Eastern Shore attorneys out-spend the rest of their Maryland colleagues in terms of donated legal services, according to a recently released report. The “Current Status of Pro Bono Service among Maryland Lawyers” was compiled by ANASYS, Inc., and is based on 2014 data.
Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Sandy Brown commended the local attorneys who provide pro bono hours to her organization and its clients. “Once again,” she said, “our Eastern Shore attorneys are demonstrating their awareness of the real needs our residents have for civil legal services and generously stepping up and meeting those needs.”
Maryland courts established a goal of 50 hours or more of pro bono service each year for full-time attorneys, with an emphasis on assistance to people of limited means. Lawyers certified to practice in the state are required to report annually on their pro bono activities. For reporting purposes, the state is divided into Eastern, Western, Southern, Central and Capital regions.
Given the Eastern Region’s rural character and more limited legal resources than in the metropolitan regions of the state, Brown underscores the urgent need for attorneys who do practice on this side of the Chesapeake Bay to offer their time and assistance to its most vulnerable citizens.
“Year after year, our attorneys lead the state both in the percentage who donate pro bono hours and in those who exceed the target goal of 50 hours,” she said.
For 2014, 70.8 percent of the Eastern Region’s lawyers provided some pro bono hours, compared to 53.8 percent for the state as a whole. Dorchester County lawyers led the state with 85.7 percent providing volunteer services, followed by Garrett County at 84.0 percent and Talbot County at 75.3 percent.
For full-time lawyers meeting the 50-hour goal, the Eastern Region again led the state at 32.2 percent, compared to the Maryland average of 19.9 percent. The top four counties meeting the target were Somerset (53.8%), Caroline (47.1%), Queen Anne’s (38.9%) and Talbot (34.1%), with Dorchester County also making the top ten at 28.6 percent.
Attorneys who file their pro bono hours online are offered the opportunity to make a financial donation to the Maryland legal services provider of their choice, and the report tracks these unconfirmed voluntary donations. For 2014, donations designated for Mid-Shore Pro Bono through the online reporting increased 5.9 percent.
The report notes two hurdles to the provision of pro bono hours by Maryland attorneys. First, there are more lawyers in smaller firms in Maryland than in other states. Also, many Maryland-licensed attorneys practice in the government or other areas that traditionally do not lend themselves to providing pro bono services.
Brown hopes that a recent rule change, which allows attorneys not licensed to practice in the state of Maryland to offer pro bono services through a legal services organization such as Mid-Shore Pro Bono, will expand the number of lawyers available to assist her clients.
Brown also noted that Mid-Shore Pro Bono currently is recruiting new board members. Attorneys are welcome to serve on the board and the time donated in that capacity may be used to fulfill pro bono requirements.
“We have some exceptionally generous attorneys on the Eastern Shore,” she said, “but more and more of our low-income and elderly residents are coming to us for help. Spending even a few extra hours helping out in one of our clinics or serving on our board can mean a huge difference to our clients and to our ability to serve the community.”
The full report may be found online at www.courts.state.md.us/probono/pdfs/probonoreport2014.pdf.
For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, call Mid-Shore Pro Bono at 410-690-8128 or visit www.midshoreprobono.org.
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