questions. CLS will need the help of the members of the Prince George’s County Bar Association to serve those most in need of our assistance. Please contact us today to find out how you can help our community.

Failure to Pay Rent Tenant Representation Program

Sign up to help in our Prince George’s County Failure to Pay Rent Tenant Representation Program and help families avoid wrongful evictions during Covid-19. Training & Stipend are available. As Maryland courts have resumed in-person hearings for Failure to Pay Rent cases, CLS will need attorneys to provide same day representation to tenants in Rent Court. CLS provides training, malpractice insurance coverage, mentoring, and support to our volunteers. Out-of-state attorneys are welcomed. CLS and Pro Bono Resource of Maryland have put together a training on Tenants in Prince George’s County Rent Court. The 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 help in either county, 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. *per half day in court (AM or PM sessions) in Prince George’s County.

Success Stories from our Failure to Pay Rent Tenant Representation Program

On April 23rd, a CLS volunteer attorney helped a client and a landlord reach a settlement agreement where the landlord agreed to dismiss his Tenant Holding Over case and to instead apply for rental assistance thus preventing an eviction and allowing the landlord to obtain funds for back rent.

Additionally, on April 30th, CLS represented a tenant in a Tenant Holding Over case which was dismissed based on the complaint being filed prematurely. CLS informed the court that the Tenant Holding Over case had been filed before the tenant’s lease expired and requested a dismissal. The court agreed and the case was dismissed.

Project Bounce Back

CLS and the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) are partnering on Project Bounce Back. Project Bounce Back, which focuses on Prince George’s County residents who are facing or have recently filed a Chapter seven or thirteen bankruptcy for financial relief. This is a six-month financial and legal education course, where participants receive practical tips and advice on understanding their finances. Program benefits include: One-on-one credit counseling

Free legal advice & referrals, Budgeting tips & tools. The program is offered virtually, free of charge, on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month from March 23, 2021, to September 28, 2021. Even though the trainings have already begun, if you know of someone that would be interested in participating, please reach out to see how we could accommodate them, as clients are encouraged to contact us even if they have missed one training. Please contact our staff attorney, John Gabel, at gabel@clspgc.org for more information on this program. We may be able to provide assistance with equipment to access the course.

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 paid $30 per hour up to 30 hours per case. For more information, please contact Catrina C. Aquilino, at aquilino@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 but CLS is now using 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.

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.

Our Monthly Foreclosure Prevention Trainings for volunteer attorneys will be held via ZOOM on Monday, June 28, 2021 at 2:00 PM. Please contact John Gabel, Esq., at gabel@clspgc.org to register to attend the training.

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 and 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.

Success Stories from our Domestic Violence Wellness Program

1. Client obtained a temporary protective order against his landlord. Client was fearful of his landlord due to repeated assault, breaking into his room, and denying him access to common areas. CLS placed the protective order case with our staff attorney, Ms. Mininberg. Client obtained a final protective order allowing client to no longer live in fear of abuse by his landlord. Ms. Mininberg further assisted client with securing alternate housing in an assisted living facility and arranging for payment of a mover to transport client’s belongings to his new home.

2. Client was referred by a social worker at the hospital. Due to her injuries sustained as a result of an assault, client was unable to travel to the courthouse to obtain a temporary protective order. Her case was placed with our staff attorney, Ms. Mininberg. Ms. Mininberg assisted client in completing the petition for protection and filed it on client’s behalf. Ms. Mininberg assisted client in reaching out to law enforcement in order to have detectives come to the hospital to take her statement. As a result, criminal charges for assault were filed against the abuser. Client obtained a final protective order requiring the abuser to vacate client’s home. Ms. Mininberg further assisted client with arranging for financial assistance with getting client’s locks changed.

3. Follow-up: Client was represented by our staff attorney in a prior protective order hearing. Unfortunately, when that order recently expired, there was another incident and cross-petitions were filed once again. On very short notice, our staff attorney, Ms. Mininberg represented client in both hearings. Ms. Mininberg successfully defended client against an order being placed against him and succeeded in obtaining an order against the opposing party providing client with custody of the minor children and an order for the opposing party to vacate the residence. Client was also placed with a volunteer attorney to assist in filing for divorce and custody.

Concluding Thoughts

CLS clients have limited means but have real legal issues that require representation. Help CLS bridge the Access to Justice Gap by taking Judicare or Pro Bono cases. CLS provides our volunteer attorneys 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. (CLS) is a non-profit organization established to provide quality civil legal services to low-income residents of Prince George’s County, MD. CLS provides direct legal services through the generous contributions by members of the private bar. For more information about MSLC and the Judicare program, please visit https://www.mlsc.org

Please Note: During Covid-19, many of our services are remote including our clinics, clients may call our hotline, email info@clspgc.org, or apply online to speak with an attorney. CLS operates free Legal Advice Clinics throughout the County, including in the Prince George’s County Circuit Court, Room M2435, the Prince George’s County Multi-Services Center in Langley Park, and in Suitland’s Windsor Crossings Apartments. For referrals of low-income residents of Prince George’s County to CLS programs, our hotline is 240-391-6370. Our temporary intake-hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-6:00pm; online applications are available at www.clspgc.org.

