Attorney

Supporting the Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services under Maryland Rule 19-501 activities shall include but are not limited to the following:

a.       Scheduling monthly/bi-monthly meetings, take and distribute meeting minutes, draft reports, and other publications, send meeting notices to Standing Committee members, provide meals for meetings, file annual reports with recommendations about the implementation and effectiveness of the Local Pro Bono Action Plans with the Court of Appeals  

b.      Providing guidance on strategies to increase attorney engagement in pro bono activities  

c.       Developing a strategy for promoting judicial engagement and support of pro bono practice in local jurisdictions

d.      Recommending methods to incentivize and galvanize private bar engagement in pro bono work using data-driven techniques

e.       Analyzing annual reports on pro bono service in Maryland to identify specific practice areas, regions, and case types that the Standing Committee may want to prioritize in promoting pro bono practice

f.        Working with the Standing Committee and the AOC to update the website pages related to pro bono to include information regarding activities, opportunities, and success of pro bono services

a.       Assessing the needs in the county for pro bono legal service including the needs of non-English speaking, minority, and isolated populations  

b.      Hosting regional or joint meetings to engage Judiciary, court personnel, local providers and the Maryland Bar in Pro Bono planning and implementation  

c.       Maintaining information on local committee membership and activities

d.      Collecting and sharing information on best practices and replicable models

e.       Confirming the local committees are appointed in accordance with the rules       

f.        Orienting new members and provide recommendations as vacancies occur   

g.       Determining the nature and extent of existing and proposed free or low-cost legal services in the county    

h.      Establishing goals and priorities for the pro bono legal services in the county

i.        Collecting local pro bono action plans created by each local committee on how they are fulfilling duties under Maryland Rule 19-502

j.        Using data from mandatory reporting and other methods to measure the impact of the Standing Committee’s work 

Supporting the Standing Committee in its work to promote attorney compliance with mandatory pro bono reporting under Maryland Rule 19-503 in activities including but not limited to the following:

a.       Revising pro bono reporting FAQs and other content hosted on the Judiciary’s pro bono web page (https://mdcourts.gov/probono) and linked pages

b.      Reviewing bulk email templates at the request of the Administrative Office of Courts  

c.       Reviewing and providing input on the design of the pro bono reporting application in the Attorney Information System (AIS)  

d.      In consultation with the AOC and the Standing Committee review and consult on pro bono reporting questions and communications with Maryland attorneys regarding their reporting obligations

e.       Fielding questions from Maryland lawyers regarding pro bono activity

f.        Between January and March of each year, research contact information for attorney’s where needed and contact non-compliant attorneys to ensure the annual reporting requirements are fulfilled  

g.       Developing and promoting policies that support and encourage pro bono participation among the Maryland Bar

Promoting pro bono practice in Maryland and promote awareness of the contributions of Maryland lawyers in activities including but not limited to the following:

a.       Issuing press releases in coordination with the Maryland Judiciary promoting awareness of the pro bono services provided by Maryland lawyers  

b.      Distributing press releases in coordination with the Maryland Judiciary promoting awareness of the pro bono services provided by Maryland lawyers  

c.       Providing guidance and best practices to Standing Committee and local pro bono committees on ways to recognize pro bono activities