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THE LAWS ARE IN PLACE THAT PROHIBIT ANY GOVERNMENT AFFILIATED LEGAL AID FROM PURSUING CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS OR CRIMINAL CASES.  YET, THESE ARE THE ONLY LEGAL REPRESENTATION MOST PEOPLE CAN RETAIN.   THIS IS DONE ON PURPOSE AND YOUR INCUMBENT VOTES FOR THOSE LAWS!!!!

I AM NOT NEGLECTING THIS TOPIC.  I SIMPLY HAVE NOT FOUND A LEGAL OUTLET FOR THE PUBLIC THAT IS WORKING IN MARYLAND.





This is a prime example of why Maryland voters need to vote their incumbent out of office.  Time and again the Maryland legislature creates law that works against the people.  At a time when Attorney General Gansler and Governor O'Malley are promoting the bringing home from the tiny mortgage fraud settlement the funds to help homeowners who were victims of fraud, we can be assured there will be no protections for the people as they try to use that money for meaningful help.





Bankruptcy petition preparers said to overstep bounds Consumers advised to take advantage of free legal help from lawyers instead
By Eileen Ambrose, The Baltimore Sun 11:41 a.m. EDT, June 26, 2012

When it comes to filing for bankruptcy, Marylanders are more likely to be do-it-yourselfers than debtors in other states. Maryland ranked ninth in the country a year ago in the number of bankruptcy cases in which the debtor wasn't represented by a lawyer, according to the administrative office for the U.S. Courts.Even some of these go-it-alone filers aren't completely without assistance, though. Many hire a bankruptcy petition preparer to fill out court documents. Preparers, who charge a fee, can't give legal advice, such as whether the debtor is better off filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 13 instead of Chapter 7.
But there's increasing concern nationwide that petition preparers may be overstepping their bounds by giving legal advice — and not very good advice at that. This can lead to debtors' unnecessarily forfeiting assets or even having their cases dismissed, legal experts say. A federal courts newsletter reported last week that growing problems with bankruptcy petition preparers — BPPs — seem to be tied to the foreclosure rescue and loan modification services that have popped up in recent years. "The homeowners are desperate and take advice from the most questionable sources," said California Bankruptcy Judge Maureen Tighe in the newsletter. "There is a wide range of BPPs, from those who are well-meaning but still are giving legal advice, to out-and-out fraud perpetrators — and the down-and-out consumer debtor doesn't know the difference most of the time."It's understandable that cash-strapped consumers might want to save money by using a preparer who charges much less than a lawyer.But bankruptcy — especially Chapter 13, in which the consumer agrees to a repayment plan — can be tricky, and the advice of a good attorney is invaluable. Do-it-yourselfers who can't afford a lawyer should explore programs that offer free legal advice or representation. Maryland has a variety of such programs, including one in the Bankruptcy Court that provides a free half-hour consultation with a lawyer.Bankruptcy petition preparers have been around for decades, but their numbers have grown since the 2005 overhaul of the nation's bankruptcy law, attorneys say. The tougher law required more work and documentation from lawyers, who in turn raised their fees. Preparers stepped up to assist debtors who couldn't afford a lawyer. Bankruptcy petitioners don't have to be certified or trained. They are just supposed to type the debtor's information on bankruptcy forms.Some courts limit preparer fees to $150 to $250. But there's no cap in Maryland, and fees can range from $100 to $700 for a few hours' work. In comparison, a lawyer in Maryland may charge $500 to $3,000 for a simple Chapter 7 bankruptcy, says Brett Weiss, a Greenbelt lawyer.The majority of preparers have worked in a law office or successfully handled their own bankruptcies, says Donald Harris, director of the National Association of Bankruptcy Petition Preparers in Ohio. The group trains preparers and has about 460 members nationwide."They discovered how easy it really is and began asking the question, 'If it's this easy to fill out the form and I have a simple bankruptcy, why is the attorney charging $2,000?'"Harris, a bankruptcy attorney, says hiring a preparer to download bankruptcy forms and fill them out is similar to hiring H&R Block to fill out tax returns.But lawyers say bankruptcy is not simple."Bankruptcy is one of the most complex areas of law, with so many different types of law folded into it," Weiss says. Lawyers, of course, have a financial interest in having consumers hire them rather than bankruptcy preparers. But attorneys say some filers pay a preparer and end up having to hire a lawyer anyway."I personally have been involved in a number of cases where I have taken over a filing where a petition preparer completely screwed it up," Weiss says. "I have seen cases where people have lost their homes as a result of petition preparer errors." Richard Chambers, deputy director of the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, says he has seen a couple of debtors' cases thrown out of court after preparers incorrectly filled out forms. Copyright © 2012, The Baltimore Sun

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FREE LEGAL AID Maryland There are many pro bono legal assistance and legal aid programs providing legal help and representation for low income Maryland residents in many civil cases.These community programs help socially and economically needy seniors age 60 and over, people with problems related to a disability, immigration law and related issues, people whose constitutional rights have been violated or who have been the victim of illegal discrimination.

