Expanding Access to Justice in Western Maryland
Kelly Swanhart’s Equal Justice America Fellowship
In Fall 2024, with generous support from the Maryland State Bar Foundation, Equal Justice America awarded a fellowship to University of Baltimore School of Law student Kelly Swanhart to continue her work with Maryland Legal Aid’s Frederick office. The grant allowed Swanhart to deepen her commitment to public interest law while making a tangible impact on housing stability and access to justice in Western Maryland.
Swanhart contributed approximately 300 hours of legal service during her fellowship, working 15–20 hours per week while continuing her studies. Her primary focus was on housing law through Maryland Legal Aid’s Tenants’ Right to Counsel Project, where she
The fellowship provided invaluable experience from legal research and writing to court advocacy and applying new legislation in real time. I developed critical skills while helping clients navigate urgent housing crises.
provided supervised direct representation to clients facing eviction and other landlord-tenant issues in both Frederick and Washington County district courts.
“The fellowship provided invaluable experience,” Swanhart reflected, “from legal research and writing to court advocacy and applying new legislation in real time. I developed critical skills
while helping clients navigate urgent housing crises.”
Swanhart maintained a weekly presence in court and contributed significantly to Maryland Legal Aid’s broader legal infrastructure. In addition to her advocacy in eviction cases, she authored three legal memoranda:
A practical summary of recent housing law enactments from the Maryland General Assembly
A family law analysis for cases involving domestic violence
A cross-disciplinary memo on access to hormonal therapy in mental health institutions, highlighting the intersection of health care and legal rights
This cross-practice exposure allowed Swanhart to witness how housing, health, and family legal issues intertwine in the lives of low-income Marylanders—and the essential role legal aid plays in holding those threads together.
“The impact of this fellowship extends beyond my own professional growth,” she wrote.
“The resources I developed will continue to support attorneys and clients at Maryland Legal Aid. And my consistent presence in court helped ensure that vulnerable tenants had access to representation when they needed it most.”
Maryland Legal Aid Chief Attorney Nina Shore praised the fellowship’s value, writing:
“The Fellowship made it possible for Ms. Swanhart to make a difference in people’s lives, and we are sincerely grateful for her hard work and dedication.”
Equal Justice America is deeply grateful to the Maryland State Bar Foundation for supporting Swanhart’s fellowship—and for helping to strengthen the legal safety net for communities across Maryland.
(EJA) is a national nonprofit organization committed to expanding access to civil legal services for low-income individuals and underserved communities. Since its founding in 1993, EJA has funded thousands of law student fellowships at legal aid and civil rights organizations across the country—helping to meet urgent legal needs while nurturing the next generation of public interest attorneys.
Each year, EJA supports hundreds of law students who serve during the summer or academic year at nonprofit legal organizations. These fellows assist clients facing housing instability, domestic violence, healthcare access issues, immigration barriers, and other civil legal challenges—delivering tens of thousands of hours of vital legal service each year.
In addition to its law student fellowship program, EJA has also funded post-graduate fellowships for recent
law school graduates to begin their public interest careers. These opportunities allow new attorneys to make an immediate impact while gaining critical experience and mentorship.
EJA’s dual mission—providing direct legal aid and investing in the public interest pipeline—means that the benefits of our work extend far beyond the duration of any individual fellowship. While EJA fellows serve people in crisis today, they also gain the tools, training, and commitment to remain in public service for years to come.
In Maryland, EJA fellows have served at organizations such as Maryland Legal Aid, advancing civil justice in both urban and rural communities. EJA is honored to partner with the Maryland Bar Foundation to strengthen access to justice and support emerging leaders like Kelly Swanhart.