Mid-Shore Pro Bono

Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Easton Office Expands, Relocates

January 11, 2023 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Easton office moved to a larger location on December 22, 2022. The new offices are located at 499 Idlewild Ave. and accommodate expanded free legal services for housing and family law. Mid-Shore Pro Bono had operated out of its 8 South West Street location for 10 years.

The Easton expansion comes in part due to the new tenant counsel legal services recently announced by Mid-Shore Pro Bono as part of Maryland’s new Access to Tenant Counsel law passed in 2021. Tenant counsel services are part of Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s housing justice program and include access to in-court representation for MSPB clients.

“This move follows our Salisbury office’s relocation and is another step in providing greater access to free legal help for people who otherwise wouldn’t have representation,” says Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury-Girard, Esq. “While we’ll miss the convenience of our West Street office’s in-town location, we are excited about our new space, especially its greater accessibility for all of our clients, staff, and volunteers.”

Photo: Mid-Shore Pro Bono staff members at the nonprofit’s newly expanded Easton location at 499 Idlewild Ave. From left: Legal Director Laura L. Chafey, Esq., Housing Case Manager Julia Jester, Administrative Director Cheryl Lee, Community Outreach and Communications Coordinator Edith Ramirez, and Staff Attorney Geoffrey Cook, Esq.

Mid Shore Pro Bono Legal Director Laura Chafey, Esq., notes that “the number of clients contacting MSPB for legal help in the Mid Shore has increased over the last year. MSPB is expanding our space and our services to help meet the civil legal needs of individuals across our entire service area, including Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties.”

Staff and attorney volunteers of Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Easton location address civil legal matters including tenant counsel, family law matters such as divorce and custody, preparation of wills, financial power of attorney, advance medical directives, consumer debt and bankruptcy, and foreclosure.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono delivers a mission of helping Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents obtain access to legal representation through the support of donor and grant funding, with offices in Easton and Salisbury. New clients need to complete an intake form at www.midshoreprobono.org, or call the office at 410-690-8128.

Tenants Rights Resource Fair is Dec. 15

December 7, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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 Announces Sandy Brown Public Interest Fall Interns

November 24, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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

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

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.

Emily Jenkins joins Mid-Shore Pro Bono as Housing Fellow

November 13, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Emily Jenkins

Emily Jenkins of Chester, Md. has recently been named a Maryland Legal Services Corporation Housing Fellow at Mid-Shore Pro Bono, where the third-year University of Baltimore School of Law student works directly with staff attorneys to handle a variety of landlord and tenant matters.

MLSC is a statewide funder of civil legal aid and the administrator of the Maryland Access to Counsel in Evictions program.

Jenkins graduated from Radford University with a bachelor’s degree in political science, concentrating in law, justice, and society with a minor in international studies. Jenkins plans to pursue public interest work or begin a career in real estate law after law school.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to join Mid-Shore Pro Bono as a Housing Fellow,” said Jenkins. “I have been given the opportunity to advocate for those who are unable to afford legal representation and help break down the cultural, geographic, and economic barriers within the civil justice system.”

Jenkins’ experience includes working as part of a research team for the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education’s Anti-Poverty Working Group. The working group’s Anti-Poverty Toolkit is envisioned to be a clearing house of open, online educational resources for scholars around the world to access, share, and update to raise standards of teaching and research in the field of anti-poverty.

“We’re grateful for Emily’s talents and world experiences while providing free legal help for people who otherwise wouldn’t have representation,” said Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury-Girard, Esq. “Emily’s internship is also a great example of collaboration, with funding through Maryland’s Access to Tenant Counsel program in partnership with the University of Baltimore.”

Mid-Shore Pro Bono announced the expansion of its tenant counsel services in August, with grant funding from Maryland Legal Services Corporation and Equal Justice Works helping to provide access to pro-bono legal services for tenants facing eviction.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s tenant counsel services 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 Recognizes Top Volunteer Attorneys

November 8, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Mid-Shore Pro Bono joined the Oct. 23-29 National Celebration of Pro Bono by recognizing its volunteer attorneys for their work providing access to legal representation for civil matters and the public good. Mid-Shore Pro Bono includes a growing network of more than 150 volunteer lawyers ensuring access to the legal system and providing free or reduced-fee legal services for those who need legal help on the Eastern Shore.

The nonprofit hosted an Oct. 27 reception at the Eastern Shore Conservation Center in Easton, Md. to thank the legal service provider’s volunteer attorneys. The event was sponsored by MSPB Board of Directors President Timothy Abeska, Esq. and featured live music with Fog After Midnight.

