Maryland Legal Services Corporation

MLSC Announces FY 2010 Grant Awards - Legal Aid Progams Forced to Absorb Funding Cuts While Demand for Services Soars - June 1 , 2009 - The board of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC), which administers Maryland’s Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program and other funds for civil legal services, announced grant awards of $11.7 million to 35 nonprofit organizations for FY 2010, a 22% reduction from the prior year.

MLSC had alerted grant applicants back in January to anticipate funding cuts in the coming year due to a precipitous drop in IOLTA income, which consists of interest income generated on certain attorney trust accounts. “The need for legal services has grown considerably at a time when revenue to fund these services has plummeted,” stated MLSC Board Chair F. Vernon Boozer. “We will be working hard to find stable sources of funding and do everything possible to avoid further reductions next year.”

Even before the recession, legal services programs were underfunded and only able to serve a fraction of those qualifying for help. “MLSC grantees are reporting an unprecedented demand on their services as more and more Marylanders seek assistance with home foreclosures, evictions, unemployment benefits, food stamps, and a variety of family law matters, including an increase in domestic violence cases,” stated MLSC Executive Director Susan M. Erlichman. “MLSC plans to work closely with Maryland’s access to justice community to avert a serious crisis in our ability to fund these critically needed services going forward.”

MLSC, established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982, administers Maryland’s Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program and other funds for civil legal services for Maryland’s families in areas of family, housing, consumer, employment, health care and other civil legal matters. Annually, more than 100,000 low-income Marylanders receive assistance from MLSC-funded legal services providers.

MLSC Seeks Nominations for Legal Services Awards - May 13 , 2009 - The Maryland Legal Services Corporation is soliciting nominations for four awards it presents annually to persons making outstanding contributions to the provision of legal assistance to Maryland’s poor. Formal awards will be presented at an Annual Awards Ceremony in the fall. The four awards are as follows:

MLSC encourages organizations and individuals to make nominations for any or all four of these awards to the Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation for their consideration and selection. Nominations for the 2009 awards must be submitted not later than June 30, 2009 to MLSC.

For additional information regarding the MLSC Legal Services Awards or to obtain nomination forms, contact MLSC at (410) 576-9494 or toll free at (800) 492-1340 or download from this site:

Applications for FY 2010 MLSC Funding - Jan. 28, 2009 - Nonprofit organizations interested in continuing or seeking funding from MLSC for civil legal services to low-income persons for fiscal year 2010 must submit an application no later than March 16, 2009. For more information about the Grant Process, click here.

Court of Appeals Issues Annual IOLTA Compliance Reporting – Jan. 9, 2009 – The Maryland Court of Appeals has issued a compliance mailing to every attorney on active status admitted to the practice of law in Maryland. This mailing contains the annual IOLTA Compliance Report form along with the Pro Bono Reporting form. Both forms can be completed online and must be submitted by February 15, 2009. For more information about mandatory IOLTA reporting and forms, click here.

Informational Meeting for FY 2010 MLSC Funding - Jan. 9, 2009 - Nonprofit organizations interested in continuing or seeking funding from MLSC for civil legal services to low-income persons for fiscal year 2010 must submit an application no later than March 16, 2009. MLSC will hold a meeting to discuss the grant application process, general funding policies and the forecast for MLSC’s FY 2010 funding level with grantees and other interested persons on Tuesday, January 27, 10:30 a.m. in the Poe Room at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Central Branch, 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore. MLSC grant application packets will be distributed at the meeting. Please contact MLSC in advance of the meeting if you need grant application materials in alternate format (such as Braille or large print). Directions. For more information about the Grant Process, click here.

New FDIC Rule Creates Unlimited Protection for IOLTA Accounts - Nov. 26, 2008 - The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced on November 21, 2008, that effective immediately client funds deposited in IOLTA accounts at participating financial institutions are eligible for unlimited deposit insurance coverage as part of the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP). All funds in an IOLTA account, regardless of size, will now be insured in full by the FDIC and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government, as part of the Temporary Account Guarantee (TAG) provisions of the TLGP. Financial institutions opting out of the TAG coverage must display a notification to customers. The additional coverage is in effect until December 31, 2009, unless extended. Full text of the final Rule can be found at: http://www.fdic.gov/news/board/08BODtlgp.PDF

MLSC Announces 2008 Legal Services Awards - October 6, 2008 – The Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) has selected persons and organizations to receive its 2008 legal services awards. F. Vernon Boozer, Chairman of the MLSC Board, and Maryland Chief Judge Robert M. Bell will present the awards at the organization’s annual awards reception on Monday, December 8, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore Hotel. Click for directions to the Radisson.

George A. Nilson, Baltimore City Solicitor, will receive the Arthur W. Machen, Jr. Award. This award is presented annually to a person (usually an attorney in private practice) who has rendered extraordinary service by providing civil legal services to the poor or by improving the civil legal services delivery system for such persons. Throughout his career, as City Solicitor since 2007, a former partner in DLA Piper and a former Deputy Attorney General of Maryland, Mr. Nilson has demonstrated an extensive commitment to public service.

Daniel L. Hatcher will be honored as this year’s recipient of the MLSC Benjamin L. Cardin Distinguished Service Award. This award is presented annually to an outstanding public interest attorney regularly involved in providing civil legal services to the poor. Mr. Hatcher is an assistant professor of law in the Civil Advocacy Clinic at the University of Baltimore, focusing on client economic stability, and formerly was with the Legal Aid Bureau and Children’s Defense Fund.

