MARYLAND

People's Pro Bono Action Center

State Bar of Maryland

520 W. Fayette Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

(410) 837-9379

Fax (410) 385-2616

e-mail: ppbac@erols.com

Contact person: Sharon Goldsmith

Executive Director

 

State Bar Staff

Bar Foundation Staff

• Other: Independent Non-profit Staff

• State Support Program

State Support Function

Access to Justice Program

Statewide Direct Delivery

• Independent Program

None of the Above

 

The People's Pro Bono Action Center (PPBAC) was established in 1990 by the Maryland State Bar Association, the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, the Maryland Bar Foundation and the Court of Appeals of Maryland as a 501(c)(3) corporation. PPBAC is the statewide clearinghouse and coordinator of volunteer civil legal services in Maryland. It recruits and recognizes volunteer attorneys, provides training and technical assistance. PPBAC works in close cooperation with Maryland's many legal services providers, the Maryland State Bar Association, local and specialty bar associations, the judiciary, both law schools, the legislature and the Maryland Legal Services Corporation. In addition, PPBAC works closely with the Maryland Coalition for Civil Justice in a statewide planning process for legal services delivery.

 

# of Active Lawyers 26,000

# of Lawyers Providing Pro Bono Service 3,900 - 5,200

# Pro Bono Programs 24

Poverty Population 1 million

# of Legal Services Programs 30

# of IOLTA Funded Programs 28

 

1995 Statewide IOLTA Revenue $3,517,998

Program Budget $ 145,000

Funding n/a

% of Funding paid by the Bar 30%

% of Funding paid by the IOLTA 61%

Other (foundations, filing fees, legal services) 9%

 

Ethical Rules & Bar Resolutions

Policy on pro bono

state bar resolution

state supreme court ethical rule

rule similar to Revised ABA MR 6.1 (includes hours and categories)

4 pre 1993 version of ABA MR 6.1

other rule

Reporting of Pro Bono Activity

mandatory (___ under consideration)

4 voluntary (___ under consideration)

Activities

Communication

newsletter

4 media publicity

Recruitment

4 mass mailings to new admittees

targeted mailings

4 work with individual law firms

4 bar event presentations

4 personal contacts/phone calls

phonathons

4 bar section or committee presentations/projects

Training

4 sponsor substantive legal training for volunteers

4 coordinate training programs for legal services providers

4 publish training materials

Coordination

4 assist development of local programs

4 coordinate activities with providers (i.e. training, recruitment)

4 state pro bono coordinators meeting

liaison with state bar foundation

Technical Assistance

4 outreach to programs

4 sponsor state pro bono conference

provide technical assistance to:

law firms

corporate counsel

governmental attorney offices

Recognition

4 program awards

state bar sponsored awards

state bar foundation sponsored awards

personal letters

4 magazine/newsletter articles

honor roll

certificates

CLE vouchers/publications

Case Intake & Referral

direct case referrals to volunteers

case referral to pro bono programs

statewide or regional:

centralized intake

hotline

clinics

Legislative Work

involved in legislative advocacy

4 participate in state planning for legal services and pro bono

Staff State Bar or Access to Justice Committee

4 pro bono ethics rules/resolutions/reporting

4 delivery of legal services/legal aid

Access to Justice

Other ____________

Technology

web site (address ____________)

fax referrals

linkage between pro bono programs