Pictured from left: MSPB Legal Director Laura Chafey, Esq.; MSPB Executive Director Meredith Lathbury-Girard, Esq.; Volunteer of the Year for Family Law recipient Andy Adkins, Esq. of the Law Office of Andrew Adkins in Easton, Md.; Volunteer of the Year for Housing & Consumer Debt recipient and MSPB Board Member Anthony Rodriguez, Esq. of Church Hill, Md.; and Volunteer of the Year for Elder Law recipient Kayla Coursey, Esq. of Braden, Thompson, Poltrack & Mundy in Stevensville, Md.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury Girard, Esq. made remarks at the reception thanking volunteer attorneys that help people through civil legal matters throughout Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

“Every year, Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s volunteer attorneys provide free legal services to more than 3,000 people on the Eastern Shore,” said Lathbury-Girard. “Volunteers are the heart and soul of how we help people get the legal assistance they need with their divorce, their life planning documents, their landlord/tenant matters, and more.

“In fiscal year 2022, our extraordinary volunteers provided more than 9,000 hours of free legal services—services worth $2.25 million,” continued Lathbury-Girard. “I cannot express enough what an amazing impact this work has on people and our community.”

From left: Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury-Girard, Esq. and MSPB Board of Directors President Timothy Abeska, Esq.

Girard then shared several comments she has received over the past year, including one client remarking “Once I had an attorney through Mid-Shore Pro Bono, I stood taller and walked prouder because I knew there was someone in my corner.”

Mid-Shore Pro Bono recognized its top volunteer lawyers as ranked by the number of hours donated in legal services at the reception. Special recognition was also given to three volunteers as Volunteer of the Year in Family Law, Elder Law, and Housing and Consumer Debt.

Receiving special recognition were MSPB volunteer Andy Adkins, Esq. of the Law Office of Andrew Adkins in Easton, Md. as Volunteer of the Year for Family Law; Kayla Coursey, Esq. of Braden, Thompson, Poltrack & Mundy in Stevensville, Md. as Volunteer of the Year for Elder Law; and MSPB Board Member Anthony Rodriguez, Esq. of Church Hill, Md. as Volunteer of the Year for Housing & Consumer Debt.

“The people of the Eastern Shore are extremely fortunate to have the volunteer work of these dedicated attorneys,” said Laura Chafey, Esq., Legal Director at Mid-Shore Pro Bono. “And we are always looking for more attorneys to become volunteers with us and who share our passion for providing access to legal representation in civil matters for everyone, regardless of anyone’s ability to pay.”

Lathbury-Girard says the nonprofit relies on donations to support Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s free legal clinics, legal representation in court, community outreach, and volunteer attorney training and recruitment.

MSPB includes a growing network of more than 150 volunteer lawyers ensuring access to the legal system and providing free or reduced-fee legal services for those who need legal help on the Eastern Shore.

The National Celebration of Pro Bono is sponsored by the American Bar Association’s Center for Pro Bono Committee to recognize pro bono work as a professional responsibility and an individual ethical commitment of each lawyer. The ABA says the Committee launched the National Celebration of Pro Bono in 2009 because of the increasing need for pro bono services during harsh economic times and the unprecedented response of attorneys to meet this demand.

America’s legal organizations—including Mid-Shore Pro Bono—have since participated in the National Celebration of Pro Bono every October to draw attention to the need for pro bono participation, and to thank those who give their time year-round.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono’smission is to help Maryland’s Eastern Shore residents obtain access to legal representation through the support of donor and grant funding, with offices in Easton and Salisbury. More information and new client intake forms are at www.midshoreprobono.org.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono Announces New Tenant Counsel Staff

October 19, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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.”

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.

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.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono Offers New Tenant Counsel Services

September 2, 2022 by Spy Desk 1 Comment

Mid-Shore Pro Bono recently received funding from two grants to help provide access to pro-bono legal services for tenants facing eviction.

The program enhances 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.

“As a result of getting these grants and the new statewide legislated funding, Mid-Shore Pro Bono is now able to provide in-court services for income-qualified tenants in eight counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore,” says Mid-Shore Pro Bono Legal Director Laura Chafey, Esq. “The income qualification is determined at 50% of Maryland’s median income for individuals or families.”

Chafey says the funding will bring four new staff to support MSPB’s housing initiative, with two attorney-organizer teams serving the Lower and Mid-Shore regions.