This year’s William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award will be presented to Louis W. Dorsey, Jr., paralegal with the Legal Aid Bureau of the Upper Eastern Shore, and Ileana Luciani, paralegal with the Maryland Disability Law Center. Presented annually to a non-attorney who demonstrates outstanding service representing the rights and legal needs of low-income persons or by expanding access to justice for such persons, this year’s co-recipients demonstrate long-term successes. In his 12 years with Legal Aid, Mr. Dorsey has demonstrated excellence in client communication and support of other staff. Ms. Luciani has been associated with Maryland Disability Law Center for nine years and has made significant contributions to Latino outreach.

MLSC is presenting the Herbert S. Garten Public Citizen Award, which honors an entity or organization not regularly engaged in the delivery of legal services to low-income persons, to the Maryland Bankers Association, which worked cooperatively with MLSC toward the adoption of the IOLTA Comparability Rule by the Maryland Court of Appeals in December 2007.

The MLSC Board is also presenting Awards of Special Recognition to Winifred C. Borden, Mary Joel Davis and Beverly Mondin-VanderHaar, who are retiring as executive directors of Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Alternative Directions and Montgomery County Bar Foundation, after a long-time commitment to the legal services community.

MLSC annually solicits nominations for legal services awards from bar associations, legal services programs and other interested persons and organizations. MLSC was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982 to receive and distribute funds to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal assistance to low-income persons. From its inception, MLSC has made grants totaling over $108 million to help provide services in more than 1.5 million legal matters for Maryland’s families in areas of family, housing, consumer, employment, health care and other civil legal matters. Media Partner: The Daily Record.

Judicare Opportunities for Family Law Attorneys - August 19, 2008 - Recent articles in The Daily Record, The Family Law News of Maryland State Bar Family Law Section of Family and Juvenile Law and the MSBA Bar Bulletin are promoting the Judicare Family Law Pilot Project funded by MLSC and the Administrative Office of the Courts. For the list of participating legal services organizations and contact information, use this link.

MLSC IOLTA Administrator Is a 2008 Unsung Legal Hero - June 25, 2008 - The Daily Record (TDR) named Rebecca Parker, Maryland Legal Services Corporation IOLTA Administrator, one of the winners of the "Legal Accounting Professional Unsung Legal Hero" award at a luncheon today. Ms. Parker speaks with hundreds of attorneys each year to address their concerns and questions about their compliance with the state's Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program and its mandatory annual reporting. Hired in 2004 to enter compliance data into attorneys' files, she was promoted six months later to IOLTA administrator to handle calls from attorneys and banks, oversee the IOLTA database and supervise one part-time employee. According to MLSC executive director Susan Erlichman, Ms. Parker is "always pleasant, patient and extremely helpful in addressing their questions and concerns, bringing her desire to be as helpful as possible to all areas of her work." Ms. Parker was honored along with other TDR Unsung Legal Heroes at lunch at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel on June 25.

MLSC Extends Deadline for Nominations for Legal Services Awards - June 18, 2008 - The Maryland Legal Services Corporation is soliciting nominations by July 15, 2008 for four awards it presents annually to persons making outstanding contributions to the provision of legal assistance to Maryland’s poor. (See below for details.)

MLSC Seeks Nominations for Legal Services Awards - May 2 , 2008 - The Maryland Legal Services Corporation is soliciting nominations for four awards it presents annually to persons making outstanding contributions to the provision of legal assistance to Maryland’s poor. Formal awards will be presented at an Annual Awards Ceremony in the fall. The four awards are as follows:

MLSC encourages organizations and individuals to make nominations for any or all four of these awards to the Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation for their consideration and selection. Nominations for the 2008 awards must be submitted not later than June 30, 2008 to MLSC.

For additional information regarding the MLSC Legal Services Awards or to obtain nomination forms, contact MLSC at (410) 576-9494 or toll free at (800) 492-1340 or download from this site:

Maryland Financial Institutions Support Legal Aid for the Poor: Honor Roll Banks Go Above and Beyond New IOLTA Program Requirements - March 10, 2008 - Virtually every bank in Maryland has signed on to a revamped program that funds civil legal programs that serve the state’s poor—and many joined the Honor Roll Program by paying even higher interest rates on lawyer trust accounts.

“We thank all Maryland banks for their cooperation and continued participation in the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts program,” said F. Vernon Boozer, board chair of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, which administers the program. “In particular, we thank IOLTA Honor Roll members for going above and beyond the rule’s requirements in their treatment of these accounts.”

The new rule, adopted by the Maryland Court of Appeals in December 2007 with an effective date of April 1, 2008, requires that participating financial institutions pay interest rates comparable to other similarly situated accounts. The new rule was designed to ensure that fair rates of return are generated on these deposits, which is used to help fund legal aid for the poor.

Adams National Bank, American Bank, Baltimore County Savings Bank, Bay National Bank, Bradford Bank, Business Bank, Capital Bank, Chevy Chase Bank , Citibank, ColomboBank, Harbor Bank of Maryland, Howard Bank, K Bank, NBRS Financial Bank, Provident State Bank, Sandy Spring Bank, Susquehanna Bank and Vigilant Federal Savings Bank.

“The recent federal interest rate cuts will have a negative impact on IOLTA revenue, making Honor Roll participation increasingly important to legal aid funding,” explained Susan Erlichman, MLSC’s executive director. “These Honor Roll banks demonstrate in a very concrete way their support for the IOLTA Program and commitment to access to legal aid for all Marylanders.” Maryland’s Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts Program was created 25 years ago to support the goal of ensuring that all Marylanders, regardless of income, have access to our civil justice system.

IOLTA funds are distributed in the form of grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the state to help Marylanders in critical matters such as child custody, domestic violence, housing, employment, public benefits, education, health and other important civil legal issues.

Providers include Maryland Legal Aid, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, the House of Ruth, Maryland Disability Law Center, and many countywide and regional providers.

