THE WOMEN'S LAW CENTER OF MD INC

PROTECTION ORDER ADVOCACY & REPRESENTATION PROJECT (POARP): POARP REPRESENTS VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT PROTECTION ORDER HEARINGS IN BALTIMORE AND CARROLL CIRCUIT COURTS. THE PROJECT'S ATTORNEYS REPRESENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER (CURRENT OR PAST BOYFRIEND / GIRLFRIEND, CURRENT OR EX-SPOUSE) IN PROCEEDINGS TO OBTAIN PROTECTION ORDERS, ENFORCE PROTECTION ORDERS THROUGH CONTEMPT, AND MODIFY EXISTING PROTECTION ORDERS. MULTI-ETHNIC DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT (MEDOVI): THE CENTER PROVIDES ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES THOUGH MEDOVI. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES REPRESENTATION TO FOREIGN BORN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN VAWA SELF-PETITIONS, VAWA BATTERED SPOUSE WAIVERS, INTERIM U-VISA APPLICATIONS, AS WELL AS IN FINAL PROTECTION ORDER HEARINGS AROUND THE STATE OF MARYLAND. THE MEDOVI STAFF WORK WITH FOREIGN BORN CLIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER. ANY PERSON WITH A LANGUAGE BARRIER CAN ACCESS THE SERVICE BECAUSE OF THE CENTER'S COMMITMENT TO SECURE AN APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE INTERPRETER.COLLATERAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR SURVIVORS PROJECT (CLAS) THE CLAS PROJECT PROVIDES ALL THE ABOVE SERVICES OF POARP AS WELL AS REPRESENTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IN COLLATERAL, PRIMARILY FAMILY-LAW RELATED ISSUES, AS TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOW. THESE COLLATERAL ISSUES INCLUDE ADVOCACY (SOMETIMES OUT OF COURT) AND REPRESENTATION IN DIVORCE AND CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS, LANDLORD/TENANT MATTERS, REPLEVIN CASES, AND CRIMINAL ACCOMPANIMENTS. REPRESENTATION INCLUDES THE FULL ARRAY OF LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING DISCOVERY, DEPOSITIONS, RETENTION OF EXPERTS, WHEN NECESSARY, SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS, AND LITIGATION. BY RETAINING THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP AFTER THE PROTECTIVE ORDER HEARING FOR COLLATERAL ISSUES, CLAS CAN PROVIDE CLIENT-CENTERED AND CULTURALLY SENSITIVE SERVICES AND TO PREVENT THE RE-TRAUMATIZATION OF CLIENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE FORCED TO RELIVE AND RETELL THEIR STORIES TO NEW ATTORNEYS, OR MORE OFTEN, CANNOT FIND REPRESENTATION AT ALL FOR THESE ON-GOING ISSUES.

EDUCATION: THE CENTER'S HOTLINE IS A FREE SERVICE TO PEOPLE WITH BASIC FAMILY LAW QUESTIONS SUCH AS "WHAT ARE THE GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE? OR "IF I LEAVE WITH THE KIDS, CAN I STILL GET CHILD SUPPORT?" THE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS SCREEN THE CLIENTS FOR INCOME ELIGIBILITY AND COLLECT BASIC DATA REQUIRED BY THE FUNDING SOURCE, MARYLAND LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION. ATTORNEYS EXPERIENCED IN FAMILY LAW STAFF THE HOTLINE. THE EMPLOYMENT LAW HOTLINE IS A TELEPHONE SERVICE WHICH WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH LEGAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE. THE HOTLINE WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT MANY KINDS OF WORKPLACE PROBLEMS INCLUDING DISCRIMINATION IN HIRING, FIRING, PROMOTIONS OR OTHER WORKING CONDITIONS; DISCRIMINATION BASED ON PREGNANCY; SEXUAL HARASSMENT; FAMILY OR MEDICAL LEAVE ISSUES; UNPAID WAGES; CONTRACT ISSUES; MINIMUM WAGE AND OVERTIME VIOLATIONS; ELIGIBILITY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE; OR, BEING PUNISHED BY THE EMPLOYER FOR HAVING ACTED TOGETHER WITH OTHER EMPLOYEES TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS.