January Newsletter

We hope you had a joyous holiday season and wish you a prosperous 2019. We concluded the year with the soft-opening of our Failure to Pay Rent Tenant Representation Program with great success. On that first day, our staff attorney Latavia Alexander, Esq., represented a client in a failure to pay rent case. As a preliminary motion, Ms. Alexander raised the defense of a lack of lead certificate license number on the Failure to Pay Rent form. The Landlord’s attorney did not have proof of the license information and as the property was required to have a lead certificate the case was dismissed. Additionally, the landlord’s other failure to pay rent cases were also dismissed for lack of lead certification. Our representation provided results for numerous tenants because it lead to the dismissal of over 10 cases. The dismissals protected tenants from possible evictions.  Evictions affect our families and communities.  Our program will provide representation to tenants and hopefully minimize unlawful evictions and keep residents in their homes. A reduction in evictions will lead to more stability and less homelessness in our community. We are proud of our staff attorney and look forward to many more successes for our community.

Sign up to help in our Failure to Pay Rent Tenant Representation Program & help families avoid wrongful evictions.  Training & Stipend is Available. 

CLS is seeking attorneys to provide same day representation to tenants in Rent Court at the District Court in Hyattsville. CLS provides training, malpractice insurance coverage, mentoring, and support to our volunteers.  Out-of-state attorneys are welcomed. We held a training this past November, Representing Tenants in Prince George’s County Rent Court, in partnership with the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, which is now available on line.  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 or have questions about the program, 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 docket  Funding for this program is provided by Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC).

 

A Loan Modification Approved and Default Judgment Case Dismissed

Client came in for brief advice regarding a lien declaratory action brought by her mortgage company in Circuit Court.  The lien was granted because of a default judgment in the District Court entered in 2006.  The client told us that the judgment was incorrect, it was not her in the District Court, and that she knew nothing about the lien.  Our staff attorney worked with the client and after some research was able to verify that the 2006 judgment was against another woman with the same name.  After securing documentation to support this finding, our staff attorney contacted opposing counsel to inform them of the error and mix-up regarding the client.  The lien was not attached to the client’s property, and thus posed no threat to the mortgage company’s interest.  After some negotiation, opposing counsel agreed to vacate and dismiss the Circuit Court case against the client.

 

CLS Monthly Foreclosure Prevention Training – Last Wednesday of Every Month

Our next monthly training will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at 2:00 pm. Join us for a presentation regarding the foreclosure related cases with opportunity to speak with an experienced foreclosure attorney.  Please RSVP to Nora Eidelman at 240-391-6532, ext. 5 or eidelman@clspgc.org. Trainings to be held at 6301 Ivy Lane, Suite 720, Greenbelt, MD.

 

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 pays the attorneys’ fees.  Attorneys receive $100.00 per hour with a cap of $3,000 per case. The billing process with CLS allows you to bill twice during the life of the case.  MLSC reimburses CLS for your billed time.  As a result, a slight delay in Judicare payments should be anticipated.  This funding program is administered by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) with funds from the Administrative Office of the Courts.  For more information about MSLC and the Judicare program, please visit https://www.mlsc.org/

CLS’s domestic violence program places protective order and peace order petitioners and respondents with attorneys. A limited funding of up to $500 per case is available for attorneys providing representation in these cases.

CLS encourages attorneys to take pro bono cases. CLS has requests for landlord tenant, wills as well as other civil legal cases. CLS can place cases with attorneys based on the attorney’s preferred case type.

CLS also has volunteer opportunities at our Brief Advice clinics. Expand and grow your practice by volunteering around your schedule.

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, monthly practitioner’s clinics, and malpractice insurance.  To learn more about our opportunities, please contact Nora C. Eidelman, at 240-391-6532, ext. 5.

Funding Available for Representation in Foreclosure Prevention

CLS has funding for attorneys representing clients in Prince George’s County through our Foreclosure Prevention program.  CLS has expanded our Foreclosure Prevention project to provide paid hours to attorneys accepting cases for representation in foreclosure defense cases, post-foreclosure motions for Surplus, tenants in foreclosures, as well foreclosure mediation.   In foreclosure prevention cases, the funding provides attorneys $80.00 an hour up to thirty hours of representation. Funds 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 contact Michael Udejiofor at 240-391-6532, ext. 1 or udejiofor@clspgc.org.  Training, mentoring and malpractice insurance is provided.  Funding is available from a generous grant provided by Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC).