Court of Appeals Issues Annual IOLTA Compliance Reporting – Jan. 7, 2008 – The Maryland Court of Appeals has issued a compliance mailing to every attorney on active status admitted to the practice of law in Maryland. This mailing contains the annual IOLTA Compliance Report form along with the 2007 Pro Bono Reporting form. Both forms can be completed online and must be submitted by February 15, 2008. For more information about mandatory IOLTA reporting and forms, click here.

MLSC Announces Grant Awards for Judicare Pilot in Maryland - Jan. 14, 2008 - The Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) announces funding of four pilot projects to expand representation in family law matters at reduced fees. Grants for January 1 through June 30, 2008 have been awarded to Allegany Law Foundation, Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County, Harford County Bar Foundation and Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service.

In early 2007 a study was commissioned by the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) Section on Delivery of Legal Services with support from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to review the potential of reinstating a program from the 1970s known as “Judicare,” which uses private lawyers paid reduced fees to serve low-income persons who could not otherwise obtain civil legal services. University of Maryland School of Law Professor Michael Millemann conducted the study, which was released last May ("Final Report and Recommendations On the Potential Use of Private Lawyers") and presented at the annual meeting of the Judiciary in conjunction with the MSBA annual meeting in June.

As recommended in the study, private attorneys accepting Judicare cases in family law matters will be paid $80 per hour with a cap of $1,600 for 20 hours of work. Compensation also includes a waiver provision for up to $800 in additional payments if the attorney works five additional pro bono hours. MLSC plans to continue the pilot project through Fiscal Year 2009, and AOC will conduct an evaluation with the anticipation of expanding the project to other jurisdictions.

MLSC was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982 to receive and distribute funds to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal assistance to low-income persons. From its inception, MLSC has made grants totaling over $108 million to help provide services in more than 1.5 million legal matters for Maryland’s families in areas of family, housing, consumer, employment, health care and other civil legal matters.

Informational Meeting for FY 2009 MLSC Funding - Jan. 7, 2008 - Nonprofit organizations interested in continuing or seeking funding from MLSC for civil legal services to low-income persons for fiscal year 2009 must submit an application no later than March 14, 2008. MLSC will hold a meeting to discuss the grant application process, general funding policies and the forecast for MLSC’s FY 2009 funding level with grantees and other interested persons on Thursday, January 31, 10:30 a.m. in the Poe Room at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Central Branch, 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore. MLSC grant application packets will be distributed at the meeting. Please contact MLSC in advance of the meeting if you need grant application materials in alternate format (such as Braille or large print). Directions. For more information about the Grant Process, click here.

Top Court Adopts IOLTA Comparability Rule - Dec. 14, 2007 - The Maryland Court of Appeals adopted an IOLTA Comparability Rule on December 3, 2007, requiring IOLTA deposits to be held in Maryland financial institutions that agree to pay comparable rates of interest on IOLTA as is paid to similarly-situated non-IOLTA customers. MLSC will be working closely with the Maryland Banker’s Association and Maryland financial institutions to ensure successful implementation of this new Rule, which has an effective date of April 1, 2008. See the recent article from The Daily Record and a copy of the Rule.

MLSC held its 25th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony on December 10, 2007, at the Tremont Grand, Baltimore, where 250 people celebrated and shared memories of 25 years of expanding access to justice for all in Maryland. For more about the awards presented and photos, follow the links .

Please join us on Monday, December 10, 2007, from 5:30 to 8:30 at the Tremont Grand, 225 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, to celebrate and to share memories of 25 years of expanding access to justice for all in Maryland.

Cocktail Reception & Dinner
Awards Ceremony with Guest Host Marc Steiner of WYPR

Reservations and contribution opportunities | Directions and parking

For more information contact Harriet Robinson at (410) 576-9494, ext. 1004 or hrobinson@mlsc.org. Media partners: The Daily Record and WYPR, 88.1 FM

Maryland Legal Services Corporation 25th Anniversary Symposium - October 11, 2007, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. - "Recognizing Twenty-Five Years of Accomplishments and Setting an Agenda for the Future," presented by University of Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class. Click here for more information.

MLSC Seeks Nominations for Legal Services Awards - April 27, 2007 - The Maryland Legal Services Corporation is soliciting nominations for four awards it presents annually to persons making outstanding contributions to the provision of legal assistance to Maryland’s poor. This year MLSC will be honoring award recipients and celebrating its history and achievements at a special 25th Anniversary Celebration on Monday, December 10, 2007. The four awards are as follows:

MLSC encourages organizations and individuals to make nominations for any or all four of these awards to the Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation for their consideration and selection. Nominations for the 2007 awards must be submitted not later than June 30, 2007 to MLSC.

For additional information regarding the MLSC Legal Services Awards or to obtain nomination forms, contact MLSC at (410) 576-9494 or toll free at (800) 492-1340 or download from this site:

Court of Appeals Issues Annual IOLTA Compliance Reporting – Jan. 5, 2007 – The Maryland Court of Appeals has issued a compliance mailing to every attorney on active status admitted to the practice of law in Maryland. This mailing contains the annual IOLTA Compliance Report form along with the 2006 Pro Bono Reporting form. Both forms can be completed online and must be submitted by February 15, 2007. For more information about mandatory IOLTA reporting and forms, click here.

BB&T Joins Ranks of Maryland's IOLTA Honor Roll Program - December 8, 2006 - Baltimore – As of December 1, 2006, BB&T becomes the newest member of the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Honor Roll Program, joining most major financial institutions in Maryland that participate in this important program. The IOLTA Honor Roll is a joint initiative of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and the Maryland State Bar Association to increase resources for legal aid for low-income Marylanders.

Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC), a non-profit organization that administers IOLTA and other funds for legal aid, works with lawyers and banks across the state to help fund organizations that provide civil legal services for low-income Marylanders. The IOLTA Honor Roll recognizes financial institutions that agree to pay a net yield of at least 1.5% on IOLTA deposits. BB&T has joined the ranks of “Silver” Honor Roll members by increasing its average net yield on IOLTA deposits from nine tenths of one percent to more than one and a half percent. MLSC estimates that this increase could result in additional revenue of approximately $250,000 in the coming year to be used to help meet the civil legal needs of Maryland’s poor. Twenty-five Maryland banks are currently on the Honor Roll.

“BB&T’s active participation in the IOLTA program is just another way we show our strong commitment to the communities we serve,” said Mike Oster, president of BB&T’s Baltimore Metro Region. “We are honored that our Immediate Release December 8, 2006 BB&T Raises IOLTA Rates Page 2 commitment has so significantly impacted the lives of those in need of legal assistance.”

The Maryland IOLTA program was created in 1982 to assist Marylanders who would otherwise have a hard time paying for legal help with family, housing, health care, disability, employment, education, and other issues. At the time the program was created, interest rates paid on IOLTA averaged over 5%, but dropped to less than half a percent when short-term interest rates hit historic lows in 2003. Given the current interest rate environment – today’s rate sits at 5.25% after seventeen consecutive increases since June 2004 – many Maryland banks have recently reviewed and adjusted rates paid on IOLTA deposits. With the addition of BB&T, there are only two banks remaining in Maryland that are major holders of IOLTA accounts that do not participate in the Honor Roll program.

“On behalf of everyone associated with IOLTA, we are delighted to have BB&T join the ranks of Honor Roll members,” said F. Vernon Boozer, chairman of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation. “We applaud the good corporate citizenry of BB&T and other Honor Roll banks, and encourage all attorneys to look to these financial institutions for their banking needs.”

Major Financial Institutions Join Ranks of Maryland’s IOLTA Honor Roll Program - August 30, 2006 -BALTIMORE – As of September 1st, Bank of America will become the newest member of the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Honor Roll Program, joining on the heels of M & T Bank and SunTrust, two other major financial institutions recently named as Silver Honor Roll participants by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and the Maryland State Bar Association. Bank of America is Maryland’s largest holder of IOLTA accounts.

Maryland Legal Services Corporation, a non-profit organization that administers IOLTA and other funds for legal aid, works with lawyers and banks across the state to help fund organizations that provide civil legal services for low-income Marylanders. The IOLTA Honor Roll recognizes as “Silver” members financial institutions that agree to pay a net yield of at least 1.5% on IOLTA deposits; “Gold” membership requires a net yield of 2% or greater. Bank of America has joined the ranks of “Silver” Honor Roll members by increasing its average net yield on IOLTA deposits from approximately seven-tenths of one percent to 1.5%. Wachovia, the second largest holder of IOLTA deposits in Maryland, became a Gold Honor Roll member back in March. Currently, twenty-one Maryland banks are on the Honor Roll, with thirteen Gold members and eight Silver.

“I am glad Bank of America can partner with the Maryland Legal Services Corporation to help the underprivileged through the valuable programs that MLSC funds,” said William Couper, President of Bank of America’s Mid-Atlantic region. “We are proud to be a member of the Honor Roll and look forward to our continued partnership.”

The Maryland IOLTA program was created in 1982 to assist Marylanders who would otherwise have a hard time paying for legal help with family, housing, health care, disability, employment, education, and other issues. At the time the program was created, interest rates paid on IOLTA averaged over 5%, but dropped to less than half a percent when short-term interest rates hit historic lows in 2003. Since that time, the Federal Reserve has steadily increased short-term interest rates to its current level of 5.25%, yet banks have been slow to adjust IOLTA rates to reflect the enhanced interest rate environment. Surprisingly, many of Maryland’s local financial institutions have been slower to adjust IOLTA rates to respond to the favorable interest rate environment than banks with a national presence.

“On behalf of everyone associated with IOLTA, we are delighted to have major financial institutions like Bank of America, SunTrust, and M&T join the ranks of Honor Roll members,” said F. Vernon Boozer, chairman of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation. “Given today’s interest rates, we hope to see many more banks join the Honor Roll in the coming months.” A complete listing of IOLTA Honor Roll Financial Institutions is available at the MLSC web site.

Governor Appoints Pamela J. White To Maryland Legal Services Corporation Board - July 14, 2006 - Gov. Robert Ehrlich announced the appointment of Pamela J. White to the Maryland Legal Services Corporation Board of Directors for the remainder of a three-year term.

Ms. White, a principal of Ober, Kaler, Grimes & Shriver, is chair of the firm’s Employment Law Group and is past president of the Maryland State Bar Association and the Women’s Bar Association. She is former chair of the MSBA Professionalism Committee, the Legal Education and Bar Admissions Section, and the Gender Equality Committee. Ms. White also served on the Committee on Public Trust and Confidence of the Maryland Court of Appeals, chaired by Chief Judge Robert M. Bell. She received her J.D. from Washington and Lee University.

The governor also reappointed Douglas S. Snyder, Ph.D., of Bowie to serve a second term on the MLSC Board.

MLSC, established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982, administers Maryland’s Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program and other funds for civil legal services. MLSC is governed by a nine-member board appointed by the Governor of Maryland and confirmed by the Maryland Senate. From its inception, MLSC has made grants totaling over $90 million to help provide services in more than 1.3 million legal matters for Maryland’s families in areas of family, housing, consumer, employment, health care and other civil legal matters.