“When tenants have counsel, the outcome is always better for everyone,” says Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury-Girard, Esq.

Girard says Mid-Shore Pro Bono initially expanded its tenant services in 2020 to meet demand resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. She says MSPB participated inthe Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force Implementation Subcommittee created after the Maryland General Assembly passed HB18 in 2021, making Maryland the second state in the U.S. to provide statewide access to counsel in eviction proceedings. The Task Force issued recommendations for funding, implementation, and evaluation of statewide access to counsel for income-eligible tenants. The task force members were appointed by Attorney General Brian Frosh.

The 2021 legislation designates Maryland’s priority areas for tenant counsel, with areas eligible for the first phase roll-out of the program including Baltimore and counties that already have legal assistance for tenants, including those served by Mid-Shore Pro Bono.

“We are gratified to have Mid-Shore Pro Bono providing much-needed representation for tenants facing eviction,” said MLSC Executive Director Deb Seltzer. “This program is especially timely as COVID-19 relief funds and restrictions are either expiring or being lifted right now.”

MLSC is a statewide funder of civil legal aid and the administrator of the Maryland Access to Counsel in Evictions program. MLSC also distributes funds from the Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program and other sources to fulfill its mission of ensuring low-income Marylanders have access to stable, efficient, and effective civil legal assistance through the distribution of funds to nonprofit legal services organizations, with more at www.mlsc.org.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono has also qualified as a recipient of the Equal Justice Works Housing Justice Fellowship as a host organization, with two fellows soon to be hired for the nonprofit’s Salisbury offices.

“Equal Justice Fellowships are very competitive and prestigious,” says Lathbury Girard, Esq. “So, we’re especially grateful for the funding and the recognition of being a part of this program.”

“This is a great investment in mobilizing the next generation of public interest lawyers,” says Equal Justice Works Fellowship Program Coordinator Touri Goode. “By hosting our Fellows, Mid-Shore Pro Bono is joining a community of legal services organizations on the frontlines of working toward equal justice.”

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, advocates, legal services organizations, and supporters to build a community committed to fulfilling our nation’s promise of equal justice for all. Learn more at www.equaljusticeworks.org.

ShiAnn Steele Joins Mid-Shore Pro Bono

August 19, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

ShiAnn Steele

ShiAnn Steele of Smyrna, Del. has recently joined the Salisbury office of the non-profit Mid-Shore Pro Bono as the Lower Shore Intake and Outreach Coordinator.

In the position, Steele is responsible for initiating services with clients in Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset counties, along with outreach activities that cultivate public awareness, charitable donations, and volunteer recruitment for the nonprofit organization. Johannah Cooper previously served in the position and is now off to pursue a graduate degree in social work at Boston University this fall.

Steele is the fourth internship alumni hired onto Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s staff and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Salisbury University, where she is named to the Dean’s List. She is a Smyrna High School graduate, with her academic merits earning her membership to the National Honor Society.

“ShiAnn was one of our summer interns in 2021, and she never stopped her internship—she just kept on volunteering because she enjoyed the work so much,” said Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury Girard, Esq.

“Our theory of workforce development is working,” said Girard. “Which is ultimately a double-win for the people who need our services the most, because they have a larger, compassionate team working for them, while we bring more students into rewarding careers in civic engagement and civil justice.”

“I am very passionate about giving back to the community, especially in legal services because I firmly believe everyone has a right to justice,” says Steele. “As a philosophy and law and justice advocacy student a large portion of my studies involves deepening my understanding of what is morally just for people.”

MSPB’s Sandy Brown Public Interest Internship was established in 2021 to honor MSPB’s previous executive director Sandy Brown—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.

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, Chestertown, 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 Announces Sandy Brown Public Interest Summer Interns

August 5, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Mid-Shore Pro Bono has named Brandon Ewing of Worton, Md., Joshua Goslee of Salisbury, Md., Naiset Perez of Easton, Md., and Megan Rayfield of Crisfield, Md. as the nonprofit’s 2022 Sandy Brown Public Interest summer interns.

Brandon Ewing is a legal intern and a 2023 J.D. candidate at the University of Baltimore School of Law, ranking in the top 25% of his class. He is a staff editor for the University of Baltimore Law Forum and a member of the Royal Graham Shannonhouse III Honor Society. Ewing also served as an undergraduate intern with MSPB in 2019 and recently as a judicial intern in the family division of Baltimore City’s Circuit Court, where he assisted the Magistrate and Clerk in conducting hearings and filling in for the Clerk as necessary.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to once again be a part of Mid-Shore Pro Bono after a great experience as an undergraduate intern in Salisbury,” says Ewing. “I have seen the problems that face many in our communities and the demand for accessible legal services on the Eastern Shore. MSPB has allowed me to take an active role in various projects and make meaningful connections that help meet this demand and resolve issues that can have devastating effects.

