Mid-Shore Pro Bono has named Clay Benedict of Baltimore, Maryland, James Parkinson of Oxford, Maryland, and Gabrielle Shlikas of Wye Mills, Maryland as the nonprofit’s summer 2023 interns.

Benedict is a legal intern through the University of Baltimore School of Law’s EXPLOR program. The program ensures that all law students obtain a legal internship during the summer after their first year, with participating employers accepting one law student or more selected by the program.

Parkinson is an intern and Shlikas is a legal intern through MSPB’s Sandy Brown Public Interest internship program. The paid internship program was established to honor MSPB’s previous executive director Sandy Brown and is supported by individual donors and the Campbell Foundation. The donor-funded program provides undergraduate and law school students with a stipend while learning in the areas of public interest law, non-profit management, community service, and basic work experience.

Clay Benedict is a 2025 J.D. candidate at the University of Baltimore School of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Louisiana State University, where he served as Secretary for the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Benedict served in the U.S. Army Infantry out of Fort Polk, Louisiana, working as a Battalion Property Manager and directly with the Commander.

“Working as an MSPB legal intern has been a humbling experience that has allowed me to interact with real people facing prevalent yet overlooked legal issues,” said Benedict. “Statistics, articles, and just basic common knowledge about the disparity in legal aid and legal knowledge between those with resources and those without, is one thing; but here, I get to see those statistics unfold before my eyes, both inside and outside the courtroom.

“I decided to intern at MSPB because I was offered the opportunity to observe and learn firsthand the inner working procedures and processes, consequences, and defenses involved in a vast array of legal issues that affect everyday people,” Benedict says. “Whether it be representing tenants in rent court, helping draft wills, helping people overcome their debt, or helping people with internal family matters, there was something here for me to learn.”

James Parkinson is pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics with a minor in History from the University of Maryland, College Park, where his academic honors have earned him membership in the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society. His academics earned him a Fall 2022 University Honors College Citation and acceptance into the Government and Politics Honors Program.

Parkinson currently is serving as a Maryland General Assembly Intern and Legislative Assistant with Delegate Steven J. Arentz, and previously served as a District Office Intern and Legislative Assistant with Delegate Johnny Mautz. He is the captain and goalkeeper of the University of Maryland Club Soccer Team’s red squad.

“Interning with Mid-Shore Pro Bono this summer has allowed me to work alongside dedicated legal professionals and attorneys, whose common goal of serving the Eastern Shore community has been a source of constant inspiration,” says Parkinson. “Through learning about our client intake process and helping with in-person clinics, I have gained a better understanding of the intricacies of legal work outside the courtroom. I have also been able to attend court proceedings with a dynamic team focused on housing justice on the Lower Shore.”

Gabrielle Shlikas is a 2025 J.D. candidate and a Christine A. Edwards Dean’s Scholar at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Her time at the Carey School of Law includes serving as a student member of the Administrative Committee, as an event moderator with the Business Association, as a student representative of the Admissions Office, and as a member of the Women’s Bar Association.

Shlikas graduated cum laude from Wellesley College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English, where she was a Tanner Conference speaker and graduated from the She Should Run Program. She is an Alumnae Member of The Wellesley Fund, having served as a Philanthropy Team Supervisor, Candidacy Exploration Researcher, and Residential Assistant.

Shlikas received a diploma from the International Baccalaureate Program and additionally has served as a Senate Page with the Maryland General Assembly and as an Executive Board Member of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council.

“Working at MSPB has been an amazing experience—I’ve learned so much not only about the law itself but how to conduct myself as a legal professional,” says Shlikas. “With MSPB, I’ve had the privilege of helping those in my community through a variety of problems, questions, and situations. I wanted to be an MSPB Intern because I wanted to do work that directly impacted the area I call home, and doing so this summer has been extremely rewarding.”

“We’re honored to have Clay, James, and Gabrielle continuing their educations with us,” said Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury Girard. “We’re also grateful for the University of Baltimore School of Law’s EXPLOR program and especially for the donors to our Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship fund that help underwrite stipends for our interns.”

Girard says the nonprofit is uniquely positioned to expose students who are interested in the practice of law, social work, and public interest work through hands-on experiences working with rural populations lacking the same resources as urban areas.

“This program engages students in a wide range of legal-related experiences in a high quality and well-supervised professional setting,” she says. “And undergraduate students interested in law, justice, and criminal justice as well as other civic-minded careers will be exposed to hands-on experience in these areas as well.”

Intern applications for the fall semester are due by August 1, with the application and instructions at www.midshoreprobono.org/internships.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono connects Eastern Shore individuals and families in need of legal representation with volunteer attorneys to ensure that justice truly is for all, with offices in Easton and Salisbury. Donations to the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship Fund can be made online using the donate button at www.midshoreprobono.org.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono is offering free advance medical directives by appointment on Monday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kramer Center at 104 Powell Street in Centreville. The program is offered in partnership with the Queen Anne’s County Department of Community Services in honor of Senior Law Day.

