Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
Community Advocacy Network (CAN)
February 2020 Newsletter
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2020 is moving right along and we have some exciting things on the horizon, including a happy hour with MSBA leadership, a Judicial Reception to connect with judges, and many opportunities for trainings, networking, and volunteering!
This month will be our first ever
MVLS Town Hall Call
and in early March, we'll host the first-ever training is our series of
CAN-sponsored professional development trainings
!
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Join MVLS CAN leadership, fellow members, and prospective members for a conversation about all that this networking group for new attorneys, CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and law students is doing. Learn about ways to get involved and join us in a brainstorming discussion about the future of the group. We want to hear from you how this organization can best work for your professional development and pro bono goals.
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CAN MEMBER PROFILE:
JOSEPH DUGAN
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Joseph Dugan joined MVLS as a volunteer in 2019. He has taken cases primarily in income tax controversy and criminal record expungement, and volunteers at our bi-monthly
Wicomico Cyber Clinic
, where he connects from the MVLS office with expungement clients in Wicomico County. Learn more about Joseph and why he chose to join MVLS CAN.
Tell us about yourself and your law practice.
I am an associate attorney in the litigation group at
Gallagher Evelius & Jones
in Baltimore. My practice includes a mix of commercial litigation, employment law, and tort defense. I’ve also had the privilege to work on cases involving novel statutory interpretation and constitutional issues. As an MVLS volunteer, I have assisted several clients with federal and state tax controversies and expungement of minor criminal records.
Why did you join MVLS CAN?
I am relatively new to the Baltimore legal community. I am originally from the Midwest but clerked for a federal judge in Baltimore before working at the Department of Justice in DC. I found my way back to Baltimore early last year when the opportunity arose at Gallagher. I’m hoping to make Baltimore my permanent home, so I’m grateful for organizations like MVLS CAN that help me network and connect with other professionals in this community who are committed to achieving personal excellence and doing good.
What is your favorite part about doing pro bono work with MVLS?
MVLS does a great job connecting low-income clients with attorneys who have the skills and experience to give them the helping hand they deserve. I feel supported by the management and paralegal team at MVLS: I know that if I have a concern about one of my cases, MVLS is standing by to troubleshoot and offer expert guidance. That support structure makes it possible for me to focus on achieving the best outcome possible for my pro bono clients.
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CAN YOU HELP?
Visit the pro bono portal today to take a case! The following three cases have been waiting for an attorney for a long time. If you would like to accept any of those three, please contact
Sarah Witri
.
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HAVE YOU ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE?
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It's a new decade and this is a great time to consider your commitment to pro bono.
Here at MVLS, we are challenging all CAN members to commit to the
20 for 2020 Challenge
and pledge to take 20 cases in the 2020s. That's only two cases each year, which is already an expectation of CAN members. Easy right?
Help us make the 2020s the decade of pro bono!
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MVLS's annual spring event will be held at
Union Craft Brewing
and will feature signature dishes from local area restaurants, an exciting 50/50 raffle, behind-the-scenes brewery tours and nearly 400 guests supporting pro bono civil legal services.
A Taste for Pro Bono
brings the Maryland legal community together to not only enjoy great food, drinks and networking but most importantly, to meet and exceed our goal of raising $150,000 in order to expand access to pro bono legal services across Maryland.
Tickets are $100, but each law school is given 10 free tickets. To inquire about a free ticket, University of Maryland students should see Teresa Schmiedler and University of Baltimore should see Alyssa Fieo.
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UPCOMING MVLS TRAININGS & CLINICS
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Learn more and register for each training and clinic below.
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February 20
| 12 pm - 1 pm | Webinar
February 26
| 10 am - 12 pm
MVLS Office
201 N. Charles Street, Suite 1400, Baltimore, MD 21201
March 10
| 12 pm - 1 pm | Webinar
March 11
| 2 pm - 4 pm | Webinar
March 26
| 4:30 pm - 6:15 pm
839 Bestgate Road – Suite 400
Annapolis, MD 21401
March 27
| 12 pm - 1 pm | Webinar
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CONSUMER PROTECTION PROJECT CLINIC
Every Tuesday from 9 am - 12 pm
Baltimore City District Court
501 E. Fayette St., Baltimore, MD 21201
FORECLOSURE ADVICE PROJECT CLINIC
Last Wednesday of each month from 3 pm - 6 pm
February 26
MVLS Office
201 N. Charles Street, Suite 1400
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
HOMEOWNER CLINIC
March 18 from 3 pm - 7 pm
Dundalk Renaissance
11 Center Place
Dundalk, Maryland 21222
EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC
April 8 from 1:30 pm - 4 pm
MVLS Office
201 N. Charles Street, Suite 1400
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
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Law students have the opportunity to shadow any of the above clinics. However,
spaces are limited
, so please RSVP to
Christie Smith
.
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Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service | 201 N. Charles Street, Suite 1400 Baltimore, MD 21201
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