MLSC Seeks Nominations for Legal Services Awards - April 28, 2006 - The Maryland Legal Services Corporation is soliciting nominations for four awards it presents annually to persons making outstanding contributions to the provision of legal assistance to Maryland’s poor. The four awards are as follows:

MLSC encourages organizations and individuals to make nominations for any or all four of these awards to the Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation for their consideration and selection. Nominations for the 2005 awards must be submitted not later than June 30, 2006 to MLSC. Formal awards will be presented at the MLSC Awards Reception in the fall.

For additional information regarding the MLSC Legal Services Awards or to obtain nomination forms, contact MLSC at (410) 576-9494 or toll free at (800) 492-1340 or download from this site:

Wachovia Joins Ranks of Maryland IOLTA Honor Roll Financial Institutions – March 28, 2006 – Wachovia Bank has been named the first Maryland financial institution with a nationwide presence to join the ranks of the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Honor Roll by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and the Maryland State Bar Association.

Maryland Legal Services Corporation, a non-profit organization that administers IOLTA and other funds for legal aid, works with lawyers and banks across the state to help fund organizations that provide civil legal services for low-income Marylanders. The IOLTA Honor Roll recognizes financial institutions that agree to pay a net yield of at least 1.5% on IOLTA deposits. Wachovia has joined the ranks of “Gold” Honor Roll members by increasing its average net yield on IOLTA deposits from seven-tenths of one percent to more than two percent. Sixteen Maryland banks are currently on the Honor Roll.

“We try our best to be a good corporate citizen in all of the markets that we serve, and given the recent rise in interest rates, frankly, it was just the right thing to do,” said James Themides, Wachovia’s Regional President. “We are more than happy to do this, and appreciate the business that we have with the IOLTA accounts and with all law firms in Maryland.”

The Maryland IOLTA program was created in 1982 to assist Marylanders who would otherwise have a hard time paying for legal help with family, housing, health care, disability, employment, education, and other issues. At the time the program was created, interest rates paid on IOLTA averaged over 5%, but dropped to less than half a percent when short-term interest rates hit historic lows in 2003. Given the current interest rate environment – today’s rate sits at 4.75 per cent after the Federal Reserve’s fifteenth consecutive increase since June 2004 – it is anticipated that other Maryland banks will review and adjust rates paid on IOLTA deposits.

“On behalf of everyone associated with IOLTA, we are delighted to have Wachovia join the ranks of Gold Honor Roll members,” said F. Vernon Boozer, chairman of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation. “We hope to see many more banks join them in the coming months.”

Court of Appeals Issues Annual IOLTA Compliance Reporting – Jan. 6, 2006 – The Maryland Court of Appeals has issued a compliance mailing to every attorney on active status admitted to the practice of law in Maryland. This mailing contains the annual IOLTA Compliance Report form along with the 2005 Pro Bono Reporting form. Both forms can be completed online and must be submitted by February 15, 2006. For more information about mandatory IOLTA reporting and forms, click here.

Maryland Legal Services Corporation Will Recognize Honor Roll Banks – November 7, 2005 – Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) will honor Gold and Silver Honor Roll banks with Certificates of Appreciation at its Annual Awards Reception on Monday, December 5, 2005.

The Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) and MLSC instituted a Financial Institution Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Honor Roll Program to increase funding available for civil legal aid, while at the same time rewarding Honor Roll members by encouraging attorneys to do business with Honor Roll participants by promoting Honor Roll members in a variety of forums. The program currently recognizes two levels of participation – Gold Membership, which recognizes financial institutions that pay an annual net yield (gross interest minus charges, if any) of at least 2% on IOLTA accounts, and Silver Membership, which recognizes financial institutions committed to pay an annual net yield of 1.5% to 1.99% on all IOLTA accounts.

Many loyal Gold and Silver Honor Roll members continued their participation during the past few years when interest rates were in steady decline. This trend has ended, with the Federal Reserve last week making its twelfth straight rate increase in the past year, resulting in the federal funds key short-term rate at 4%, its highest level in four years. Given these steady rate increases, MLSC has initiated a campaign to encourage all Maryland financial institutions to increase net yields paid on IOLTA accounts to reflect the current enhanced interest rate environment.

Honor Roll members play a particularly important role in MLSC’s ability to meet the ever-increasing need of Maryland’s most vulnerable citizens. Interest generated on IOLTA deposits during the past year helped fund legal aid to more than 108,000 low-income Marylanders who, but for this vital program, would have had no place else to turn for legal help with family, housing, health care, disability, employment and other essential needs.

Maryland Legal Services Corporation Announces 2005 Legal Services Awards – October 7, 2005 – The Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) has selected persons and organizations to receive its 2005 legal services awards. F. Vernon Boozer, Chairman of the MLSC Board, and Maryland Chief Judge Robert M. Bell will present the awards at the organization’s annual awards reception on Monday, December 5, 2005, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel.

Susan C. Elgin, principal of Kaufman, Ries & Elgin, P.A., will receive the Arthur W. Machen, Jr. Award. This award is presented annually to an attorney in private practice who has rendered extraordinary service by providing civil legal services to the poor or by improving the civil legal services delivery system for such persons. Ms. Elgin is a private practitioner who has had a major role in shaping the development of family law in Maryland.

Hannah E.M. Lieberman will be honored as this year’s recipient of the MLSC Benjamin L. Cardin Distinguished Service Award. This award is presented annually to an outstanding public interest attorney regularly involved in providing civil legal services to the poor. Ms. Lieberman, recently appointed deputy executive director of the Legal Aid Bureau, came to Legal Aid as director of advocacy, overseeing the Bureau’s appellate practice, forming effective collaborations with other legal services organizations and providing mentoring and training.

