Free and Reduced Rate Legal Services in Maryland

If your income is low or you are a senior citizen, you may be eligible for free or reduce fee legal services in Maryland.  For more information, contact the organizations listed below:

The Legal Aid Bureau

500 East Lexington Street

Baltimore , MD 21202
Telephone:  (410) 539-5340

                    (800) 999-8904

                    (800) 458-5340 (TTY)

Fax: (410) 539-1710 

http://www.mdlab.org/

Comments: The Legal Aid Bureau provides free civil legal services for low-income people in Maryland, who meet financial eligibility guidelines. Types of cases handled include family, consumer, housing and income maintenance matters. Also legal services are provided to children in need of assistance, senior citizens, nursing home residents and migrant and seasonal farm workers. Services include advice and referral, negotiation, litigation, pro se training and client education, and pro bono coordination.

The Legal Aid Bureau serves people in Baltimore City and the 23 counties in Maryland from 13 office locations. In addition, some offices provide services regularly at outreach sites in the counties they serve. For further information, about office locations and services go to  http://www.mdlab.org or call (800)-999-8904.

Maryland Senior Legal Hotline

The Legal Aid Bureau

500 East Lexington Street

Baltimore , MD 21202
Telephone:  (410) 539-5340

                  (800) 999-8904

                  (800) 458-5340 (TTY)

http://www.mdlab.org/srhotline.html

Comments:  The Legal Aid Bureau also operates a hotline for senior citizens, which is open to any senior citizen (age 60 and over) living in Maryland, regardless of income. You can call the Maryland Senior Legal Hotline to get free legal advice and information.  Call toll free from anywhere in Maryland at 1-800-999-8904 (or 410-539-5340 from the Baltimore Metropolitan area). For more information go to: http://www.mdlab.org/srhotline.html.   

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
16 South Calvert Street
Suite 700

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Telephone: (410) 547-6537
                  (800) 510-0050 (toll free)

Fax: (410) 837-0431

http://www.mvlslaw.org/

Comments: Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) is a non-profit organization that refers low-income clients with legal problems to private attorneys, who agree to handle the cases pro bono (for free). All requests for service must be made by telephone during intake hours. MVLS phone lines are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to Noon.  

Maryland State Bar Association

520 W. Fayette St

Baltimore , MD 21201       

Telephone: (410)685-7878

                 (800)-492-1964

Fax: (410) 685-1016

http://www.msba.org

Comments: The Maryland State Bar Association has links to county bar association referral services at: http://www.msba.org/public/referral.htm. Most county bar associations have a lawyer referral service that can help you find an attorney.  Most of the referral services administered by the county bar associations offer a half-hour initial telephone or in-person consultation with a lawyer for a modest fee, usually under $50. 

Some of the referral services offer “reduced fee panels” for those with low to moderate incomes.  Attorneys who participate in the reduced fee panel agree to charge less than their usual rate for clients who are referred through the panel. Attorneys reduced rates do vary, because they are based on their usual hourly rates.

The Maryland People's Law Library has an extensive list of free/reduced fee legal services for all types of legal cases. From the opening page, choose "Problem Solving Help and Free Legal Help." Next choose "Some Maryland legal service provider websites," to see their list of free/reduced fee legal help available.