“I have enjoyed attending family and elder law clinics that allow us to understand an individual’s issues and tailor a solution to those circumstances,” continued Ewing. “I have also enjoyed the positive environment created by the MSPB staff and attorneys that allowed me to learn and grow over the summer. I hope to remain a resource for Mid-Shore Pro Bono beyond the internship and use my experience to further aid those in need in the future.”

Sandy Brown, center, stands with Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s Sandy Brown Public Interest interns at a recent networking luncheon for the interns at the Frederick Douglass Room of the Talbot County Free Library in Easton, Md. From left are interns Elliett Earhart and Naiset Perez, Brown, and interns Joshua Goslee and Brandon Ewing. Not shown is Megan Rayfield.

Joshua Goslee is an Eastern Shore native and recent graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he earned Summa Cum Laude honors. He was named the most outstanding student in the Criminal Justice department in 2021. At UMES, he was involved in campus athletics and volunteered at local elementary schools and soup kitchens.

Goslee will be attending the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University beginning this August. He follows several generations of public servants in his family, with a passion for giving back to the community and helping those that feel helpless.

“I was very excited to join Mid-Shore Pro Bono as an intern because I wanted to align myself with an organization that becomes a voice for the voiceless,” says Goslee. “So far, I have had so much fun learning and gaining meaningful hands-on experience that you can’t receive in the classroom.”

Naiset Perez is interning during her summer break from Dartmouth College, where she is studying Geography with a focus on Latino Studies and a minor in Government. Perez is a first-generation college student who earned a full scholarship to attend Dartmouth. As the daughter of Central American immigrants, Perez is passionate about serving immigrant communities. She is involved in the FUERZA Farmworkers Fund, where she leads peers in addressing the needs of New Hampshire’s migrants.

“Being the recipient of the Sandy Brown Internship has allowed me to work directly with the community I have grown up in,” says Perez. “Coming from a low-income household, I understand the pressures of being held back because of money issues.

“While working with Mid-Shore Pro Bono, I am able to help families like my own,” Perez continued. “It is an honor to work with an organization like MSPB that works toward the betterment of the community.”

Megan Rayfield is a Crisfield native and a senior philosophy and political science student at Salisbury University. Rayfield is a member of the Ethics Bowl team at Salisbury University and contributed to a top 12 national competition finish for her team. She plans to attend law school and aspires to be a District Attorney, working with underrepresented women and children. She is passionate about helping in her community, and in her spare time, can also be found in the music rooms at SU practicing piano and singing, or reading at home.

Rayfield hopes to gain more involvement in her community and gain a deeper understanding of how the legal system works through her internship. She recognizes how much passion MSPB has for helping others and is now considering a career shift to help more with nonprofit organizations.

“I am getting to actively engage with our clients and hear their stories,” says Rayfield. “Sometimes, as a student, you worry that you might be put on the backburner when it comes to internships, but MSPB has made sure I am involved every step of the way.”

“We’re honored to have Brandon, Joshua, Naiset, and Megan continuing their educations 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.”

“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.”

Edith Ramirez Joins Mid-Shore Pro Bono as Community Outreach and Communication Coordinator

June 29, 2022 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Edith Ramirez

Edith Ramirez of Greensboro, Md. has recently joined the Easton office of Mid-Shore Pro Bono as the Community Outreach and Communications Coordinator.

Her responsibilities include raising awareness about Mid-Shore Pro Bono’s civil legal services to individuals in need throughout the Eastern Shore, and to donors interested in forwarding the nonprofit’s mission.

Ramirez is bilingual in English and Spanish. She most recently worked in customer service in Dover, Del., and is a graduate of North Caroline High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society.

“Learning about resources available in our community has always been important to me, especially growing up as the daughter of a single, immigrant mother,” says Ramirez. “I’m passionate about helping to provide an equal chance to underserved individuals and families in my new role.”

“Edith is a pleasure to work with,” said Mid-Shore Pro Bono Executive Director Meredith Lathbury Girard, Esq. “Her experiences bring warmth to our clients and earnestness to our communications. We’re especially grateful to have her among our other interpreters so that we can make a difference in the lives of clients from different cultures.”

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, with more at www.midshoreprobono.org.

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