December 2020 Newsletter

COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES OF PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, INC.

By Catrina Aquilino, Supervising Attorney

As the holidays near, CLS is gearing up for the new year and the end of the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. While many will be toasting in a new year with hopes of healing and better days to come, thousands of those in our community will be facing the very real threat of homelessness. Not only does the coronavirus continue to spread throughout our communities, but our clients continue to face widespread unemployment and underemployment. CLS attorneys are working tirelessly to help clients navigate through the many changes to the court system during the past several months.

CLS has adapted, as we all have, to working remotely. Recently CLS has begun to host virtual expungement clinics. CLS hosted our first two virtual clinics on October 31 and November 14. We want to thank all of the volunteers and partner organizations that worked with us to ensure successful and safe events for all the clients. CLS continues to offer a number of ways in which attorneys can volunteer with our various programs, both pro bono and for paid opportunities as detailed below. Please contact us today to find out how you can help our community to enter into the new year with greater certainty so that they too will be able to begin 2021 with hope for healing and better days to come.

Expungement Clinic (Virtual)

CLS and the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System will host an expungement clinic on Saturday, December 12, 2020, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The clinic will address criminal records that may keep residents from obtaining work and housing. Attorneys will be available to provide advice on expungement and other civil legal matters. Potential participants seeking advice need to register at bit.ly/libraryexpungement. For more information or to register to volunteer, please contact Supervising Attorney Catrina Aquilino, Esq., at aquilino@clspgc.org.

Project Bounce Back

Free legal advice & referrals, Budgeting tips & tools. The program is offered virtually, free of charge, on the third Thursday evening of each month from September 17, 2020, to February 18, 2021. We intend on offering another session to begin around March 2021. We may be able to provide assistance with equipment to access the course.

Failure to Pay Rent Tenant Representation Program

Sign up to help in our Prince George’s County or Anne Arundel County’s Failure to Pay Rent Tenant Representation Program and help families avoid wrongful evictions during Covid-19. Training & Stipend are available. Maryland courts have resumed in-person hearings, CLS needs attorneys to provide same day representation to tenants in Rent Court. CLS provides training, malpractice insurance coverage, mentoring, and support to our volunteers. Out-of-state attorneys are welcomed. CLS and Pro Bono Resource of Maryland have put together a training on Tenants in Prince George’s County Rent Court. The 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 help in either county, 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. *per half day in court (AM or PM sessions) in Prince George’s County, and $100 per case in Anne Arundel County.

A Success Story from our Rent Court Program

On October 29th, CLS represented a tenant at her rent escrow hearing where the tenant had complained about an insect infestation, holes in her ceiling and floor, and mold. Although the tenant had withheld $3,347 in rent, by establishing a rent escrow case, the tenant was allowed to pay the back due rent to the court. The issues were eventually resolved after the rent escrow case concluded, and a trial was held which resulted in the tenant receiving $1,347 that was returned back to her based on the length of time that the issues existed, and the severity.

We have also helped many tenants raise the CDC and Governor Hogan’s eviction moratoriums delaying evictions and helping them get caught up on their rent.

Interpreters Needed

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 but CLS is now using 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.

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.

Our Monthly Foreclosure Prevention Trainings for volunteer attorneys will be held via ZOOM on Monday, November 30, 2020 at 2:00 PM. Please contact John Gabel, Esq., at gabel@clspgc.org to register to attend the training.

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 and petitioners and respondents with attorneys. Attorneys receive $80 per hour with a cap of $500 per case. Please contact Marcie Mininberg, Esq., at mininberg@clspgc.org for more information.

Success Stories from our Domestic Violence Wellness Program

Success Story #1

As a follow up to the Client whose story we shared last month, Ms. Mininberg was able to assist the client in obtaining an entire apartment worth of furniture.

Success Story #2

Client was referred by the Family Justice Center regarding domestic violence incidents between her and her husband. Client was fearful of her husband having suffered horrific abuse by him and thus opted not to return to the marital home. CLS placed the protective order case with Ms. Mininberg and took the client’s application for a divorce attorney. Ms. Mininberg successfully obtained a final protective order allowing the client to no longer live in fear of abuse by her husband. Ms. Mininberg also advised the client of the possibility of filing multiple criminal charges against her husband. Client did so and her husband was arrested and is awaiting trial. In addition, Ms. Mininberg contacted an organization to assist the client with obtaining an apartment by providing financial assistance with a security deposit and first month’s rent as well as furniture for her new apartment.

CLS clients have limited means but have real legal issues that require representation. Help CLS bridge the Access to Justice Gap by taking Judicare or Pro bono cases. CLS provides our volunteer attorneys 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.

Please Note: During Covid-19, all of our services are remote including our clinics, clients may call our hotline, email info@clspgc.org , or apply online to speak with an attorney. CLS operates free Legal Advice Clinics throughout the County, including in the Prince George’s County Circuit Court, Room M2435, the Prince George’s County Multi-Services Center in Langley Park, and in Suitland’s Windsor Crossings Apartments. For referrals of low-income residents of Prince George’s County to CLS programs, our hotline is 240-391-6370. Our temporary intake-hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-6:00pm; online applications are available at www.clspgc.org.