2013-12-05T15:06:39-06:00 2013-06-30 520959934 ELLIN & TUCKER CHARTERED 100 S CHARLES ST SUITE 1300 BALTIMORE MD 21201 990 2012-07-01 521225979 MARYLAND VOLUNTEER LAWYERS SERVICE INC MARY 4105396800 ONE NORTH CHARLES STREET NO 222 BALTIMORE MD 21201 BONNIE SULLIVAN 4105396800 2013-12-02 1 SUSAN KELLER P00245169 4107275735 2012 2015-11-30 17:44:51Z BONNIE SULLIVAN ONE NORTH CHARLES STREET NO 222 BALTIMORE MD 21201 1702231 0 X WWW.MVLSLAW.ORG X 1981 MD PROVIDING PRO BONO LAWYERS TO PERSONS FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO OBTAIN CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE. 20 20 25 815 0 0 1596845 1500806 15525 18407 16423 17505 100904 132317 1729697 1669035 0 0 0 0 1022150 922338 0 0 129625 690714 763338 1712864 1685676 16833 -16641 1764365 1752366 79908 78682 1684457 1673684 X THE MISSION OF MARYLAND VOLUNTEER LAWYERS SERVICE IS TO PROVIDE FREE QUALITY CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO MARYLANDERS WITH LIMITED INCOME. 0 0 749451 18407 MARYLAND VOLUNTEER LAWYERS SERVICE IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT MATCHES LOW-INCOME MARYLANDERS IN NEED OF CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE WITH VOLUNTEER LAWYERS. IN 2013, MVLS VOLUNTEER LAWYERS AND STAFF REPRESENTED OVER 2,952 LOW-INCOME MARYLANDERS. THEIR LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTLY BENEFITED OVER 7,856 PEOPLE. OUR VOLUNTEERS DONATED 14,036 VOLUNTEER HOURS, CONSERVATIVELY VALUED AT $4.2 MILLION. RECRUITED FROM ALL SECTORS OF THE BAR, INCLUDING SMALL AND SOLO FIRMS, LARGE LAW FIRMS, CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS, OUR VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROVIDE FREE AND REDUCED-FEE LEGAL SERVICES IN THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF LEGAL MATTERS: BANKRUPTCY, FORECLOSURE, FAMILY LAW-DIVORCE-CUSTODY, DEBT COLLECTION, PUBLIC BENEFIT DENIALS, LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES, RECORD EXPUNGEMENTS, INCOME TAX CONTROVERSIES AND ELDERLAW. IN 2013, MVLS ADDED 225 NEW VOLUNTEERS TO OUR PANEL OF 2,525 LAWYERS. 483566 THE JUDICARE PROJECT IS A REDUCED FEE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME CLIENTS IN HIGHLY CONTESTED FAMILY LAW AND CHILD CUSTODY CASES. MVLS ADMINISTERS THIS PROJECT IN 15 MARYLAND COUNTIES AND BALTIMORE CITY. MVLS PAYS LAWYERS $80 AN HOUR FOR UP TO 20 HOURS TO RESOLVE THESE DIFFICULT CASES; CLIENTS ARE NOT CHARGED LEGAL FEES. LAST YEAR, MVLS JUDICARE PROJECT LAWYERS CLOSED 322 CASES THAT DIRECTLY BENEFITED 920 INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR CHILDREN. 122658 FORECLOSURE PROJECTMVLS IS THE PRINCIPAL PRO BONO PARTNER IN THE STATEWIDE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION PRO BONO PROJECT AND PLACED 562 HOMEOWNERS FACING FORECLOSURE EITHER WITH VOLUNTEER LAWYERS OR OUR STAFF HOUSING COUNSELOR. 1355675 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 113 0 1 25 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 20 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 MD X X BONNIE A SULLIVAN 4105396800 ONE NORTH CHARLES STREET SUITE 222 BALTIMORE MD 21201 PAUL S SUGAR ESQ 1.00 X X 0 0 0 FRED S HECKER ESQ 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MARY T KEATING ESQ 1.00 X X 0 0 0 E HUTCHINSON ROBBINS JR ESQ 1.00 X X 0 0 0 ANTHONY P ASHTON ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 TANYA AXENSON ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 EDWARD J BAINES ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 RIGNAL W BALDWIN JR ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 ALAN C CASON ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 