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Causes: Crime & Law, Legal Services
Mission: To promote equal access to justice in maryland by coordinating and supporting volunteer civil legal services, providing resources and support for legal advocates for the poor and promoting cooperation within the legal community. The center's purpose is also to develop and coordinate a system to match attorneys with appropriate pro bono programs in maryland.
Programs: Training, recruitment and support - the center recruits lawyers to engage in pro bono legal work and matches their expertise to the legal non-profit organization that can use their services. The center also educates the bar for both volunteer and staff lawyers by offering numerous courses covering a wide range of subjects including bankruptcy, family law, custody, employment, elder law, foreclosure defense, immigration and consumer protection. Furthermore, the center supports the court's standing committee on pro bono legal services, offers technical assistance and support to pro bono referral agencies, manages the attorney litigation fund, coordinates pro bono mentors and supports the local pro bono committees in each jurisdiction. Over the last few years, the center has also incubated new service projects focused on legal needs in particular areas, including legal clinics in courthouses and in at-risk communities.
conference - the annual maryland partners for justice conference, sponsored by the center, again attracted a large audience of private, public and legal services lawyers with approximately 260 participants.