This year’s William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award will be presented to Katherine T. Sanzone, executive director of the Bar Association of Baltimore City, and Levern Blackmon, paralegal with the Public Justice Center. Presented annually to a non-attorney who demonstrates outstanding service representing the rights and legal needs of low-income persons, this year’s co-recipients demonstrate both long-term and short-term successes. Executive director of BABC since 1987, Ms. Sanzone has brought enthusiasm, energy, passion and professionalism to the Bar’s public service projects. Mr. Blackmon has been associated with PJC since 1996 as a volunteer lay advocate, a full-time tenant advocate/case manager and most recently a paralegal with the prisoners’ project.

MLSC is presenting the Herbert S. Garten Public Citizen Award to Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, an organization that has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to increase access to justice for the poor in Maryland. WT&P has been a leader in Maryland in its commitment to pro bono services with a partner serving as a full-time coordinator of pro bono activities.

MLSC annually solicits nominations for legal services awards from bar associations, legal services programs and other interested persons and organizations. MLSC was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982 to receive and distribute funds to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal assistance to low-income persons. From its inception, MLSC has made grants totaling over $90 million to help provide services in more than 1.3 million legal matters for Maryland’s families in areas of family, housing, consumer, employment, health care and other civil legal matters.

MLSC Annual Awards Reception Set for December 5 – August 9, 2005 – The Maryland Legal Services Corporation will hold its Annual Awards Reception on Monday, December 5, 2005 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel. The winners of the annual awards will be announced in the fall. Nominations have been received for four categories: the Arthur W. Machen, Jr. Award; the Benjamin L. Cardin Distinguished Service Award; the William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award; and the Herbert S. Garten Public Citizen Award.

National IOLTA Group Appoints Erlichman to Board – August 9, 2005 – Susan Erlichman, executive director of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, which administers Maryland’s Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program and other funds for civil legal services, was appointed to serve on the board of directors of the National Association of IOLTA Programs (NAIP) at its annual meeting held at the American Bar Association (ABA) Annual Meeting in Chicago last week. Ms. Erlichman will continue to co-chair the ABA/NAIP IOLTA Meetings Committee, which develops the IOLTA workshops that precede the ABA meeting.

NAIP was established in1986 to enhance legal services for the poor and the administration of justice through the growth and development of IOLTA programs as effective grant-making institutions that provide a major source of funding and support for legal services for the poor, administration of justice, and other law-related public interest programs. NAIP’s membership consists of IOLTA programs in the United States and Canada and is governed by officers and a board elected by its member organizations. NAIP works closely with the ABA Commission on IOLTA, which oversees ABA policies and liaisons regarding IOLTA programs.

MLSC Seeks Nominations for Legal Services Awards - June 20, 2005 - Deadline extended to July 15, 2005 - The Maryland Legal Services Corporation is soliciting nominations for four awards it presents annually to persons making outstanding contributions to the provision of legal assistance to Maryland’s poor. The four awards are as follows:

MLSC encourages organizations and individuals to make nominations for any or all four of these awards to the Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation for their consideration and selection. Nominations for the 2005 awards must be submitted not later than July 15, 2005 to MLSC. Formal awards will be presented at the MLSC Awards Reception in the fall.

For additional information regarding the MLSC Legal Services Awards or to obtain nomination forms, contact MLSC at (410) 576-9494 or toll free at (800) 492-1340 or download from this site:

Machen nomination form | Cardin nomination form | Marbury nomination form | Garten nomination form | Past award recipients

MLSC Board Approves Funding for FY2006 - June 8, 2005 - The Maryland Legal Services Corporation Board of Directors approved over $9.9 million in funding for 31 legal services providers for Fiscal Year 2006. Funding is primarily for operating grants for the provision of civil legal services to low-income Marylanders and for reduced-fee child custody representation. The grant awards are effective from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006.

Mandatory IOLTA Compliance Reporting - Second Mailing - March 14, 2005 - The Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) and the Pro Bono Resource Center will issue a second combined mailing this month to Maryland attorneys who did not not yet submit their mandatory IOLTA Compliance and Pro Bono Activity reports. The IOLTA Compliance Report can be completed online at www.courts.state.md.us. For more information, go to links for mandatory IOLTA reporting, Frequently Asked Questions and the Compliance Reporting Form.

MLSC Funding Expanded for Reduced-Fee Contested Custody Cases - March 14 , 2005 - MLSC has expanded its child custody representation through a reduced-fee model to cover most Maryland jurisdictions. Based on a successful pilot project in three counties through a joint initiative of MLSC and the Administrative Office of the Courts in 1999, private attorneys represent low-income persons in complex child custody cases at significantly reduced rates (see Evaluation Report). The pilot projects are administered by Law Foundation of Prince George’s County, Montgomery County Bar Foundation and YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. The additional projects are being run by Allegany Law Foundation, Harford County Bar Foundation, Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Services, Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy and Women's Law Center. MLSC also provides a grant made available through the Administrative Office of the Courts for the staff attorney component of the project undertaken by the Legal Aid Bureau.

The Daily Record recently published a feature article, "A Parent (Not a Fool) for a Client," about the project. Attorneys who are interested in participating in the reduced-fee project should contact one of the MLSC-funded organizations listed above in your jurisdiction, using contact information on our page Legal Services Providers in Maryland.

FY 2006 MLSC Funding Deadline is March 15 - March 14 , 2005 - Nonprofit organizations interested in continuing or seeking funding from the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) for civil legal services to low-income persons for fiscal year 2006 (i.e. July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006) must submit an application no later than March 15, 2005. More information about the Grant Process is available on this web site.