CAROLINE D CIRAOLO ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL S CLEVENGER ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT J CORNISH 1.00 X 0 0 0 LAWRENCE D COPPEL 1.00 X 0 0 0 FREDERICK L KOBB ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 JONATHAN Z MAY ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 ROBERT GROSSBART ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 CHARLES J MORTON JR ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 SUSAN T PRESTON ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 CHRISTOPHER R RAHL ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 KERRY D STATON ESQ 1.00 X 0 0 0 BONNIE A SULLIVAN 40.00 X 103780 0 13417 103780 0 13417 1 0 0 0 0 6231 6807 316371 1171397 2087 1500806 CLIENT FEES 900099 18407 18407 18407 17505 17505 161855 6807 33196 128659 128659 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 3658 3658 3658 1669035 18407 0 149822 123417 93049 17368 13000 605040 456164 85147 63729 25193 18994 3545 2654 102796 77502 14466 10828 65892 49679 9273 6940 427314 426578 736 34535 16772 13619 4144 73194 41123 18824 13247 85898 76061 5599 4238 14550 10805 3745 6566 3026 3540 25903 25903 8798 5585 2113 1100 MAINTENANCE 31950 19653 8143 4154 PRINTING & PUBLICATIONS 26254 16130 6570 3554 DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS 11197 8501 2621 75 MISCELLANEOUS 9575 3711 4341 1523 7604 6439 726 439 1685676 1355675 200376 129625 379440 578177 956498 793511 128690 59542 15730 16433 235010 162647 77267 72363 206740 232340 1764365 1752366 79908 78682 79908 78682 X 944475 962990 739982 710694 1684457 1673684 1764365 1752366 -16641 5868 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 2217163 1302194 1471176 1596845 1500806 8088184 2217163 1302194 1471176 1596845 1500806 8088184 75748 8012436 46948 30390 12948 16610 17505 124401 8212585 76550 0.97560 0.95160 X 15444 14459 985 219566 148188 71378 72363 LARGE CAP FUNDS 54818 F INTERNATIONAL FUNDS 53236 F SMALL CAP FUNDS 17450 F GOVERNMENT BONDS 50466 F LARGE BLEND FUNDS 56370 F 232340 X 1708099 5868 5868 1702231 -33196 -33196 1669035 1718872 33196 33196 1685676 0 1685676 DESCRIPTION OF UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS UNDER FIN 48: PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION FOLLOWS THE PROVISIONS OF ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES UNDER THE INCOME TAXES TOPIC OF THE CODIFICATION. THE CODIFICATION REQUIRES THE EVALUATION OF TAX POSITIONS, WHICH INCLUDE MAINTAINING ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS AND THE TAXABILITY OF ANY UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME, AND DOES NOT ALLOW RECOGNITION OF TAX POSITIONS WHICH DO NOT MEET A MORE-LIKELY-THAN-NOT THRESHOLD OF BEING SUSTAINED BY THE APPLICABLE TAX AUTHORITY. MANAGEMENT DOES NOT BELIEVE IT HAS TAKEN ANY TAX POSITIONS THAT WOULD NOT MEET THIS THRESHOLD. THE ORGANIZATION FILES FEDERAL INFORMATION RETURNS AND IS NO LONGER SUBJECT TO INCOME TAX EXAMINATIONS BY MAJOR TAX AUTHORITIES FOR YEARS PRIOR TO 2009. PART XI, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: FUNDRAISING EXPENSES NETTED WITH REVENUE -33,196. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: FUNDRAISING EXPENSES NETTED WITH REVENUE 33,196. PART XII, LINE 4B AND PART XIII LINE 2D: FUNDRAISING EXPENSE OF $33,196 WAS RECORDED AS AN EXPENSE IN THE ORGANIZATION'S AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, BUT AS A REDUCTION IN REVENUE ON THE FORM 990. ANNUAL BENEFIT 2013 163942 6807 157135 21560 11636 163942 6807 157135 21560 11636 33196 123939 ORGANIZATION MISSION STATEMENT FORM 990, PART I, LINE 1, DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION MISSION: MVLS IS A "FULL-SERVICE" PRO BONO PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME MARYLANDERS IN MOST CIVIL MATTERS SUCH AS DIVORCE, CUSTODY, CONSUMER PROBLEMS (COLLECTION AND BANKRUPTCY), FORECLOSURE, LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES, TORT DEFENSE, INCOME TAX DISPUTES AND BACK TAXES, NAME CHANGE, GUARDIANSHIP, SCHOOL DISCIPLINE, SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND SMALL ESTATE ADMINISTRATION. IN ADDITION, MVLS HELPS TO STRENGTHEN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING REPRESENTATION AND LEGAL ADVICE TO COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. MVLS PROVIDES PRO BONO SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS IN ALL MARYLAND COUNTIES. IN ALLEGANY, MONTGOMERY, PRINCE GEORGE'S AND THE FIVE MID-SHORE COUNTIES, WHERE THERE ARE OTHER PRO BONO PROGRAMS, MVLS LIMITS PROGRAM SERVICES TO THOSE SEEKING HELP WITH DENIAL OF LONG-TERM MEDICAID BENEFITS AND DISPUTES WITH THE IRS. SERVICES TO COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ALSO ARE AVAILABLE STATEWIDE, HOWEVER, THESE CASES ARE A SMALL PART OF OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS, ESPECIALLY SINCE ANOTHER PROVIDER, COMMUNITY LAW CENTER, IS MEETING THIS NEED. THE TARGET POPULATIONS SERVED BY OUR CORE PRO BONO PROGRAM ARE LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. THE POVERTY RATE IN MARYLAND, THOUGH LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, IS STILL RELATIVELY HIGH AT 9%. IN THE JURISDICTIONS THAT MVLS SERVES, THE POVERTY RATE RANGES FROM A HIGH OF 30% (BALTIMORE CITY) TO A LOW OF 4.5% (HOWARD COUNTY). DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, CONTESTED FAMILY LAW MATTERS, FORECLOSURE DEFENSE AND CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY REQUESTS PRESENTED THE MOST URGENT PROBLEMS FOR OUR CLIENTS. MVLS HAS A NUMBER OF SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT SUPPLEMENT OUR CORE PRO BONO EFFORTS. THREE CURRENT PROJECTS PROVIDE PRO SE ASSISTANCE: 1) BANKRUPTCY SELF-HELP CLINIC, OFFERS CHAPTER 7 FILERS BI-MONTHLY BANKRUPTCY CLASSES TAUGHT BY MVLS VOLUNTEER LAWYERS AND A PARALEGAL, 2) WASHINGTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE CLINIC, MVLS CONTRACT LAWYERS PROVIDE ADVICE TO INCOME ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY WHO ARE FILING FAMILY LAW ACTIONS USING DOM REL FORMS, 3) DEBTOR ASSISTANCE PROJECT, A BRIEF ADVICE CLINIC AT THE U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT IN BALTIMORE, WHERE PRO SE DEBTORS RECEIVE A FREE HALF-HOUR CONSULTATION WITH A CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY. MVLS PARTNERS WITH THE U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT, BANKRUPTCY BAR ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND, STANDING CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEES, PRO BONO RESOURCE CENTER, CIVIL JUSTICE INC., AND MARYLAND STATE BAR ASSOCIATION. MVLS RECENTLY RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN FY14 FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO REPRESENT 450 (300 IN PAST YEARS) DISABLED ADULTS UNDER PUBLIC GUARDIANSHIP AT SEMI-ANNUAL REVIEW HEARINGS AND INDIGENT CLIENTS IN EMERGENCY GUARDIANSHIP HEARINGS IN BALTIMORE CITY AND FOR THE FIRST TIME 30% OF SIMILAR CASES IN BALTIMORE COUNTY. THE IRS TAXPAYER ADVOCATE SERVICE FUNDS AN MVLS PROGRAM TO REPRESENT LOW-INCOME TAXPAYERS IN DISPUTES BEFORE THE IRS. WE HAVE EXPANDED PROGRAM SERVICES TO INCLUDE BRIEF ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION IN THE US TAX COURT BY HIRING A PART-TIME TAX ATTORNEY. MVLS INCREASED PRO BONO PLACEMENTS