Marylanders can talk to an attorney for free on Thursday in Frederick – no charge, no registration and no strings attached – and a packed house is expected, the Public News Service reported.
Katie Cox, a Maryland Legal Aid paralegal who is coordinating the event, says demand for help is often a reflection of the economy.
“I’d say the thing we see most often is family law cases – people going through divorces or custody. We also see now an increase in unemployment cases.”
Volunteer attorneys will deal with questions about landlord/tenant issues, wills and advance directives, bankruptcy, workers’ compensation, immigration, Social Security disability and serious traffic offenses, Cox says. Many problems, she adds, can be resolved outside the courtroom.
“When someone comes in, they might not necessarily need a lawyer. It might not be a legal problem, but they’re still not sure about what to do. We can refer them to the proper agencies.”
Those who attend, Cox says, should bring documents related to their questions.
Maryland Legal Aid and the Bar Association of Frederick County’s Pro Bono and Access to Legal Services Committee are sponsoring the clinic. More than 100 people showed up at a similar event in July.
The clinic will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. at Maryland Legal Aid, 22 S. Market St.
To hear an audio version, click here.
