Programs

The Pro Bono Program

The Pro Bono Program matches volunteer lawyers with community and nonprofit organizations throughout Maryland on legal matters ranging from acquiring property to zoning appeals.

Pro Bono Legal Services

The Pro Bono Program helps improve the safety, quality of life and economic vitality of neighborhoods in Maryland by addressing a wide range of legal issues on behalf of community and nonprofit organizations. The types of legal matters addressed through the Pro Bono Program
 include:

Forming, reviving, or maintaining a nonprofit organization, including bylaws, incorporation, and tax-exemption (501(c)(3)) applications;

• Leasing real estate;
• Transferring real property;
• Zoning appeals;
• Drafting and negotiating contracts;
• Employment issues;
• Copyright and trademark issues;
• Drug nuisance abatement;
• Liquor license protests; and
• Much, much more!

Becoming a Pro Bono Program Client

To apply for legal assistance from the Community Law Center, please complete and submit an application along with the nonrefundable application fee and all requested information (current clients click here). If your organization would like help applying for tax-exempt status please also submit a draft of the completed IRS Form 1023.

Once received, the Pro Bono Program staff review the applications and may contact client organizations for additional information. Once a client is accepted by the Community Law Center, the Pro Bono Program staff matches the organization with an appropriate volunteer attorney. Finding a match generally takes three to four weeks after all information has been submitted. Due to the volunteer nature of the Pro Bono Program, the Community Law Center cannot guarantee placement of all cases. However, the Pro Bono Program has a long history of successfully matching the overwhelming majority of applicant clients with pro bono attorneys.

Once a match is made with a pro bono attorney, the client organization will directly work with that attorney on the legal issue at hand. During the course of representation, however, the Pro Bono Program staff maintains contact with the client and volunteer attorney to provide assistance when necessary.

Beyond the nonrefundable application fee, no fees are charged for the volunteer attorney's time, but clients are responsible for direct expenses (filing fees, postage, copying expenses, etc.) related to their cases.

Community organizations and nonprofits are encouraged to purchase the Community Law Center's manual "How to Start a Nonprofit Organization in Maryland" to get their organization started as well as to keep their organization running efficiently and effectively. Community associations are also encouraged to purchase the Community Law Center's manual "Revitalizing Baltimore's Neighborhoods: Legal Tools for Community Associations" for in-depth information on strategies community associations can use to make their neighborhood a place everyone would want to call home!

Pay your application fee online!

Projected Income and Application Fee

Projected Income $0-4,999 Application Fee $100.00 Projected Income $5,000-9,999 Application Fee $125.00 Projected Income $10,000-24,999 Application Fee $150.00 Projected Income $25,000-99,999 Application Fee $175.00 Projected Income $100,000-199,999 Application Fee $200.00 Projected Income $200,000-299,999 Application Fee $250.00 Projected Income $300,000-399,999 Application Fee $300.00 Projected Income $400,000-499,999 Application Fee $400.00 Projected Income $500,000 and over Application Fee $500.00

Volunteering as a Pro Bono Attorney

The Pro Bono Program's success relies on our network of hundreds of volunteer attorneys. Attorneys wishing to volunteer should complete an Attorney Registration Form. The information provided on this form helps us match attorneys with clients seeking representation for legal issues in their areas of interest or specialization and assures that volunteer attorneys are covered under our professional liability insurance.

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• Pro Bono Program Enews Summer 2009
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