 

 

December Newsletter

CLS Monthly Foreclosure Prevention Training – Last Wednesday of Every Month

Our next monthly training will be held on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 2:00 pm. Join us for a presentation regarding the foreclosure related cases with opportunity to speak with an experienced foreclosure attorney. Topics covered will include foreclosure mediation, foreclosure pre and post bankruptcy options, tenant actions: rent escrow, wrongful eviction, retaliatory actions, eviction by diminution of services, and consumer protection actions.  Please RSVP to Nora Eidelman at 240-391-6532, ext. 5 or eidelman@clspgc.org. Trainings to be held at 6301 Ivy Lane, Suite 720, Greenbelt, MD.

Funding Available for Representation in Foreclosure Prevention

CLS has funding for attorneys representing clients in Prince George’s County through our Foreclosure Prevention program.  CLS has expanded our Foreclosure Prevention project to provide paid hours to attorneys accepting cases for representation in foreclosure defense cases, post-foreclosure motions for Surplus, tenants in foreclosures, as well foreclosure mediation.   In foreclosure prevention cases, the funding provides attorneys $80.00 an hour up to thirty hours of representation. Funds 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 contact Michael Udejiofor at 240-391-6532, ext. 1 or udejiofor@clspgc.org.  Training, mentoring and malpractice insurance is provided.  Funding is available from a generous grant provided by Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC).

November Newsletter

CLS Family Law Mentoring Clinic on the Third Tuesday of Every Month

Please join us for this monthly Mentoring Clinic for CLS volunteer attorneys. Our next training is scheduled for November 20, 2018 at 6 pm. The trainings are held at Gray Legal, P.C. 9701 Apollo Drive, Suite 301, Largo, MD 20774. Visit our website for scheduled topics. Please RSVP to Priscilla Henderson at henderson@clspgc.org

 

A recent success story from our Foreclosure Prevention Program

Client is legally blind tenant in a home that was foreclosed upon. The Trustees filed a motion for judgment awarding possession despite having been presented a lease. CLS’s staff attorney helped her draft an opposition to the motion for possession. The Clerk, in error, did not inform the client about a hearing. Client missed the hearing, resulting in the Court granting possession to the foreclosing lender. The case was placed with our staff attorney to provide her with direct representation and he filed a temporary restraining order and a motion to stop the eviction. Additionally, he filed a motion to reconsider the order granting possession. The Court granted a new hearing and stayed the eviction. The judge granted the motion and by consent the parties entered a negotiated agreement for 90 days to complete the sale and purchase of the home by the tenant, who is qualified to purchase the property.

 

CLS Monthly Foreclosure Prevention Training – Last Wednesday of Every Month

Join us monthly on the last Wednesday of the month at 2:00 pm for a presentation regarding the foreclosure related cases with opportunity to speak with an experienced foreclosure attorney. Topics covered will include foreclosure mediation, foreclosure tenant actions, Foreclosure Pre and Post-Bankruptcy options, and wrongful eviction. Please RSVP to Nora Eidelman at 240-391-6532, ext. 5 or eidelman@clspgc.org. Trainings to be held at 6301 Ivy Lane, Room 720, Greenbelt, MD.

 

Funding Available for Representation in Foreclosure Prevention

CLS has funding for attorneys representing clients in Prince George’s County in foreclosure prevention cases.  CLS has expanded our Foreclosure Prevention project to provide paid hours to attorneys accepting cases for representation in foreclosure defense cases, post-foreclosure motions for Surplus, tenants in foreclosures, as well foreclosure mediation. In foreclosure prevention cases, the funding provides attorneys $80.00 an hour up to thirty hours of representation. Funds 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 contact Michael Udejiofor at 240-391-6532, ext. 1 or udejiofor@clspgc.org.  Training, mentoring and malpractice insurance is provided.  Funding is available from a generous grant provided by Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC).