Informational Meeting for FY 2006 MLSC Funding - January 26, 2005 - Nonprofit organizations interested in continuing or seeking funding from MLSC for civil legal services to low-income persons for fiscal year 2006 must submit an application no later than March 15, 2005. MLSC will hold a meeting to discuss the grant application process, general funding policies and the forecast for MLSC’s FY 2006 funding level with grantees and other interested persons on Friday, February 4, 10:30 a.m. in the Poe Room at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Central Branch, 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore. MLSC grant application packets will be distributed at the meeting. Please contact MLSC in advance of the meeting if you need grant application materials in alternate format (such as Braille or large print). For more information about the Grant Process, click here.

Maryland Legal Services Corporation 2004 Legal Services Awards - December 7 , 2004 - The Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) presented its 2004 legal services awards at the annual awards reception on Monday, December 6, 2004 at the Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore Inner Harbor.

The award recipients included the Honorable Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals; Patricia A. Campbell, victim advocate of Heartly House; Anne B. Gallagher (posthumously), formerly of Lee, Leahy & McCaig, L.L.C.; Robert J. Rhudy, former executive director of Maryland Legal Services Corporation; and the Office of the Governor and the Maryland General Assembly. For more details, see below.

Maryland Legal Services Corporation Will Present 2004 Legal Services Awards: New “Medal for Access to Justice” Honors Chief Judge Robert M. Bell - October 27, 2004 - The Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) has selected persons and organizations to receive its 2004 legal services awards. F. Vernon Boozer, Chairman of the MLSC Board, and Maryland Chief Judge Robert M. Bell will present the awards at the organization’s annual awards reception on Monday, December 6, 2004, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore Hotel, Baltimore Inner Harbor.

The Maryland Legal Services Corporation Medal for Access to Justice, newly created by the Board in 2004 to honor members of the bench or bar who have displayed an extraordinary commitment to furthering access to justice for the poor, will be presented to the Honorable Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals. Mr. Boozer said, “MLSC, Maryland’s legal services providers, and most importantly the low-income clients they serve benefit beyond measure from Judge Bell’s multi-faceted support of access to justice for all Marylanders and his strong commitment to ‘equal justice under law.’ Maryland is privileged to have him as its Chief Judge, and MLSC is privileged to create this award in his honor and have him as its first recipient.” Future awards will be presented only when warranted and known as the Robert M. Bell Medal for Access to Justice.

Robert J. Rhudy, former executive director of Maryland Legal Services Corporation, will receive the Arthur W. Machen, Jr. Award. This award is presented annually to an attorney who has rendered extraordinary service by providing civil legal services to the poor or by improving the civil legal services delivery system for such persons. Mr. Rhudy’s many years of dedicated service to legal services included serving as chief attorney at the Legal Aid Bureau from 1978 to 1983, as executive director of the Coalition for Legal Services and national consultant to legal services programs from 1983 to 1986 and executive director of MLSC from 1986 until 2003, where during his tenure the budget grew from $1 million to $7 million annually.

Anne B. Gallagher will be honored posthumously as this year’s recipient of the MLSC Benjamin L. Cardin Distinguished Service Award. This award is presented annually to an outstanding public interest attorney regularly involved in providing civil legal services to the poor. A smart, compassionate lawyer and dedicated advocate during her 10-year legal career, Ms. Gallagher, who had been with Lee, Leahy & McCaig, L.L.C., served hundreds of children in need of assistance on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

This year’s William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award will be presented to Patricia A. Campbell, victim advocate of Heartly House. Presented annually to a non-attorney who demonstrates outstanding service representing the rights and legal needs of low-income persons, this year’s recipient has represented victims of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault in Frederick County for the past 12 years.

MLSC is also presenting the second Herbert S. Garten Public Citizen Award to the Office of the Governor and the Maryland General Assembly for their overwhelming support of the increase in filing fee surcharges to provide a stable source of revenue to help meet the legal needs of Maryland’s low-income residents.

MLSC annually solicits nominations for legal services awards from bar associations, legal services programs and other interested persons and organizations. MLSC is a nonprofit organization created by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982 to raise funds from IOLTA and other sources and make grants for the delivery of civil legal service to Maryland’s poor. MLSC has awarded grants totaling $8,868,825 to twenty-nine legal services provider organizations for FY 2005 (July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005). MLSC grantees provided legal assistance to 109,419 persons throughout the state during the past year.

Model Child Custody Representation Project Evaluation Report - The Model Child Custody Representation Project was initiated by Maryland Legal Services Corporation in October 1999 to increase legal assistance in what was generally acknowledged as the most critical under-served legal need of low-income persons in Maryland. With funding from MLSC and the Administrative Office of the Courts, the project has established and maintained services over the past four years in three jurisdictions (Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties) through grants for staff attorney services by the Legal Aid Bureau and reduced fee private attorneys administered by local organizations. An Evaluation Report of this project by the University of Baltimore Law School’s Center for Families, Children, and the Courts was published September 2003. The Center found a high level of satisfaction by attorneys, clients, judges, court personnel, and others served by or involved with the project and made various recommendations for its continued operation and expansion.

MLAN Strategic Planning Summit Set for Oct. 18 - The Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) is holding a Strategic Planning Summit on October 18, 2004 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Conference Center at Sheppard-Pratt, 6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Oversight Committee Chair Chief Judge Robert M. Bell issued an invitation to legal services providers and others representing the bar, the judiciary, the law schools and other interested parties to reflect on MLAN's achievements and plan for its future. For more information and registration, contact MLAN at mlan@mdjustice.org or call 443.451.2894 by October 12.

As the result of its recent program evaluation, the MLAN project has been relocated to the Legal Aid Bureau in Baltimore. At the October 18th planning session, participants will 1) review MLAN's key objectives and project status; 2) engage in facilitated discussions, jointly plan for the future; and 3) recognize the achievements of the project.