“An advance directive is a legal document that explains how you want medical decisions to be made if you cannot make the decisions yourself,” says Mid-Shore Pro Bono Elder Law Case Manager Alicia Myers. “An advance directive can help you plan ahead about what kind of care you want and lets your health care team and loved ones know what kind of health care you want, or who you want to make decisions for you when you can’t.”

Myers says Mid-Shore Pro Bono also assists senior citizens with issues regarding adult guardianship, and more.

Senior Law Day appointments can be scheduled by calling Myers at 410-200-5027 or emailing her at [email protected].

Mid-Shore Pro Bono delivers a mission of helping Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents obtain access to legal assistance for civil matters through a network of volunteers and offices in Easton and Salisbury. More information including online intake forms can be found at www.midshoreprobono.org.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono recently received funding from a Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) grant to provide legal services for cannabis-related criminal record expungement. Funding will also support MSPB’s collaborative work with statewide partners to provide community outreach and education on expungement services. A constitutional amendment authorizing the adult use and possession of cannabis in Maryland goes into effect on July 1, 2023.

“Disqualification for employment and housing due to cannabis violations can have life-limiting, long-lasting implications,” said Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Legal Director, Laura Chafey, Esq. “Expunging the criminal records of Marylanders charged with cannabis-related violations means more opportunity for equitable employment and housing.”

MSPB’s funding is part of a $2.5 million grant awarded to eight legal services providers in the state. The Maryland General Assembly appropriated the one-time funding to Maryland Legal Services Corporation to distribute to its grantees to educate individuals on changes to cannabis and expungement laws and support expungement efforts between April 2023 and June 2024. Marylanders with a household income of up to 50% of Maryland’s median income are eligible for free legal assistance.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono is collaborating with other MLSC grantees to increase awareness and accessibility of expungement services through public service announcements and direct mail campaigns, free legal clinics, and increased staffing. Other collaborators include the Allegany Law Foundation, Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County, FreeState Justice, Harford County Bar Foundation, the Homeless Persons Representation Project, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, and Maryland Legal Aid.

“Thousands of people have been needlessly brought into the criminal justice system through aggressive cannabis possession laws, especially Black people and those with limited financial means,” said Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury-Girard, Esq. “Mid-Shore Pro Bono is pleased to help people on the Eastern Shore access this life-changing legal assistance.”

MSPB is hosting criminal expungement clinics on Thurs., May 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Easton branch of the Talbot County Free Library; on Wednesday, May 24 from 5 to 7 p.m., at a to-be-announced location in Salisbury; on Thurs., June 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Federalsburg branch of the Caroline County Public Library; and on Tues., July 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cambridge branch of the Dorchester County Library.

Prescheduled appointments are required for all clinics by calling 410-690-8128 before May 1 for the Easton clinic, before May 10 for the Salisbury clinic, before May 15 for the Federalsburg clinic, and before July 1 for the Cambridge clinic.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono delivers a mission of helping Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents obtain access to legal assistance for civil matters through a network of volunteers and offices in Easton and Salisbury. Individuals seeking expungement services can complete an online intake form at www.midshoreprobono.org, or call 410-690-8128 during normal business hours.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono is hosting a Tenant Rights Resource Fair on Thurs., Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Easton branch of the Talbot County Free Library. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with organizations offering housing assistance and learn more about Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s new tenant counsel services.

A presentation on tenants’ rights and landlords’ lawful responsibilities will take place from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. From 12 noon to 1 p.m. will be a financial education course presented by Shore United Bank, where attendees can learn more about managing money, including budgeting, managing credit, and more.

Free, walk-in legal consultations on housing matters, including failure to pay rent, rent escrow, breach of lease, and more will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 2 p.m.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s housing justice program recently expanded to include legal assistance for tenants, including in-court access to representation and is made possible through donor support and funding awarded by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and Equal Justice Works.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s tenant counsel services can help tenants who have received a notice of failure to pay rent and can address other issues including breach of lease, tenant hold-overs, rent escrow, constructive evictions, subsidy terminations, and more.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono delivers a mission of helping Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents obtain access to legal assistance, with offices in Easton and Salisbury. Tenants needing counsel can complete an online intake form at www.midshoreprobono.org, or call 410-690-8128.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono has named Katrina Hibdon of Dunkirk, Md., and Emily Marshall of East New Market, Md. as the nonprofit’s 2022 Sandy Brown Public Interest fall interns.

The paid internship program was established to honor MSPB’s previous executive director Sandy Brown—who stepped down in Dec. 2021—and is supported by the Rural Maryland Council and the Maryland Bar Foundation. The donor-funded program provides undergraduate and law school students with a stipend while learning in the areas of public interest law, non-profit management, community service, and basic work experience.

Katrina Hibdon is in her final year at Salisbury University pursuing bachelor of arts degrees in political science and history, with a minor in economics. Hibdon consistently has earned placement on the Dean’s List since 2019 and is a recipient of numerous scholarships.