October Newsletter

We co-sponsored a Wills for Heroes event on September 15 to assist first-responders, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections and probation officers. We have been co-sponsoring these one-day events for many years. Volunteer attorneys are provided with free training and in turn, they assist with free wills, advance directives and powers of attorney.

Wills on Wheels

CLS in partnership with the Pro Bono Resource Center are scheduling several free Estate Planning Clinic for low income residents ages 60 and over in Prince George’s County. Attorneys interested in expanding their practice area and volunteering for the Wills on Wheels program please consider signing up for CLS’s and PBRC’s Estate Planning Training Basics for Low-Income Seniors. Topics covered are drafting wills, advanced medical directives, financial powers of attorney and ethical issues when representing seniors with estate planning. The live training will be held on October 16, 2018, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, and will be taught by Lindsey K. Erdmann, Esq. of McNamee Hosea, 6411 Ivy Lane, Suite 200, Greenbelt, MD 20770. Register online at www.probonomd.org/training The training will be recorded and available to view on demand.

CLS Monthly Foreclosure Prevention Training – Last Wednesday of Every Month

Join us monthly on the last Wednesday of the month at 2:00 pm for a presentation regarding the foreclosure related cases with opportunity to speak with an experienced foreclosure attorney. Topics covered will include foreclosure mediation, foreclosure tenant actions, Foreclosure Pre and Post-Bankruptcy options, and wrongful eviction. Please RSVP to Nora Eidelman at 240-391-6532, ext. 5 or eidelman@clspgc.org. Trainings to be held at 6301 Ivy Lane, Room 720, Greenbelt, MD.

Training: Representing Domestic Violence Survivors

As part of our Domestic Violence Legal Wellness Program, Community Legal Services is partnering with the Pro Bono Resource Center to host a training on Representing Domestic Violence Survivors. The training is for volunteer attorneys interested in representing domestic violence survivors in protective order cases, family law, as well as other resources available to survivors in Prince George’s County. The training will take place on October 5, 2018 from 10am-1pm at the Upper Marlboro Courthouse. The training will feature presenters from Community Legal Services, House of Ruth, Amara Legal Center, Community Advocates for Families and Youth, and Maryland Safe Center for Human Trafficking Survivors.

Funding Available for Representation in Foreclosure Prevention

CLS has funding for attorneys representing clients in Prince George’s County in foreclosure prevention cases.  CLS has expanded our Foreclosure Prevention project to provide paid hours to attorneys accepting cases for representation in foreclosure defense cases, post-foreclosure motions for Surplus, tenants in foreclosures, as well foreclosure mediation. In foreclosure prevention cases, the funding provides attorneys $80.00 an hour up to thirty hours of representation. Funds 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 contact Michael Udejiofor at 240-391-6532, ext. 1 or udejiofor@clspgc.org.  Training, mentoring and malpractice insurance is provided.  Funding is available from a generous grant provided by Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC).

May Newsletter

By Nora C. Eidelman, Deputy Director

 

I am writing this piece while attending the 2018 Equal Justice Conference (EJC) in San Diego, California, May 10-12, 2018.  The EJC is co-sponsored by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and the National Legal Association & Defender Association. The agenda is full of catchy titles for the workshops that are being offered at the conference this year such as We Cannot Grow Enough Zucchini: Why Hunger in America Demands Lawyers Respond, The Disaster is Gone – So Are My Volunteers!, How to Integrate Cultural Competency When You Have How Long?!  The one that caught my attention the most and I attended was New York City’s Groundbreaking New Right to Counsel in Evictions: A Critical Piece in the Struggle for Housing Justice.  On August 11, 2017, The Right to Counsel Bill was signed into law in New York City, thereby becoming the first jurisdiction the United States to provide universal access to representation for low-income tenants in eviction matters.  The protection is for tenants living below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and facing eviction.  The panel of presenters made several points including that the Right to Counsel prevents the epidemic of homelessness in the future; evictions do not only affect the tenant but it affects families. Tenants are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, and grandparents. Keeping people in their home and preventing the trauma of homelessness for each member of the family, the enormous shelter costs to the government, and long-term results of homelessness on society. Evictions predominantly affect minorities and women; evictions are not about rent, they are about power and the financial power to hire an attorney.  Earlier today, I had the honor to speak with Andrew Scherer, Adjunct Professor and Policy Director for the Impact Center for Public Interest Law at New York School of Law. He was one of the leading advocates working for decades on the “right to counsel” for low income tenants facing eviction, writing numerous articles on the subject. He stated that while New York has good tenant protection laws, the process is very complex and “it is nearly impossible for people without law degrees and financial resources to navigate an eviction proceeding…rendering low income people homeless.”  He stated that he has been a lawyer for almost 40 years and “to the extent I’ve had a role in this very collaborative effort, it is the greatest achievement of my career.”  I will closely follow the outcomes in New York City as this interesting civil representation pilot begins.

