Maryland Access to Justice Commission’s New Strategic Vision
BY REENA SHAH, ESQ.
The Innovations Task Force is studying the vast number of reforms that are happening in other states to add tiers of professionals within the law to meet the crushing unmet need for civil legal services.
THE MARYLAND ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION (A2JC) exists to ensure civil justice for all. As an umbrella organization that unites leaders to drive reforms and innovations to make the civil justice system accessible, equitable and fair for all Marylanders, in FY2025, A2JC leveraged strategic partnerships to enhance our understanding of the barriers in the civil justice system and successfully advocated for solutions that would make a meaningful difference in the lives of Marylanders. We’re happy to report on our achievements and impact from FY2025.
Thought Leadership
IN PARTNERSHIP with the Office of the Attorney General, A2JC led the statutorily mandated Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force, which laid out the roadmap for the implementation of this transformational law and brings together all the stakeholders involved in the implementation of the law to share information, problem-solve and build consensus on areas of reform. A2JC worked to deliver its annual report to the state legislature and governor, recommending and highlighting the need for permanent funding.
IN PARTNERSHIP with the Maryland Judiciary and Maryland State Bar Association, A2JC co-leads the Innovations in Tiered Legal Services Task Force. The Innovations Task Force is studying the vast number of reforms that are happening in other states to add tiers of professionals within the law to meet the crushing unmet need for civil legal services. The Innovations Task Force launched in September of 2024 and expects to deliver a report in the first half of FY26.
Advocacy
IN PARTNERSHIP with the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, the Office of Attorney General and the civil legal aid organizations who implement the Access to Counsel in Evictions Program, A2JC helped lead the effort in this very tough budget year to successfully advocate for $14M in additional funding for the Access to Counsel in Evictions Program. Investing in legal representation increases fairness, stabilizes families and communities and costs the state less than it would to evict a family. What the ACE law also has proven is that providing legal representation to tenants improves case outcomes dramatically and keeps 88% of Marylanders who want to stay in their homes, housed.
Data Collection, Mapping, and Analysis
The lack of civil justice data is a barrier to civil justice for all. Until recently, facts and figures related to the civil justice system were hard to come by and not accessible in a way that allowed for data visualization, data analysis or data-informed policy making. A2JC has been on a mission to change that by creating first-of-their-kind data tools to reveal insights and trends. A2JC collates data and presents it in a way that is easily digestible by decision makers to understand the scale of the civil justice problem and it creates tools that can be used by civil legal aid organizations to create efficiencies and improve service delivery.
ACCESS TO JUSTICE ASSET AND RESOURCE MAP
IN PARTNERSHIP with the MidShore Council on Family Violence, A2JC created an Access to Justice GIS Map that visualizes the civil justice system and the resources available to Marylanders to assist them with their legal and related non-legal problems. The tool can be used by organizations
to quickly identify and point clients to resources and services. The map is also an important analytical tool to identify legal deserts and underresourced areas with high need.
STATE AND COUNTYSPECIFIC ONE-PAGERS
All the information about how the civil justice system impacts a county and the state, all in one place, updated annually.
Until recently, facts and figures related to the civil justice system were hard to come by and not accessible in a way that allowed for data visualization, data analysis, or data-informed policy making.
Storytelling
IN PARTNERSHIP with the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, A2JC produced a six minute professional video to raise awareness among the public and with decision makers to underscore the importance of civil legal aid, how it connects to basic human needs, the urgent
Mental Health IN PARTNERSHIP
with Maryland State Bar Association’s Lawyer Assistance Program, A2JC helped organize a four part series on Secondary Trauma to help address a mental health need prevalent in the civil legal aid community.
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need for funding and the need to fight for a right to counsel in other civil legal matters that implicate basic human needs. The video will be aired locally and nationally on public television on the Empowered with Meg Ryan television show. This is in addition to delivering a curated monthly called the A2J Dispatch, weekly blog posts and almost-daily social media posts.
Public Interest Community IN PARTNERSHIP
with its Public Interest Law Committee, A2JC is helping build and foster a strong public interest law community within the Maryland State Bar Association. Through monthly meetings, thoughtful programming and fun networking events, we are creating a welcoming space for public interest attorneys and professionals and those who champion the public interest perspective, to thrive within the MSBA!
A2JC would love to get you involved in our work!
For more information, visit www.mdaccesstojustice.org. Volunteer with us: https://www.mdaccesstojustice.org/ give-help/volunteer/. Follow us on social media - we are on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X. Or signup for the A2J Dispatch here; https://www.mdaccesstojustice.org/our-impact/.