Community Law Center

Pro Bono E-News
July 2006
 

 

The Pro Bono Project of the Community Law Center provides Non Profit Organizations in the Baltimore area with pro bono and low cost legal assistance. Please feel free to contact 410-366-0922 if you should have any questions about becoming a client of the Community Law Center's Pro Bono Project or our new Small Business Legal Services Project. We are here to serve you.

When the Community Law Center was founded in 1986, it was staffed by one person and most legal assistance was provided through a network of volunteer attorneys. Today, while the Community Law Center has grown and can handle many matters in-house through staff attorneys, the Pro Bono Project continues to match volunteer attorneys with clients in many communities. This allows the Community Law Center to provide specialized expertise in virtually every aspect of the law to community and nonprofit organizations throughout Baltimore and beyond.

 

The Sandtown Winchester Condominium Association, located in a primarily low-income, minority neighborhood, approached the Pro Bono Project in the summer of 2004 with a significant problem – many condominium owners were not paying their mandated dues, to the tune of approximately $67,000. The condominium association was forced to put off plans for maintenance or improvements due to this significant amount in arrears. Over the past two years, pro bono attorney Mario Dispenza has prepared collection letters and initiated litigation against the most delinquent parties and has managed to whittle that amount down to less than $5,000. At press time, it appears that only one party will require litigation – the rest have either made payments in full or in part, have set up payroll deductions, or have signed agreements to settle their debts.

 Mr. Dispenza has found the project to be a rewarding experience both personally and professionally. Mr. Dispenza states, “I think that any lawyer can find a connection with a pro bono client because there are so many areas where people need the assistance. Whether it is estate planning, small business consultation, tax assistance, property management or any host of matters, a lawyer can find a client with whom she or he connects and can help that client in a way that is mutually rewarding… The opportunities are there for fulfillment and for a departure from what most attorneys are probably seeing as drudgery in their daily experience.” Mr. Dispenza recognizes the rewards of being his own boss and enjoying opportunities he might not face in the routines of his normal employment. He also notes that he has enjoyed the challenges of learning new areas of the law in the course of this representation.

 Inez Robb, president of the association, states that “Mario has been a blessing to the Sandtown Winchester Condominium Association… He has helped us build our reserve account so we can take on some new projects (painting, parking permits, etc.)” and repeatedly expresses the tremendous gratitude the association feels toward Mr. Dispenza. Ms. Robb continues to say that she is “so glad there are still people in the world that care and think about helping others when they don’t have to.”

 

The Maryland Legal Services Corporation has offered the Community Law Center a $15,000 challenge grant to assist in funding the Pro Bono Project. If we can raise $15,000 in donations, MLSC will match each donation dollar for dollar. Please make your contribution today – visit us online at www.communitylaw.org or send contributions to Community Law Center, Inc., 3355 Keswick Rd, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21211. Thank you so much for your continued support!

 

Our Pro Bono Project relies heavily on dedicated attorneys who donate their time and energy to assisting community and nonprofit organizations. Although we boast a roster of approximately 200 current pro bono attorneys, and reach out to other attorneys via the Pro Bono Resource Center’s listserv, we are always looking for new volunteer attorneys! Please share your pro bono experiences with friends and colleagues, and encourage potential pro bono attorneys to contact us for more information. Current and new pro bono attorneys may complete or update a registration form on our website (Attorney Registration form). We will be contacting our current pro bono attorneys over the summer to update information in our database, including contact information and also to define practice areas and/or areas of interest. This will help us make the most efficient and appropriate matches between attorneys and clients.

Each month, Pro Bono Project staff visit several community and nonprofit organizations to present information about the Community Law Center and the Pro Bono Project. We can attend regular membership or board meetings to describe our organization, the types of issues for which we can provide assistance, and the nuts and bolts of the Pro Bono Project. Please contact the Pro Bono Project if you would like to schedule a presentation to your organization.

The Community Law Center is pleased to announce that the fifth edition of the popular “How to Start a Nonprofit Organization in Maryland” book is now available for purchase! This manual serves as a “how to” guide to community and nonprofit groups wishing to formally organize in the form of a nonstock corporation and to obtain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. The book includes samples of bylaws, articles of incorporation, and Form 1023 (the IRS application for tax exemption), and also describes filings and other ongoing requirements.

 Pro Bono Project staff worked with the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations in this joint effort, and particularly appreciates the efforts of Jonathan May, Peter Guattery, and Mustafa Kamal of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston for their assistance in reviewing drafts of the manual. The price of the manual is $25 plus tax and shipping where applicable. Please contact us today to obtain your copy!

 

After over a decade in our current Charles Village office space, the Community Law Center is moving this fall to a new office space in the renovated Old Northern District Police Station. Located at 3355 Keswick Road, Suite 200 in Hampden, we will still be centrally located to our many client organizations across and around Baltimore. To help defray the high expense of moving and retrofitting a new space, CLC welcomes donations of funds and gently used office furniture. Naming opportunities will also be available. Look for more information in the coming weeks about a pre-move event to be held September 16th!

2006 is the 20th anniversary of the Community Law Center! Show your support for another 20 years by making a contribution today!

The mission of the Community Law Center is to provide legal services and technical assistance to improve the quality of life and economic viability of communities.

Kelly E. Pfeifer, Staff Attorney – kellyp@communitylaw.org or 410.366.0922 x33

Danielle Deckard, Paralegal – danielled@communitylaw.org or 410.366.0922 x15