She has served in several leadership positions, including as Salisbury University’s SGA Chief Justice and Academic Chair of the Panhellenic Council. Hibdon is a member of the Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority, Salisbury University’s Student Government Association, National Panhellenic Conference, Phi Eta Sigma, Pi Sigma Alpha, Order of Omega, and Phi Alpha Theta.

“Mid-Shore Pro Bono has opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of the legal process and community,” says Hibdon. “The care that goes into the community from this organization is unrivaled and I am grateful to be part of a team as supportive as this one. This internship has given me more reasons and more motivation to continue in the field of law.”

Emily Marshall received her bachelor of arts in philosophy from Salisbury University with a minor in psychology and cognitive science. Her academic honors include placement on the Dean’s List and as a 2021 Regional Ethics Bowl Researcher and 2022 National Ethics Bowl Researcher.

Marshall is the recipient of numerous scholarships and has served as Senator, Deputy Director, and Director with Salisbury University’s Student Government Association. Her volunteer work includes serving as a zone leader with Big Event, and in other roles with Halo Ministry and the Salisbury Zoo.

“The Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship with Mid-Shore Pro Bono has provided me the opportunity to step foot in a courtroom and observe the enormous impact of pro bono involvement,” said Marshall. “This experience has helped me discover my commitment to practicing law.”

“We’re honored to have Katrina and Emily interning and learning about civil justice with us,” said Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury Girard. “We’re also grateful to the donors to our Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship fund so that we can provide a stipend to our interns.”

Girard says the nonprofit is uniquely positioned to expose students who are interested in the practice of law, social work, and public interest work through hands-on experiences working with rural populations lacking access to the legal system.

“This program engages students in a wide range of legal-related hands-on experiences in a high quality and well-supervised professional setting,” she says. “This is a perfect opportunity for students in law school, graduate and undergraduate programs who are interested in social justice, nonprofit management, social work, and other civic-minded careers.”

Mid-Shore Pro Bono delivers a mission of helping Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents obtain access to legal assistance through a network of volunteers, with offices in Easton and Salisbury. Donations to the Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship Fund can be made online using the donate button at www.midshoreprobono.org.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono recently announced three new staff members in support of its tenant counsel legal services. The nonprofit has offices in Chestertown, Easton, and Salisbury, Md, and recently received grant funding to help provide access to free legal services for tenants facing eviction.

Joining Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s staff are Mid-Shore Housing Case Manager Julia Jester of Easton, Md, Housing Staff Attorney Bibi Barnes, Esq. of Salisbury, Md., and Housing Case Manager and Community Organizer Elliett Earhart of Westover, Md. Barnes and Earhart are also serving as Equal Justice Works Fellows.

“Julia, Bibi, and Elliett are great additions to our team and help expand our services for the community,” says Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury-Girard, Esq. “We’re grateful for the funding for these positions, and especially for the talents, skills, and life experiences brought by each of these individuals while providing free legal help for people who otherwise wouldn’t have representation.”

Julia Jester, Housing Case Manager for the Mid-Shore, has an extensive background in social science and social justice work, including her most recent work as a qualitative research associate for the Friends Research Institute in Baltimore.

Jester holds a Master of Arts degree in sociology from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Tampa. She is providing intake and case management support for tenant counsel cases in the Mid-Shore counties in her new role at Mid-Shore Pro Bono.

Bibi Barnes, Esq., Housing Staff Attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellowis a recent graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law with experience working on human trafficking issues with the University of Baltimore Human Trafficking Clinic.

Barnes earned her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland College Park. She additionally completed the summer study abroad program at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Barnes is working out of Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Salisbury office and will provide tenant counsel, including day-of-court representation, for the Lower Shore Counties.

Elliett Earhart, Equal Justice Works Fellowship Community Organizer and Case Manager recently completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution from Salisbury University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology at Capella University.

Before this position, she served as the first namedSandy Brown Public Interest Intern for Mid Shore Pro Bono and is now providing community outreach, intake, and case management for individuals with tenant counsel cases in the Lower Shore counties.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Sandy Brown Public Interest paid internship program was established in late 2021 to honor MSPB Past Executive Director Sandy Brown. The donor-funded program provides undergraduate and law school students with a stipend while learning in the areas of public interest law, non-profit management, community service, and basic work experience.

Tenant counsel services are part of Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s housing justice program, with funding awarded by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation and from Equal Justice Works, ​allowing significant expansion of legal assistance for tenants, including in-court access to representation.

“Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s tenant counsel services can help tenants who have received a notice of failure to pay rent, for example,” says Mid-Shore Pro Bono Legal Director Laura Chafey, Esq. “We can also help address other issues including breach of lease, tenant hold-overs, rent escrow, constructive evictions, subsidy terminations, and more.”

Mid-Shore Pro Bono delivers a mission of helping Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents obtain access to legal assistance, with offices in Easton, Chestertown, and Salisbury. Tenants needing counsel can complete an online intake form at www.midshoreprobono.org, or call 410-690-8128 or 443-298-9424 during business hours.