These legal help organizations can also refer low-income clients to private attorneys in the State.


ANNAPOLISContested Custody Project--YWCA

Case Types: Divorce, Domestic Violence, Child Custody

Contested Custody Project--YWCA Of Annapolis And Anne Arundel County Legal Services 1517 Ritchie Highway Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410-626-7800 Fax: 410-626-7815

Restrictions: Clients must meet Maryland Legal Services Program income eligibility standards

Counties Served: Anne Arundel

BALTIMORE

Bar Association of Baltimore City

Case Types: Bankruptcy, Consumer, Domestic Violence, Elder Law, Health, Housing

Bar Association of Baltimore City Legal Services to the Elderly Program 111 N Calvert Street 631 Baltimore, MD 21202-1917 Phone: 410-396-1322 Fax: 410-332-8468

Restrictions: Clients must be 60 or older and live in Baltimore City.

Community Law Center

Case Types: Community Economic Development, Employment, Real Estate

Community Law Center -- The Pro Bono Project 2500 Maryland Avenue Baltimore, MD 21218-4510 Phone: 410-366-0922 Fax: 410-366-7763

Counties Served: Baltimore City

The Community Law Center serves community organizations and small businesses in low to moderate income neighborhoods in an effort to improve the safety, quality of life and economic vitality in Baltimore neighborhoods.

Saint Ambrose Legal Services

Case Types: Bankruptcy, Consumer, Housing, Real Estate, Finance, Mortgage Loans and Foreclosures

Saint Ambrose Legal Services 321 E 25th Street Baltimore, MD 21218-5303 Phone: 410-366-8537 Fax: 410-235-7180

Cases limited to homeowners in danger of losing their homes.

Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.

Case Types: Child Custody, Domestic Violence, Divorce, Adoption, Termination of Parental Rights, Bankruptcy, Community Economic Development, Consumer, Education, Elder Law, Employment, Health, Housing, Juvenile, Torts, Wills, Public Benefits

Legal Aid Bureau, Inc. 500 E Lexington St Baltimore, MD 21202-3559 Phone: 410-951-7777 Fax: 410-951-7769

Maryland Disability Law Center

Case Types: Education, Special Education

Maryland Disability Law Center 1800 N Charles St Ste 400 Baltimore, MD 21201-5907 Phone: 410-727-6352 Fax: 410-727-6389

Pro bono referrals for special education cases must meet the Maryland Legal Services income guidelines (ie: 4/$41,440/yr).

American Civil Liberties Union

Case Types: Education, Housing, civil rights, Individual Rights

American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland 3600 Clipper Mill Rd. Ste. 350 Baltimore, MD 21211-1995 Phone: 410-889-8555 Fax: 410-366-7838

HERO

Case Types: Individual Rights, AIDS/HIV, Bankruptcy, Standby Guardianship, Consumer, Housing, Public Benefits, Wills

Health Education Resource Organization (HERO) 1734 Maryland Avenue Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: 410-685-1180 ext. 261 Fax: 410-752-3353

Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc.

Case Types: Divorce, Child Custody, Immigration, Bankruptcy, Consumer, Housing, Public Benefits, Wills

Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc. - Free Legal Aid Maryland 300 Cathedral Street 204 Baltimore, MD 21201-4407 Phone: 410-685-6589 ext. 114 Fax: 410-625-0361

Restrictions: No fee generating or criminal.

House of Ruth

Case Types: Child Custody, Divorce, Domestic Violence

House of Ruth Domestic Violence Legal Clinic 2201 Argonne Dr Baltimore, MD 21218-1627 Phone: 410-554-8463 Fax: 410-243-3014

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Inc.

