Honorable Brian E. Frosh Michael J. Baxter Susan M. Erlichman Antonia K. Fasanelli Herbert S. Garten Sharon E. Goldsmith Daniel F. Goldstein Wilhelm H. Joseph, Jr. Virginia Knowlton Marcus Victoria Schultz

Michael A. Millemann John H. Nethercut Pamela C. Ortiz Hon. Cathy Hollenberg Serrette Bonnie A. Sullivan Dean Donald Tobin Dean Ronald Weich Ward B. Coe III, Chairman Reena K. Shah, Executive Director

Celebrate the launch of the new Access to Justice Commission! Monday, Feb. 1, 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. Gallagher, Evelius & Jones LLP 218 N. Charles St., Suite 400 Baltimore, MD 21201 Join Rep. Elijah Cummings and Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh at the launch of the newly re-formed Maryland Access to Justice Commission. The renewed commission is an independent entity devoted to driving systemic change in Maryland’s justice system. Among the commission’s foremost goals are improving Marylanders’ awareness of their legal rights and providing all residents equal access to justice. “Access to justice is a fundamental human right--everyone, regardless of economic or social status, is entitled to justice,” said Ward Coe, chair of the new commission. “Access to justice is also vital to maintaining social order and peace by providing mechanisms for people to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence. When all people have access to justice, they are able to resolve problems that could otherwise cause the loss of their homes, jobs, savings, and even the custody of their children.” The commission will build upon the important work of the previous Access to Justice Commission, an initiative of the state judiciary. The new commission’s members, including prominent members of Maryland’s private bar and leaders from the state’s two law schools, legal services organizations, the judiciary, legal services funders and government agencies, have united to underscore the urgent need to expand access to justice to all Marylanders and, above all, to develop innovative, sustainable methods to do so. “The commission is being formed at an important moment, when justice systems nationally are under scrutiny,” said Reena Shah, executive director of the commission. “This is not lost on the commission, which is why it has a broad vision for scope of access to justice. It goes beyond access to courts to working on issues of equality, fairness, justice and inclusiveness in the creation, enforcement and adjudication of civil laws.”

A top priority of the Access to Justice Commission is expanding civil legal aid, a combination of services and resources that helps Marylanders navigate the justice system. Legal aid connects people with a continuum of services that help guide them through complicated legal proceedings, including legal assistance and representation, self-help centers and other court-based services, free legal clinics and pro-bono assistance, as well as access to web-based information and forms. Of primary importance: Civil legal aid helps ensure fairness for all in the justice system regardless of financial status. The need for reform is clear. It is estimated that, in Maryland, only about 22 percent of the civil legal needs of low-income and poor residents are being met despite the heroic efforts of our legal service providers. Fewer than 1 percent of Maryland lawyers are employed by a legal services organization. Meanwhile, the average starting salary for a public-interest attorney in Maryland is about $50,000 – not nearly enough when most recent law graduates carry $100,000 in student loan debt. And, while there are 159 people per lawyer in the general population, there are 1,918 people per lawyer among the poor. In its founding year, the new Access to Justice Commission will advocate for legislative initiatives that support the right to counsel. It will also address the “unbundling” of legal services, develop justice indicators, and devise a community awareness and education campaign aimed at expanding civil legal aid in Maryland and leveling the playing field for all Marylanders. The new Access to Justice Commission is led by Ward Coe of Gallagher, Evelius & Jones. Its executive director is Reena K. Shah, Esq. Ward B. Coe III TEL: 410 951 1407 / FAX: 410 468 2786 218 N Charles Street, Suite 400, Baltimore, MD 21201 [email protected] GALLAGHER EVELIUS& JONES LLP ATTORNEYS AT LAW Reena K. Shah, J.D., M.P.A. Executive Director Maryland Access to Justice Commission c/o University of Baltimore School of Law 1420 North Charles Street, Room 545 Baltimore, MD 21201 E: [email protected] P: 410.837.5641