 Mark your calendars for

Family Law in Maryland: Your Essential Toolkit Kick Off Party

June 5, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

 

Back by popular demand, and under the leadership of Nakia Gray, Esq., CLS is restarting its mentorship program for CLS volunteer attorneys. The party will be held at Gray Legal, P.C., 9701 Apollo Drive, Largo, MD 20770.  Refreshments will be served. To RSVP or additional information, please contact Jessica Quincosa at quincosa@clspgc.org

CLS Success Story

Client was a single mother who had been forced to quit her job during a difficult pregnancy because she ran out of leave.  She came to our office 8 months pregnant and in complete despair trying to save her home.  Our staff attorney counseled her on the process, the timeline, the points at which, once she was healthy and had safely delivered, she would be able to act. During the consultation as a multi-strategy plan was set up (a savings plan, a job plan, a modification plan, a Circuit Court plan and a Bankruptcy plan) to hedge the outcome. She worked closely with staff of CLS and was placed with a volunteer attorney for her foreclosure mediation.  During that time, she safely delivered her baby and was able to return to work.  The time that had been managed and negotiated allowed her to be ability to demonstrate the income necessary to modify her loan and keep her home. Our client is raising her newborn son in her home with a sustainable mortgage for years to come.

FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR REPRESENTATION IN FORECLOSURE PREVENTION

CLS has funding for attorneys representing clients in Prince George’s County in foreclosure prevention cases.  CLS has expanded our Foreclosure Prevention project to provide paid hours to attorneys accepting cases for representation in foreclosure defense cases, post-foreclosure motions for Surplus, tenants in foreclosures, as well foreclosure mediation.   In foreclosure prevention cases, the funding provides attorneys $80.00 an hour up for to thirty hours of representation. Funds 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 contact Michael Udejiofor at 240-391-6532, ext. 1 or udejiofor@clspgc.org.  Training, mentoring, malpractice insurance is provided.  Funding is available from a generous grant provided by Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC).

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 pays the attorneys’ fees.  Attorneys receive $80.00 per hour for the first 20 hours/$1,600.00 per case.  The next 5 hours on a case, will count as pro bono hours.  After the five pro bono hours, CLS may pay for up to an additional 15 hours at the rate of $80.00 per hour from Judicare Supplemental Funds, until funds are depleted.  Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) provides the funding for our Judicare program.  For more information about MSLC and the Judicare program, please visit https://www.mlsc.org/

CLS’s domestic violence program places protective order and peace order petitioners and respondents with attorneys. Limited funding is available for attorneys providing representation in these cases.

CLS encourages attorneys to take pro bono cases. CLS has requests for landlord/tenant cases, wills, and other civil cases. CLS can place cases with attorneys based on the attorney’s preferred case type.

CLS also has volunteer opportunities at our Brief Advice clinics. Expand and grow your practice by volunteering around your schedule.

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, monthly practitioner’s clinics, and malpractice insurance.  To learn more about our opportunities, please contact Nora C. Eidelman, at 240-391-6532, ext. 5.

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.  CLS provides direct legal services through the generous contributions by members of the private bar.  Additionally, CLS operates free Brief Advice Clinics throughout the County, including in the  Prince George’s County Circuit Court, Room 2435 M, 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. Intake is Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm., online applications are available at www.clspgc.org. For more information about our services, please contact Nora C. Eidelman, at 240-391-6532, ext. 5.