Maryland Legal Aid - District Court Self-Help Center

Practice Areas

About Maryland Legal Aid - District Court Self-Help Center

From the firm’s website

Attorneys

• Sophia Barilone — Deputy Director for Victim's Rights
• Rachel Bitter — Chief Attorney, Upper Eastern Shore
• Laurence Boylan — Supervising Attorney, Baltimore City Intake Services Unit
• John Butler — Supervising Attorney, Baltimore County Office
• Matthew Braun — Supervising Attorney, Prince George's County Office
• Cornelia Bright Gordon — Advocacy Director for Administrative Law
• Arlene Callender — Chief Attorney, Harford/Cecil County Office
• Louise Carwell — Chief Attorney, Baltimore City Housing & Consumer Law
• Kyle Coleman — Supervising Attorney, Baltimore City Housing & Consumer Law
• Natalie Coley-Lawrence — Chief Attorney, Baltimore City Intake Services Unit
• Teresa Cooke — Supervising Attorney, Prince George's County Office
• Gregory Countess — Of Counsel

Services listed

Civil legal services, Human Right to Housing, Eviction Prevention, Dangerous Housing Conditions, Subsidized Housing, Public Housing, Homeownership/Real Property, Mortgage Foreclosures, Shelter Denial, Housing Discrimination, Housing Preservation, Mobile Homes

Languages

Español

Founded

1911

Fees

Maryland Legal Aid does NOT charge clients fees for its services.

Offices

• 500 East Lexington Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
• 138 Baltimore ST, STE 204 Cumberland, MD 21502
• 2024 West ST., STE. 204 Annapolis, MD 21401
• 215 Washington Ave., STE. 305 Towson, MD 21204
• 103 S. Hickory AVE. Bel Air, MD 21014

Source: mdlab.org · checked October 10, 2026. Lawyers Near Me hasn’t independently verified these details.

Hours of Operation

Monday

8:30 am–4:30 pm

Tuesday

8:30 am–4:30 pm

Wednesday

8:30 am–4:30 pm

Thursday

8:30 am–4:30 pm

Friday

8:30 am–4:30 pm

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Photos

Details & Amenities

Related Videos

• S O· via Google

  I encountered a very rude female attorney yesterday (09/14/2023) evening at around 7:39 p.m on the phone. The minute I mentioned business, she became very forceful, rude and dismissive, wouldn't even allow me to clarify when I said "it's not a business" meaning the man who was tasked to fix my car and disappeared did not own a business, just did work as a side, leisurely mechanic. She just carried on "Yes, it is a business, it is a business, yes it is, it is a business, it is a business, ma'am it's a business and we don't offer legal help to businesses." It became very hard to communicate with her after that. Her disposition was bewildering for someone working at a help center, very inexorable, harsh and unwelcoming. I'm still stunned. I had to hang up the call because she was hellbent on dominating the conversation in a very rude and overbearing, inexplicably aggressive nature. She even chastised me, saying "and it should have said on the helpline when you called in that we do not work with businesses. Others of my colleagues would have hung up on you once you said business. You were probably distracted and didn't hear it but call in again and listen carefully, it says we don't work with businesses." This woman had such low tolerance it's unbelievable. Highly unpleasant experience.

  3 years ago
• Taylor Simone· via Google

  The people working here are rude and incompetent especially the female workers. They say just about anything to hurry and get you off the phone. I asked for clarification multiple times as to why they could not assist me and was rushed off the phone and not given a reason . They assumed that I owned a business but i clarified multiple times I'am not a business owner, In addition to being told that the supervisor was listening in on my conversation yet I was unable to be directly transferred to speak with the supervisor and was told that a supervisor called me back but never heard from anyone. They don't give you a chance to explain anything and treat you like they are understaffed and underworked. Each time you get different information depending on who you speak to not sure where these individuals got their law degrees but they are not useful or helpful. But should of known better given they are free.

