WORKING TO BUILD AND STABILIZE COMMUNITIES
STEVEN KAPPEN’S DEEP-SEATED desire to help others and a recognition that the law can be a powerful tool for social good have shaped his legal career. As the Tangled Title Project Manager at the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), Kappen isn't just practicing law; he's actively working to build and stabilize communities, one family home at a time. His journey is a testament to how personal values can align with a professional calling, turning a career into a mission. Read on to learn more about Kappen and his work with MVLS.
Tell us a little bit about your current role. I currently manage the Tangled Title Project at the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. My staff and our intrepid volunteers help low-income Marylanders build intergenerational wealth through estate planning and probate services. On any given day, I am troubleshooting volunteer cases, helping my own clients, doing community outreach, or advocating for positive change in my issue areas. Our program has four dedicated staff members and dozens of volunteers helping clients in the community.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
In the Tangled Title program, one of our core goals is to reunite families with clear title. It restores ownership, agency, and autonomy for them. Recently, I was able to help my client, an older adult, get clear title that will help them access critical home repairs. They hadn’t had their name on the house since the ‘80s. There’s just nothing like it, knowing that their home will be warmer this winter. It’s an example of what we do every day, but it is so rewarding to help someone with basic shelter and also improve their finances in such a positive way.
Tell us a little about your biggest project or passion project related to your professional career right now. Right now, we are laser-focused on growing our volunteer base for our estates program. Probate is complex and multidisciplinary, and because of that, so many Marylanders are stuck without representation.
With probate, we often help resolve a legal issue that will help unlock additional resources for a client to help themselves. Many homes get stuck with unclear title due to an unprobated estate. There are way more homes than I or my staff can handle. But I believe passionately that there are enough attorneys, and we could move the needle with more hands on board. Tangled title is a huge issue in Maryland. Since it affects the ability for a homeowner to keep and stay in their home, the issue affects housing stability, intergenerational wealth, and aging in place.
Our big goal this year is to grow the base of volunteers we have for this program. The only way we can get this thing to the next level is with the help of more volunteers, learning, and becoming mentors and helpers for the group. We’d love to get to 100 volunteers in our program this year.
Right now, we are laser-focused on growing our volunteer base for our estates program. Probate is complex and multidisciplinary, and because of that, so many Marylanders are stuck without representation.
How has MSBA helped you in your legal career?
Our legal community is vibrant and extremely fun! I’m not originally from Maryland, so MSBA has been critical for connecting and making me feel at home in our incredible community. I have met friends and mentors, and I have learned a ton from the programming and education MSBA provides. MSBA helped me actually feel at home in Maryland, and has helped me to continue to cultivate my network and professional development.
What advice do you have for other attorneys seeking to find their own legal compass and make an impact in the public service sector?
Attorneys have a deep responsibility, both with their expertise and the fact that we *are* the legal profession. If there are systems we do not like, we are simultaneously the gears and the engineers to fix them. Everyone should look to their expertise and dig in or use their time to volunteer with one of the many incredible pro bono organizations in Maryland. If any attorneys are searching for their compass, I encourage them to take some time to center and find silence. In a moment of true silence and focus, what speaks to you? What do you want to use your time to work on? There is always a way to make a difference, and there are always people out there doing the work.
What causes are you passionate about?
I am passionate about equity. One of the most important things we can give each other is a fair shot to be our best. Economics and education—we should invest in each other as much as possible. Injustice abounds, but we put the tools in everyone’s hands to address these issues and leverage their empathy when everyone is on an equal playing field.
Photo courtesy of Travis Marshall Photography