All Maryland Legal Aid offices will be closed on Thursday November 25th in observance of Thanksgiving Day Menu Donate Homepage > About Us About Us Our Vision To lead in providing high-quality legal services; to build on mutual respect for clients, staff, and others; to advocate for justice; and to add maximum positive value to all who request legal assistance. Our Mission To provide high-quality legal services to Maryland’s poor through a mix of services and to bring about the changes poor people want in the systems that affect them. Our Values To grow out of in-depth conversations with our clients across the state about the issues that they and their families face everyday. Maryland Legal Aid has adopted a human rights framework to our advocacy. What We Do Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) is the largest provider of free, direct legal services in Maryland and the state's 3rd largest law firm*. As a private, non-profit law firm, MLA provides a full range of free civil legal services to low-income people statewide, in Baltimore City and in Maryland’s 23 counties, from 12 office locations. Financial support for our services comes from federal, state and local governments, foundations, law firms, the United Way, and from individual donors. MLA handles civil (not criminal) cases involving a wide range of issues, including child custody, housing, public benefits, consumer law (e.g., bankruptcy and debt collection ), and criminal record expungements to remove barriers to obtaining child custody, housing, and employment. Many of MLA's local offices represent children in CINA (Child in Need of Assistance) proceedings. Other vulnerable populations, such as victims of abuse and domestic violence, seniors, migrant farmworkers, veterans, and nursing home and assisted living residents, also receive specialized representation. MLA’s services include representation before federal and state trial and appellate courts, brief advice and counsel, and referrals to other sources of assistance. *The Daily Record 2019 Senior Management Board Members Executive Director's Message Human Rights Framework Brief History SENIOR MANAGEMENT Wilhelm H. Joseph Jr., Esq. Executive Director Stuart O. Simms, Esq. Chief Counsel Gustava Taler, Esq. Chief Operating Officer Chijioke Akamigbo, Esq. Deputy Chief Counsel Amy L. Petkovsek, Esq. Deputy Chief Counsel Cornelia Bright Gordon, Esq. Director of Advocacy for Administrative Law Todd Cagwin, Esq. Director of Training & Pro Bono Gregory L. Countess, Esq. Director of Advocacy for Housing and Community Economic Development Graham Cowger Director of Development Anthony H. Davis, II, Esq. Director of Advocacy for Consumer Law John Jeffcott, Esq. Director of Information Technology Mitra Ghahramanlou Controller Jennifer L. Lavella Director of Marketing & Communications Erica I. LeMon, Esq. Director of Advocacy for Children's Rights Colleen E. Russell Director of Administrative Services Bobbie Steyer, Esq. Director of Advocacy for Family Law Jennifer W. R. Schauffler Director of Grants, Contracts, and Compliance Phillip C. Stillman Chief of Human Resources Quick Links Online Intake Donate Online Careers Press Room Annual & Special Reports Privacy Policy People’s Law Library Pro Bono Attorney Opportunities State and Regional Services Community Lawyering Initiative (443) 451-2805 Farmworker Program (800) 444-4099 Foreclosure Legal Assistance Project (888) 213-3320 Long-Term Care Assistance Project (866) 635-2948 Maryland Senior Legal Helpline (866) 635-2948 Joining Forces Project Veterans’ Hotline (443) 863-4040 Ryan White Project (866) 635-2948 MD Courts Help Centers The Maryland Courts Help Centers provides free limited legal services by phone (410) 260-1392 and Live Chat. For more information on the Maryland Center for Legal Assistance visit www.mdcla.org. Select Language Arabic Chinese (Simplified) Dutch English Filipino French German Italian Japanese Korean Portuguese Russian Spanish © 2021 Legal Aid Bureau, Inc., (Maryland Legal Aid). All Rights Reserved. 500 East Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 Maryland Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Tax identification number: 52-0591621. Contributions to Maryland Legal Aid are tax-deductible.