BY 12% IN FY13, FROM 1413 PRO BONO CASE PLACEMENTS IN FY12 TO 1610 IN FY13. THIS INCREASE REFLECTS OUR PROGRAMMATIC FOCUS ON EXPANDING PRO BONO SERVICES THROUGH AGGRESSIVE CLIENT OUTREACH AND VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT. SIMILARLY, THE NUMBER OF CLOSED PRO BONO CASES GREW BY 11%, FROM 1349 IN FY12 TO 1512 IN FY13. EVEN MORE DRAMATIC, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS WHO ACCEPTED A PRO BONO CASE INCREASED 17% FROM FY12. IN FY13, 815 VOLUNTEERS ACCEPTED A PRO BONO CASE COMPARED TO 676 IN FY12. OF SPECIAL NOTE, MVLS FORGED A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UMD SCHOOL OF LAW TO PROVIDE BRIEF LEGAL SERVICES THROUGH THE LAW SCHOOL'S NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED "JUST ADVICE" (TRADEMARK OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CAREY SCHOOL OF LAW) CLINIC. THIS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY CLINIC INCLUDES LAW STUDENTS, SENIOR LAWYERS, MEDICAL, DENTAL AND SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS. WE WILL BE INTEGRATING MVLS VOLUNTEERS FROM THE GREATER BALTIMORE AREA INTO THE MIX OF CLINIC VOLUNTEER LAWYERS. THIS SUMMER, JUSTADVICE STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROVIDED SERVICES IN BALTIMORE CITY AT UMD LAW SCHOOL, LEXINGTON MARKET, AND HIGHLANDTOWN COMMUNITY ACTION CENTER. IN JULY, JUSTADVICE RAN TWO SESSIONS IN WORCESTER COUNTY. THIS FALL, JUSTADVICE WILL EXPAND BALTIMORE CITY SESSIONS TO INCLUDE THE DISTRICT COURT ONE DAY A WEEK. MVLS FY2013 AT A GLANCE: MVLS VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF CLOSED: 2,952 CIVIL CASES 815 LAWYERS VOLUNTEERED FOR OUR PROGRAM 14,036 NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS SPENT REPRESENTING MVLS CLIENTS AT A VALUE OF $4.2 MILLION THE DEBTOR ASSISTANCE PROJECT VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED BRIEF ADVICE TO 279 PRO SE PETITIONERS AT THE US BANKRUPTCY COURT. THE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION PROJECT HELPED 562 DISTRESSED HOMEOWNERS ADDITIONALLY, DURING THE YEAR MVLS RECEIVED CERTIFICATION BY THE MARYLAND NONPROFITS' STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE (TRADEMARK OF MARYLAND NONPROFITS) PROGRAM. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 THE FORM 990 WAS CIRCULATED TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO REVIEW PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C AT THE ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL MEETING EACH JUNE, THE BOARD PRESIDENT REQUESTS THAT EACH BOARD MEMBER SUBMIT AN UPDATED CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY FORM. EACH DIRECTOR REVIEWS THE POLICY AND RESPONDS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT ASK FOR DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS. AFTER COMPLETING THE FORM, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COLLECTS THE SIGNED FORMS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS AND RETAINS THEM AT THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF TWO FORMER BOARD PRESIDENTS AND THE CURRENT BOARD PRESIDENT. THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FULL BOARD EACH SPRING ON EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR STAFF COMPENSATION. THEY ALSO RELY ON SALARY SURVEYS WHEN AVAILABLE AND A REVIEW OF THE 990S OF OTHER LEGAL AGENCIES IF SALARY SURVEY DATA IS UNAVAILABLE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 MARYLAND VOLUNTEER LAWYERS SERVICE, INC. PROVIDES ALL OF THE MENTIONED DOCUMENTS TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. IN ADDITION, THE CURRENT FORM 990 IS AVAILABLE ON THE GUIDESTAR WEBSITE.