Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert M. Bell creates the Maryland Judicial Commission on Pro Bono as one component of an initiative to expand access to justice for people with limited means. The Commission is tasked with making recommendations for the judiciary to expand pro bono legal services in Maryland.

In March 2000, the Commission issues a report outlining a series of recommendations including establishment of local pro bono action plans.

Following the Commission’s 2000 report and the adoption of pro bono rules by the Court of Appeals in 2002, counties were required to establish pro bono committees and action plans.

Recognizing the need for a regional approach, Eastern Shore judges—including Judge Karen Jensen, Bo Earnest, and Thomas Ross—collaborated to form the Mid-Shore Pro Bono Project. With seed funding secured by Connie Kratovil Lavelle, Esq., the organization hired a part-time executive director and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Recognizing the need for a regional approach in an area where the number of attorneys is limited , Eastern Shore judges—including Judge Karen Jensen, Bo Earnest, and Thomas Ross—collaborate to form the Mid-Shore Pro Bono Project. With seed funding secured by Connie Kratovil Lavelle, Esq., the organization hires a part-time executive director and incorporates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Mid-Shore Pro Bono (MSPB) becomes the first regional pro bono organization in Maryland dedicated to connecting private attorneys with low-income residents who need civil legal representation. The organization was created to address the unique access-to-justice challenges on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Sandy Brown is hired as the organization’s first full-time executive director. Over the next fourteen years, she will lead MSPB’s transformation into a professional pro bono referral agency with multiple offices and expanded legal services. Under her leadership, MSPB grew from a small program with only a few thousand dollars in resources into an organization with an annual budget exceeding $1.2 million, while expanding services in family law, elder law, consumer debt, foreclosure, and housing.

MSPB opens its first office in Centreville.

MSPB launches foreclosure services for homeowners in response to the foreclosure crisis and partners with other legal services organizations and state agencies to secure significant funding and build staff capacity.

Main office moves to Easton.

Maryland Bar Foundation honors MSPB with the Advancement of the Rights of the Disadvantaged for the Foreclosure Prevention Project.

MSPB expands services with monthly civil clinics in five Mid-Shore counties and evolves into a community-based nonprofit led by volunteers, attorneys, and local leaders, with ongoing judicial engagement through the Mid-Shore Regional Pro Bono Committee.

The administrative judges for the five Mid-Shore counties (Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot) formally designate MSPB as the regional pro bono committee.

MSPB launches a community conferencing program to help students resolve conflicts and divert young people from the juvenile justice system.

MSPB is presented with the Pro Bono Service Award by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Debtor Assistance Project.

MSPB also launches new life and estate plannic clinics to assist older adults.

MSPB expands, adding new locations in Salisbury and Chestertown.

Meredith Girard, previously the managing attorney since 2019, becomes MSPB’s executive director. With board support, she led a new phase of growth focused on strengthening tenant representation and expanding access to counsel and judicare across the Eastern Shore.

The organization changes its name from Mid-Shore Pro Bono to Shore Legal Access to better reflect its mission and geographic reach.

Today, Shore Legal Access serves 3,000–4,000 clients annually across eight counties—Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester—and has a staff of 19, including 7 attorneys, supported by a network of 500+ volunteer attorneys. Guided by core values of integrity, service, compassion, professionalism, respect, dignity, and collaboration, Shore Legal Access continues to pursue its vision: ensuring all people on the Eastern Shore are empowered to resolve civil legal issues.