Shore Legal Access, Inc.

Shore Legal Access, Inc., formerly known as Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to civil legal services for low-income individuals and families residing on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

History and Purpose

Established in 2006, Shore Legal Access was founded to address a critical need for civil legal representation among economically vulnerable populations in the region. As the first regional pro bono organization in Maryland, it has expanded significantly since its inception, now serving the entirety of the Eastern Shore with satellite offices allowing it to reach more remote communities effectively[1][2].

Mission and Goals

The organization's mission is to connect individuals and families facing civil legal challenges with volunteer attorneys and community resources, ensuring that justice is accessible to all. Shore Legal Access envisions a future where everyone is empowered to resolve civil legal issues independently. Its core strategies include:

• Providing direct legal services to the area's poorest residents.
• Engaging the private bar in pro bono service.
• Conducting outreach and education on civil legal services.
• Expanding access to remote and underserved communities.
• Offering preventative legal remedies to mitigate severe legal consequences[1][2].

Services Provided

Shore Legal Access offers a wide range of civil legal services, including:

• Adoption (uncontested)
• Adult Guardianship (legal counseling only)
• Advance Medical Directives
• Bankruptcy
• Child Custody and/or Visitation
• Consumer Debt/Debt Buyer/Affidavit Judgment
• Criminal Record Expungement
• Deeds and Tangled Title
• Divorce
• Foreclosure
• Landlord-Tenant Dispute
• Power of Attorney
• Wills

Exclusions include child support alone, personal injury, employment, immigration, criminal cases, jury trials, traffic cases, protective orders/peace orders, and appeals[3].

Impact and Operations

Annually, Shore Legal Access connects over 3,000 clients with legal representation, with its volunteer attorneys providing more than $2 million in free services. The organization operates with a staff of thirteen, including an executive director, legal director, administrative director, staff attorneys, paralegals, and program staff focused on critical areas like family law, consumer debt and housing, and life planning[1][2].

Values and Community Engagement

Core to its mission, Shore Legal Access prioritizes inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, fostering a culture of dignity and respect for all service recipients, staff, volunteers, and leaders. By engaging with local communities and leveraging partnerships with area agencies, Shore Legal Access seeks to bridge legal and social service gaps effectively[2][3].

Recognition

As a significant community resource, Shore Legal Access, Inc., embodies the commitment to justice for all, serving as a beacon of legal service provision in a region with limited access to such support. The organization's rebranding in 2023 underscores its expanded reach and comprehensive services across Maryland's Eastern Shore[2].

[1] https://www.guidestar.org/profile/shared/5e4a0a4d-1a52-407b-95c2-42e4cae06ac7 [2] https://shorelegal.org/about-us/ [3] https://shorelegal.org/how-we-help/ [4] https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/161779280 [5] https://www.probono.net/oppsguide/organization.715522-Shore_Legal_Access_Inc