Legal Assistance

About

Navigating the legal system can be intimidating, especially when facing critical issues like housing disputes, record expungement, workplace discrimination, or family law matters. Access to affordable legal representation and information is vital for protecting your rights.

This guide connects District 40 and Maryland residents to trusted State, Federal, and Local legal services, public defenders, free legal clinics, and court self-help tools for the following legal fields:

  • Consumer Rights, Scams, and Debt

  • Criminal Defense and Record Expungement

  • Domestic Violence

  • Family Law

  • Housing, Rent, and Eviction

  • Immigration

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: By law, members of the Maryland General Assembly and their legislative staff, including the Office of Delegate Marlon Amprey, are prohibited from offering formal legal advice, recommending private attorneys, or intervening in active judicial proceedings or court cases.

General Legal Resources

Maryland Center for Legal Assistance through the Maryland Courts Help Center:

Maryland District Court Help Center

  • In-person assistance

    • Address: Varies depending on city/county.

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA)

  • Phone: Varies depending on city/county.

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

A directory of free and low-cost legal service providers can be found here.

Consumer Rights, Scams, and Debt

Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, Consumer Protection Division

  • Provides mediation services to consumers to help resolve complaints against businesses and health insurance carriers.

  • Phone: Varies depending on city/county and type of issue.

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS)

  • Provides income-eligible individuals with free legal representation facing consumer rights issues, debt collection lawsuits, and contract disputes.

  • Phone: (410) 539-6800

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Criminal Defense and Record Expungement

Maryland Office of the Public Defender

  • Provides income-eligible individuals with free legal representation and advocacy across all stages of state criminal proceedings, including bail hearings, trials, appeals, and post-conviction relief.

  • Phone: (877) 430-5187

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland (PBRC)

  • Provide free legal advice and assistance to individuals seeking to clear eligible criminal records through expungement.

  • Phone (410) 837-9379

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS)

  • Provide free legal representation, eligibility screenings, and petition assistance to expunge or shield eligible criminal records.

  • Phone: (410) 539-6800

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Domestic Violence

National Domestic Violence Hotline

  • Provides free, confidential, 24/7 crisis intervention, safety planning, compassionate support, and local resource referrals for anyone affected by domestic violence and intimate partner abuse.

  • Phone: (800) 799-7233

  • Local Resource: https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/directory-of-local-providers/

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

A directory other domestic violence legal service providers in Maryland can be found here.

Family Law

Family Law Help Center through Maryland Family Court Help Center:

  • Provides free legal advice, court form assistance, and step-by-step guidance to self-represented individuals navigating civil family law matters, including divorce, child custody, visitation, and child support.

  • Phone: Varies depending on city/county.

  • Address: Varies depending on city/county.

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Women’s Law Center of Maryland

  • Phone: (800) 845-8550 or (410) 321-8761

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Housing, Rent, and Eviction

Maryland Access to Counsel in Evictions

  • Provides income-eligible tenants with free legal representation, advice, and resources to help defend against eviction proceedings in court.

  • Phone: Call 2-1-1. Tell the operator that you need legal help with an eviction case.

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Maryland Legal Aid

  • Provides income-eligible renters and homeowners with free legal representation and advice for housing-related matters, including eviction defense, dangerous housing conditions, landlord disputes, and foreclosure prevention.

  • Phone: (888) 465-2468

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Public Justice Center

  • Provides free legal assistance, depending on capacity, to 1) renters in Baltimore City who are facing eviction or have questions about their rights; and 2) renters statewide whose landlords are in foreclosure.

  • Phone: (410) 625-9409

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland (PBRC), Tenant Volunteer Lawyer of the Day

  • Provides income-eligible renters with free, same-day legal advice and representation directly in court on the day of their eviction proceedings.

  • Phone (410) 837-9379

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Immigration

Amica Center for Immigrant Rights  (Formerly CAIR Coalition)

  • Provides free legal orientations, individual consultations, and direct legal representation to detained immigrant adults and children facing deportation in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and beyond

  • Phone: (202) 331-3320

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

We Are CASA

  • Provides free or low-cost immigration legal consultations, DACA assistance, and deportation defense resources for low-income immigrants in Maryland through its legal department.

  • Phone: (866) 765-2272

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Esperanza Center (Catholic Charities of Baltimore)

  • Provides free and low-cost immigration legal services, including assistance with green cards, work permits, citizenship, and deportation defense.

  • Phone: (667) 600-2922 or (667) 600-2941

  • Email address: ilsinfo@cc-md.org

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

  • Provides free legal representation and social services for unaccompanied and separated children in immigration proceedings through its Baltimore Office.

  • Phone: (410) 646-8007

  • Email address: infobaltimore@supportkind.org

Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project (MILAP)

  • Offers free legal consultations, court preparation, and referral assistance for individuals navigating Baltimore Immigration Court.

  • Phone: (443) 703-3054

  • Email address: edu.immigration@probonomd.org

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Tahirih Justice Center

  • Provides free and confidential immigration legal services to immigrant women, girls, and survivors of gender-based violence.

  • Phone: (410) 999-1900 or (866) 575-0071

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

World Relief Baltimore Immigration Legal Clinic

  • Delivers low-cost legal assistance for family reunification, asylum applications, and citizenship processing.

  • Phone: (443) 451-1931

  • Click here to access their website for more information.

Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus

A directory of other immigration advocates network can be found here.