Maryland Legal Aid: Maryland Legal Aid’s Joining Forces Project Hotline - Volunteer!

Maryland is home to 465,000 veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Many of these veterans are homeless or living at or below the poverty line, struggling to meet their basic needs. They often face a myriad of legal issues that cannot be adequately addressed without the help of qualified counsel. Unfortunately, however, there are very few free or low-cost legal resources available to low-income Maryland veterans.

Through a grant provided by the Legal Services Corporation’s Pro Bono Innovation Fund, Maryland Legal Aid is able to give Maryland veterans direct and immediate access to legal assistance for civil legal issues without the veterans having to leave their homes. This is particularly critical for veterans who live in rural areas, lack access to public transportation, or have disabilities that limit their mobility.

The extent of your volunteer involvement in the Joining Forces Project is up to you. You may be able to participate in this effort from the comfort of your own office or home, or work from Maryland Legal Aid’s Baltimore City office. You can devote a considerable amount of time to answering calls or very little. The choice is yours. Additionally, if you are interested in providing more extensive representation to eligible veterans with complex civil legal issues, such as veterans’ benefits, you will have ample opportunities to do that as well.

Your participation will not be limited by your own areas of practice. The Joining Forces Project will feature electronic access to scripts on various areas of law that will guide you through the basics when answering veterans’ calls. For more complex issues, mentors will be provided in a wide range of practice areas and targeted trainings will be offered. You will also have access to malpractice insurance for cases that you handle through the Project. Areas of general civil legal services where advice will be given include: consumer rights, family law (including child custody), government benefits, veterans’ benefits, and housing (including landlord/tenant and foreclosure matters).

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jeff Gold at 443-863-4040, or by email at jgold@mdlab.org. As a skilled lawyer, you can make a significant difference in the life of a Maryland veteran in need. 

CONTACT:
Maryland Legal Aid-JOINING FORCES       
Jeff Gold

PHONE:
443-863-4040

EMAIL:
jgold@mdlab.org

WEBSITE:
www.mdlab.org

BROCHURE:

http://www.mdlab.org/wp-content/uploads/MLA_JoiningForces.pdf