MVLS was founded in 1981. Federal funding for legal services was in jeopardy of being eliminated. A small group of Maryland lawyers wanted to help the state’s poor continue to have access to legal assistance in civil cases. With a staff of one and a modest budget, they launched MVLS.

Today MVLS is the state’s largest provider of pro bono civil legal assistance, having helped more than 40,000 low-income individuals. Given our range and the number of people we assist, if we were a private firm, we would be the state’s largest.

For more about us, see

Sources of Funding

MVLS is funded through government grants, grants from corporations and foundations, contributions from individuals, and IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts).

Nonprofit Status

MVLS is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.