Case Types: Divorce, Guardianship, Child Custody, Adoption, Bankruptcy, Consumer, Elder Law, Employment, Housing, Public Benefits, Contract/Warranty, Deed Changes, Expungement, IRS Tax Disputes, Torts, Wills Name Changes, Power of Attorney, Regular School Suspension, Uninsured Motorists and Small Estate Probate.

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Inc. One North Charles Street 222 Baltimore, MD 21201-3701 Phone: 410-547-6537 Fax: 410-837-0431

Counties Served: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Annes, Saint Marys, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, Worcester

Public Justice Center

Case Types: Immigration, Education, Employment, Housing, Individual Rights, Civil rights, Juvenile, Torts

Public Justice Center 500 E Lexington St Fl 2 Baltimore, MD 21202-3559 Phone: 410-625-9409 Fax: 410-625-9423

School House Legal Services

Case Types: Youth Development, Education, Juvenile, School Discipline

School House Legal Services - Advocates for Children & Youth 34 Market Pl Ste 500 Baltimore, MD 21202-4099 Phone: 410-547-9200 Fax: 410-547-8690

Case Restrictions: Children who have been suspended or expelled or have truancy problems in school.

The Lawyers Clearinghouse

Case Types: Provide legal services to nonprofit organizations, Employment, Real Estate, Wills, Community Economic Development

The Lawyers Clearinghouse 190 West Ostend Street 201 Baltimore, MD 21230-3797 Phone: 410-837-0755 Fax: 410-727-1914

Case Restrictions: Must be members of Maryland non-profits

BEL AIR

Harford County Bar Foundation

CASE TYPES: Divorce, Adoption, Termination of Parental Rights, Child Custody, Bankruptcy, Consumer, Education, Elder Law, Employment, Health, Housing, Juvenile, Public Benefits, Real Estate, Torts, Wills

Harford County Bar Foundation, Inc. 5 North Main Street Bel Air, MD 21014 Phone: 410-836-0123 Fax: 410-836-7117

Counties Served: Harford

HYATTSVILLE

Law Foundation Of Prince George's County

Case Types: Divorce, Child Custody, Termination of Parental Rights, Domestic Violence, Education, Elder Law, Employment, Bankruptcy, Housing, Individual Rights, Public Benefits, Wills, Consumer

Law Foundation Of Prince George's County, Inc. -- Pro Bono Project 5303 Baltimore Ave Ste 200 Hyattsville, MD 20781-1952 Phone: 301-864-4907 - 301-864-8353 Fax: 301-864-8352

Counties Served: Prince Georges

LA PLATA

Charles County Bar Association

Case Types: Bankruptcy, Real Estate, Torts, Wills, Adoption, Child Custody, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Elder Law

Charles County Bar Association PO Box 3000 La Plata, MD Phone: 301-609-9350

Counties Served: Charles

LEXINGTON PARK

The Southern Maryland Center

Case Types: Divorce, Child Custody, Domestic Violence

The Southern Maryland Center Or Family Advocacy 20945 Great Mills Rd Ste N Lexington Park, MD 20653-4372 Phone: 301-862-3636 Fax: 301-862-2585

Counties Served: Calvert, Charles, Saint Marys

ROCKVILLE

Montgomery County Pro Bono Program

Case Types: Divorce, Child Custody, Domestic Violence, AIDS/HIV, Adoption, Bankruptcy, Consumer, Immigration, Juvenile, Torts, Wills

Maryland, Bar Foundation, Inc. Montgomery County Pro Bono Program 27 W Jefferson St Rockville, MD 20850-4200 Phone: 301-424-7651 Fax: 301-424-6724

Counties Served: Montgomery

TOWSON

Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc.

Case Types: Domestic Violence, Divorce, Child Custody, Termination of Parental Rights

Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc. 305 W Chesapeake Ave 201 Towson, MD 21204-4447 Phone: 410-321-8761 Fax: 410-321-0462

UPPER MALBORO

Crime Victim Legal Advocacy

Case Types: Divorce, Adoption, Consumer, Child Custody, Domestic Violence, Termination of Parental Rights, Torts, Wills, Elder Law, Employment, Health, Housing, Individual Rights, Public Benefits, Real Estate

Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center, Inc, Crime Victim Legal Advocacy 14750 Main Street 1B Upper Malboro, MD 20772 Phone: 301-952-0063Fax: 301-952-2319

Restrictions: The Crime Victim Legal Advocacy program follows Maryland Legal Services Corporation income elibility guidelines for placement of pro bono cases. Legal issues must be related to criminal victimization.

Counties Served: Statewide





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