DRAFT
http://aacpll.pbworks.com/w/file/124013928/Annual%20Report%202016-2017.docx
Anne Arundel County Local Pro Bono Committee
Annual Report
July 2016 – December 2017
Submitted by Tasnima Apol, Chair
Contact information: Apol Law LLC
443-333-9230 (office), 443-333-5438 (fax), tapol@apollaw.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 172 Riva, MD 21140
Committee Information
Chairs are selected via committee vote.
There is one local committee. The previous Anne Arundel Bar Association committee has been discontinued.
The composition of the committee complies with Rule 16-902. The Committee has developed procedures for terms and selection of members. http://aacpll.pbworks.com/w/page/95785079/Local%20Pro%20Bono%20Membership%20Procedures
Roster for reporting period is here.
Meeting schedule: 4th Monday at 12:15 every other month, The schedule can be found here: http://aacpll.pbworks.com/w/page/36397010/Meetings
Most significant activities:
Free Legal Fair and Expungement Clinic https://aacpll.org/2017/11/09/pro-bono-celebration-free-legal-fair-and-expungement-clinic/
Homeless Resource Day https://aacpll.org/2017/11/10/pro-bono-celebration-homeless-resource-day/
Lawyer in the Library https://aacpll.org/tag/lawyer-in-the-library/
http://circuitcourt.org/legal-help/lawyer-in-the-library
MVLS sponsored program
Monthly Foreclosure Clinic (3rd Wednesday of the month) http://aacpll.pbworks.com/w/page/99877141/Foreclosure%20Clinic
Pro Bono Outreach and Recruitment:
2016 Pro Bono Week Celebration – Committee volunteers provided information and treats at information tables at the district and circuit courts with the theme “Pro Bono is not so scary”
https://aacpll.org/2016/10/24/pro-bono-is-not-so-scary/
Annual Pro Bono Recognition Lunch 2/28/2017 https://aacpll.org/2017/03/09/recognizing-anne-arundel-county-pro-bono-volunteers-3/
Pro Bono Directory – ongoing revision and online access http://aacpll.pbworks.com/w/page/69410664/Pro%20Bono%20(Free)%20and%20Reduced%20Fee%20Civil%20Legal%20Services
Inns of Court
Information to Inn sponsored monthly chamber chats and dinner meetings http://aacpll.pbworks.com/w/page/123187176/Pro%20Bono%20Opportunity%20Handouts
Pro Bono hours reporting tool http://aacpll.pbworks.com/w/page/114743525/Pro%20Bono%20Reporting%20Tool
Pro Bono survey (paper surveys distributed at December 2017 Inns of Court Meeting and will continue online in 2018) http://aacpll.pbworks.com/w/page/123196818/Pro%20Bono%20Survey
Anne Arundel Bar Association
AABA President’s Pro Bono Award http://aacpll.pbworks.com/w/page/118647180/AABA%20Pro%20Bono%20Award
Presented to Carole Brown at AABA and Inns of Court Joint meeting 10/05/2017
https://aacpll.org/2017/10/10/national-pro-bono-celebration-has-begun/
AABA Comuncations
Judicial Participation
There are judicial members on the committee and members from all levels of the Anne Arundel County judiciary attended the Pro Bono Recognition Lunch.
Government Attorneys
One committee member is a government attorney.
Legal Needs
The 2003 surveys are updated with YWCA Domestic Violence Statistics, Legal Aid statistics and the Anne Arundel County report “Poverty Amidst Plenty” Needs assessment update: Poverty Amidst Plenty V report of the Community Foundation Anne Arundel County - 2015-Needs-Assessmet-Final-for-Printer.pdf
Local Bar Association
Support of AABA – Presidents met with the Committee
Challenges
Low participation numbers of Anne Arundel attorneys.
Improvements
There seems to be more awareness of pro bono and yet Anne Arundel has ranked at the bottom per reports for 2015 and 2016
Standing Committee Support
Help with increasing judicial support would be appreciated.
Court Support of Pro Bono
Work of Judge Silkworth is greatly appreciated especially in incorporating the pro bono message at all Inns of Court events.