Getting Legal Help in Maryland: What is it, and what does it cost?

Getting help from a professional can make a major problem or question much easier. Many organizations in Maryland provide legal and non-legal free, low-cost, and fee-based services.

Are you in danger right now? If so, call 911, or a Domestic Violence Organization.

 

Topics on this page:

 

Cost
Free Help logo


Free help

 Reduced Fee logo


Reduced-fee help

 Normal Fee logo


Fee-based help

Types of Help
Legal information


Legal Information

 Legal advice


Legal Advice

 Full representation logo


Full Representation

limited scope

"Limited Scope"
Representation

 handshake


Other Options

 

How much does legal help cost?

Unlike criminal cases, the Constitution does not guarantee legal help in all civil cases. Legal help, like all help from professionals, can be expensive.  But you have several options.

Getting help from a professional can make a major problem or question much easier. 

 

Free Help logo Free Help

Some sources of free legal help include:

Read more: Do I Qualify for Free or Low Cost Legal Help?

 

Normal Fee logo Reduced-fee help

  • Even if your income is higher than the cut-off for certain free programs, it can be hard to afford legal fees. Some lawyers offer reduced-fee services, based on your individual circumstances.
  • Reduced-Fee Service Providers
  • "Limited Scope" representation: It’s always good to have more help, rather than less.  However, in some situations, a lawyer may be willing to help you with part of a problem or case instead of the entire process. 

Read more: Do I Qualify for Free or Low Cost Legal Help?

 

Reduced Fee logo Fee-based help

Fees for service are negotiated between the attorney and client.

Some ways to find a private lawyer:

  • Call a Referral Service
    • You will briefly describe your situation, and the service will refer you to a lawyer who practices in the required field. The service may offer a 30-minute initial talk with the lawyer. This may cost a modest fee, perhaps $25 or $50.
    • Local bar associations across Maryland can help you find a lawyer in your area.
  • Call a Bar Association.
  • Ask friends to recommend a lawyer they have worked with.

Things to consider:

 

How much help will I get?

There are three kinds of legal help that people often get: legal information, legal advice, and full representation. Legal information and advice can help a great deal, even if you will represent yourself in court, or don't have to go to court.

You generally have the right to represent yourself in court.  However, in some cases, it is important to have a lawyer's help.

 

What it is:

  • Explaining what the law says, what it means, and how the legal system works.
  • Providing lists of the legal options for people in common situations.
  • Providing step-by-step instructions for how to get things done in court.
  • Providing forms that help you explain your situation.
  • Providing referrals to connect you with more help.

Who provides it: Legal information can come from lawyers, librarians, government employees, and published resources.

 

What it is:

  • Giving predictions about what will happen if you make certain choices.
  • Giving opinions about what choices you should make.
  • Writing legal documents for you to use in court or out of court.

Who provides it: Legal advice comes from lawyers, and is based on listening to you and understanding your specific situation.

 

Legal representation logo Full Representation

What it is:

  • Speaking for you and represent your interests to another person or in court.
  • Writing legal documents for you, filing documents with the court, and appearing on your behalf before the court.

Who provides it: Representation usually comes from lawyers, who must speak and act in a way that fits with your goals.

 

limited scope "Limited scope" representation

Between legal advice and full representation, there is a range of options. At the low end, brief legal advice involves a short conversation with a lawyer. This can take place in person, by phone, or on the internet.

In Maryland, you and your lawyer can agree to share the legal tasks. This is called "limited scope" representation.

You can even agree for the lawyer to appear in court for just part of your case.  This is called a “limited appearance.” This can be one more way of getting some help, even if you cannot afford to pay for full representation.

 

handshake Other options

Mediation

Mediation is a process in which a trained neutral person, a “mediator,” helps people communicate with one another and reach agreements that satisfy everyone’s needs. Mediation can be a lower cost solution to resolving a dispute in many situations.

Non-Legal Assistance

2-1-1 Maryland, Inc.
2-1-1 is an easy to remember, toll free telephone number that provides comprehensive information about community services, crisis intervention, referrals to programs, and volunteerism. Callers can dial 2-1-1 on their phones 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 2-1-1 can link people to resources in 150+ languages. If you call 2-1-1, you will speak with trained specialists who listen as you  explain your situation, work with you to assess your problems and needs, and help you find answers to your questions.

Telephone: 211; Online chat

Maryland Access Point
The Maryland Access Point (MAP) centers were established as the single entry point for individuals seeking long term support services.  Maryland's 20 local MAP sites provide individual, person centered counseling to consumers seeking information, referral, and program support for long term services. 

 

Finding Legal Help in a Civil Case from the Maryland Courts

 

Source
Dave Pantzer, Esq., Maryland State Law Library; updated by PLL Contributors
Source URL: https://www.peoples-law.org/get-help

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  4. #cost
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  7. #video
  8. #free-help
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  14. #legal-information
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  18. #full-representation
  19. #full-representation
  20. #limited-scope
  21. #limited-scope
  22. #limited-scope
  23. #other-options
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  25. https://www.peoples-law.org/directory
  26. https://www.mdcourts.gov/lawlib/using-library/for-librarians/maryland-law-libraries
  27. http://www.mdcourts.gov/selfhelp/#maryland
  28. http://www.mdcourts.gov/legalhelp/districtctselfhelpctr.html
  29. http://www.mdcourts.gov/family/familylawassistance.html
  30. https://www.peoples-law.org/calendar
  31. http://mdcourts.gov/reference/videolibrary.html
  32. https://www.peoples-law.org/do-i-qualify-free-or-low-cost-legal-help
  33. https://www.peoples-law.org/reduced-fee-services
  34. https://www.peoples-law.org/limited-scope
  35. https://www.peoples-law.org/do-i-qualify-free-or-low-cost-legal-help
  36. https://www.msba.org/site/site/content/Resources-and-Tools-Content/For-The-Public.aspx?hkey=60b9d077-7a36-4688-b444-86cfe064b5dd
  37. https://www.msba.org/site/site/content/Resources-and-Tools-Content/Local-and-Specialty-Bars.aspx?hkey=69cce717-f161-41e8-bd29-57cd80302043
  38. https://www.peoples-law.org/tips-hiring-private-attorney
  39. https://www.peoples-law.org/negotiating-fee
  40. http://www.peoples-law.org/limited-scope
  41. https://www.peoples-law.org/limited-scope
  42. https://www.peoples-law.org/mediation
  43. http://www.211md.org
  44. tel:+1 211
  45. https://211md.org/chat-with-us/
  46. https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/maryland-access-point.aspx
  47. https://mdcourts.gov/video/courthelp/finding-legal-help-civil-case