  2 years ago
• Housing is a Human Right· via Google

  If DOJ is funding legal services they should cease it. The legal services office are incompetent and rude staff. The supervisor of this office interrogated me as if I was a prisoner. I was there for stalking and harassment trying to protect myself. They have no respect at all in this office to the public. They do not care about women safety - If they really know what is a biological woman.

  a year ago
• Tracy D· via Google

  Not nearly enough staffing on the Eastern Shore. I didn't even have any representation for an appeal. If you're disabled, old, and poor, no one cares. The attorney for the original case was a pro-bono attorney, and I had to try and get all the evidence for my defense myself. I tried the chat feature because I still had questions when I lost my case. It was useless. I was asking questions that were fact based, and needed a factual answer. And got none! I had emails from a Maryland Legal Aid attorney, and never heard from her. A few days before my trial, I finally got a call through to MLA, and was instructed to get a postponement...

  Edited a year ago
• Lou Riz· via Google

  It is basically the illusion of help. The court, refuses to.accept your papers (unconstitutional) and sends you there. Then.the lawyer tells you they can't handle your issue and suggest you pay for a private lawyer,( why self help is in the name-the part that is true except.they.are going to.make it.hard for you.to.do that)If you could afford a private lawyer, would you be there? Theyncall lower income people disadvantaged. Perfect word for this. The laws all benefit the criminal/wrongdoers, shady landlords. Law abiding citizens are screwed. They give people false hope. The system is stacked against you before you get there.

  a year ago
• Kyla Vanchieri, DBA, PMP· via Google

  My recent experience with the District Self-Help Center was unfortunately less than professional and did not meet my expectations for a public legal support service. I called in and listened to the full disclaimer, accepted the terms, and waited on hold for 15 minutes. At no point during the recording or hold process was it indicated that I would need to be off speakerphone or Bluetooth in order to receive assistance. Once connected, the attorney informed me that unless I got off speakerphone, she would have to end the call, stating it was part of their policy. However, this requirement was not mentioned in the disclaimer, nor was it communicated during the wait time. I explained that I was driving on the highway and using Bluetooth for safety, and could not pull over at that moment. Despite the time already invested waiting, I continued the conversation. The attorney was dismissive, frequently cut me off, and did not take the time to understand the context of my situation. I had to repeat and clarify my concern multiple times because it was clear she was not listening. The legal advice provided did not align with the issue I raised and was not helpful in resolving my concern. When I asked how to provide feedback on the service, I was told they were unsure how to receive it. Overall, the experience felt rushed, impersonal, and unhelpful. If this is a primary point of access for individuals seeking legal support, there needs to be significant improvement in professionalism, communication, and client engagement.

  a year ago
• Grayson Maxwell· via Google

  I've been forced into calling this center numerous times by various attorneys and agencies in Maryland. From MVLS, to Harford Bar Foundation, to "Pro Bono" attorneys. All of them haven't helped me, all of them circle around and pass the buck to someone else. This call center is never available for any law matter. My child was abducted over 2 years ago by the opposing parent and has endangered her life with severe abusive tendencies. I need help and I have been forced into doing this alone.

  3 months ago
• Lisa Vice· via Google

  I called the free legal services a year ago when I had issues with a person that flipped on me to avoid paying me and didn't notify me that I had to move. The situation ended being a criminal matter because the individual was not the POA. The Legal staff basically told me I had no rights as a tenant. He even yelled and it was concerning that he lack compassion and could file the paper work but when I.called him back to, he refused to answer my calls then put until now.. After speaking with another layer this was incorrect. The individual tried to frame me for financial decisions they made that I had nothing to do with. Thank the Lord I had proof and obtain legal representation. Although they attempted to evict me with no parts and had no proof of being POA- I was innocent. I You better go to as many community programs as possible to leave a paper trail in the event that you are evicted by someone that doesn't have the right to do that and is acting as POA but has no court orders. I called the police to document the change in the locks, although that was not advised. I would be homeless fighting for my disabled life at night with nowhere to go if I listen to them. I have a new job and place to live now- Thank you Jesus that another attorney took my case and he can keep the money.

  5 months ago