MLSC Seeks Nominations for Legal Services Awards: Deadline Extended to July 15 - June 14, 2004 - The Maryland Legal Services Corporation was established as a nonprofit organization by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982 to receive and distribute funds to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to low-income persons. In recognition of outstanding contributions by Maryland individuals who provide justice to the poor, MLSC has created three awards to be given annually, as follows:

The Arthur W. Machen, Jr. Award to a person (normally an attorney in private practice) who has rendered extraordinary services in Maryland by providing civil legal services to the poor and handicapped or by improving the civil legal services delivery system for such persons;

The Benjamin L. Cardin Distinguished Service Award to an outstanding public interest attorney who is regularly involved in providing civil legal services to the poor; and

The William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award to a non- attorney who has demonstrated outstanding service in Maryland representing the rights and legal needs of the poor.

We encourage organizations and individuals to make nominations for any or all three of these awards to the Board of Directors of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation for their consideration and selection. Nominations for the 2004 awards must be received by July 15, 2004. Formal awards will be presented at the annual MLSC Awards Reception in the fall.

For additional information regarding the MLSC Legal Services Awards or to obtain nomination forms, contact MLSC at (410) 576-9494 or toll free at (800) 492-1340.

Maryland Legal Services Corporation Names New Deputy Director - May 13, 2004 – The Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) announces that Harriet Robinson has joined the organization as its Deputy Director.

Ms. Robinson is no stranger to the legal services community. She worked with the Legal Aid Bureau, Maryland’s statewide provider of legal aid, from 1980 – 2001, where she served for many years as its Director of Training and later as the Bureau’s Director of Communications. Most recently she has provided consulting services to many Maryland nonprofits and has been working with MLSC on a part-time basis on a variety of projects for the past several months.

MLSC’s executive director, Susan Erlichman, noted that Ms. Robinson brings a wealth of experience to the position, as well as a tremendous commitment to access to justice issues. “MLSC is extremely fortunate to have someone with Harriet’s experience, skills and commitment join our small, dedicated team. There’s a lot of work to be done, and Harriet was able to ‘hit the ground running.’” Ms. Robinson will work closely with MLSC’s executive director and be involved in all program-related MLSC activities. She will assume primary responsibility for grants management and administration, and work closely with Maryland’s legal services community.

MLSC was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982 to receive and distribute funds to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal assistance to low-income persons. MLSC makes grants totaling approximately $6.5 million annually to twenty-eight legal services programs which provide services to over 100,000 Marylanders each year in family, housing, consumer, employment, health care and other civil legal matters.

MLSC Appoints Erlichman Executive Director - December 15, 2003 - Susan M. Erlichman is the new executive director of the Maryland Legal Services Corp., replacing long-time MLSC director Robert J. Rhudy, who resigned last week.

MLSC board chair Vernon Boozer said the board of directors’ decision to appoint Erlichman expressed its “trust and confidence in Susan’s vision and leadership, as well as its appreciation for her outstanding abilities, contributions and commitment to MLSC and the mission of legal services in our state.”

Erlichman, the former director of operations at MLSC, joined the organization in 1988. Her appointment is effective immediately.

“This is an exciting and challenging period. I look forward to celebrating successes as we proceed with our efforts to expand the resources and delivery of services,” Erlichman said. “I’m honored the board provided me with the opportunity to continue working on behalf of low-income people in Maryland.”

MLSC was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982 to receive and distribute funds to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal assistance to low-income people.

Last year, MLSC awarded $6.5 million to 28 legal services programs which provided services to over 100,000 Marylanders in family, housing, consumer, employment, health care and other civil legal matters.

Boozer thanked outgoing director Rhudy for his “invaluable” service during a 17-year tenure that saw the creation of one of the top-rated state legal services systems in the U.S.

“Bob’s contributions to the advancement of legal services to the poor in Maryland are incalculable,” Boozer said. “We are sorry to see him go, and wish him the very best as he chooses this time to pursue other opportunities.”

Erlichman, a magna cum laude graduate of Temple University School of Law, served as MLSC’s deputy director for 12 years before her promotion to director of operations in 2000.

Prior to joining MLSC, Erlichman was the executive director of the Senior Citizen Judicare Project in Philadelphia, and also practiced law in Philadelphia with the firm of Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoades.

MLSC Annual Awards Recipients - The MLSC Annual Awards Reception was held on December 8, 2003 at the Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore.

Recipients of the 2003 MLSC Awards are Stephen H. Sachs, Arthur W. Machen, Jr. Award; Gregory L. Countess, Benjamin L. Cardin Distinguished Service Award; Winifred C. Borden and Beverly Mondin-Vanderhaar, William L. Marbury Award for Outstanding Advocacy; Maryland State Bar Association, Herbert S. Garten Public Citizen Award; and Diana L. Morris, Connie Kratovil Lavelle and Beins, Goldberg & Gleiberman, Awards of Special Recognition. Also, Herbert S. Garten, MLSC immediate past chair, and Jose A. Toro, former MLSC board member, were honored for their outstanding service.

IOLTA Victory in the United States Supreme Court - On March 26, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Brown v. Legal Foundation of Washington, upholding the constitutionality of IOLTA under the Just Compensation Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Justice Stevens authored the 5-4 majority decision, which Justices O’Conner, Souter, Ginsburg and Breyer joined. In its ruling the Court held that even assuming that a law requiring that the interest generated on IOLTA accounts be transferred to a different owner amounted to a per se taking, that taking was for a valid public use and the amount of just compensation due was zero. As a result, the Court found that the operation of the IOLTA program in Washington does not violate the Fifth Amendment.