Program Descriptions

Core Pro Bono Program

The mission of Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) is to provide quality pro bono civil legal services to Marylanders of limited means. MVLS is the largest pro bono legal services provider in the state both in terms of volunteers, over 2,000 lawyers on its panel, and clients served, 65,000 since its founding in 1981. Our core pro bono program expands the capacity of Maryland’s overburdened legal services delivery system which can serve only 20% of low-income clients in need of civil legal services. The current economic downturn has exacerbated the need for legal services, MVLS volunteers helped approximately 3,000 low-income Marylanders every year.

Community Development Project

The Community Development Project provides free legal advice and representation to nonprofit organizations across Maryland that serve low-income communities by building affordable housing, providing job training, drug treatment, and offering other vital human services. The Project matches nonprofits with volunteer lawyers who review contracts, negotiate leases, prepare personnel manuals, answer tax questions, provide advice on complying with regulations and help with other transactional legal needs.

Judicare Project

The Judicare Project is a reduced fee program designed to provide free legal services to clients who otherwise would be unable to afford representation in high conflict family law cases.  Judicare panel attorneys must have at least three years of family law experience or be supervised by an attorney.

Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic

The MVLS Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic provides pro bono legal assistance to low-income Marylanders with IRS tax disputes. Launched in 1999, this program helps taxpayers with tax issues that include denial of the Earned Income Tax Credit, audits, innocent spouse relief, filing back taxes, and setting up payment plans.

Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law)

Project HEAL is a medical-legal partnership between MVLS, The Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, and Kennedy Krieger Institute. Our lawyers are part of an interdisciplinary team that includes physicians, nurses, social workers and other health care providers. Project HEAL lawyers are located on-site at these medical centers where they can conveniently offer low-income children, who are patients, and their families free legal advice and representation in a variety of civil legal matters, such as landlord-tenant disputes; school enrollment and special education matters; denial of public benefits; family law matters (divorce, custody, guardianship, child support); consumer debt collections; and wills/advanced medical directives.

Washington County Courthouse Clinic

MVLS operates a Family Law Self-Help Clinic in the Circuit Court of Washington County. Experienced family law attorneys provide free advice and information in a clinic setting to low-income litigants who do not have an attorney.