Lawyers in Maryland

Finding a lawyer in Maryland

Maryland is small in area but varied in legal work. Baltimore has the state's largest concentration of firms, the suburbs of Washington, DC in Montgomery and Prince George's counties serve a large population of federal employees and contractors, Annapolis is the state capital and home to the state's appellate courts, and the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland rely on smaller local practices. Many lawyers in the DC suburbs are also admitted in the District or Virginia, which matters when a case could be filed in more than one place.

This directory sorts Maryland law firms by practice area and city so you can find attorneys who handle your kind of matter and appear in the court that will hear it.

When you need a lawyer (and when you may not)

Get a Maryland attorney involved early if you are charged with a crime, seriously hurt, served with a complaint, or facing a divorce with children or property, or an immigration proceeding. Maryland still follows a contributory negligence rule in injury cases, which can defeat a claim if the injured person was partly at fault, so speak to a lawyer before giving a statement to an insurer.

The District Court of Maryland hears small claims through a simplified process that people commonly use without a lawyer, and the Maryland courts' self-help centers assist people representing themselves in other matters. Uncontested filings and minor traffic citations are often handled alone. When in doubt, a short consultation, which many firms offer free or at a reduced fee, will clarify whether you need one.

Common practice areas in Maryland

• Personal Injury and Car Accident — claims after crashes, falls and other negligence, handled with the state's strict fault rule in mind.
• Family & Divorce — absolute and limited divorce, custody and visitation, child support, alimony and protective orders in the circuit courts.
• Criminal Defense and DUI & DWI — defense in District Court and circuit court; Maryland charges both DUI and the lesser DWI offense, and driving cases also involve a separate license hearing.
• Estate Planning & Probate — wills, trusts, powers of attorney and estate administration through the Register of Wills and the Orphans' Court, Maryland's probate court.
• Employment — wage, discrimination and wrongful termination claims, including issues specific to federal employees and government contractors.
• Real Estate and Business — purchases and sales, landlord-tenant disputes, condominium matters, company formation and commercial contracts.
• Workers' Compensation — work injuries handled before the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission.
• Immigration, Bankruptcy and Social Security Disability — federal practice areas heard in federal courts and agencies.
• Medical Malpractice, Tax, Intellectual Property, Civil Rights and Traffic Ticket complete the Maryland categories.

How to check a lawyer's license in Maryland

Attorneys in Maryland are admitted by the Supreme Court of Maryland, the state's highest court. You can confirm a lawyer's status through the attorney listing maintained by the Maryland Judiciary, and public disciplinary matters are handled by the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland, which publishes its sanctions. The Maryland State Bar Association is a voluntary organization, so membership there is not itself proof of a license.

Check that the lawyer is in good standing and read any disciplinary record. If a person is not in the court's records, they are not licensed to practice law in Maryland.

How to choose a law firm

Look for a lawyer who regularly handles your kind of case in your county. Practice in Baltimore City differs from Montgomery County or the Eastern Shore, and local familiarity with judges and procedure matters.

Understand how you will be billed. Injury cases are normally taken on contingency; family, criminal, estate and business matters are billed hourly or at a flat fee. Ask about costs, retainers and refunds of unused funds, and get everything in writing.

Ask who will do the day-to-day work and how the firm communicates. The way a firm answers these questions before you hire is a good preview of the relationship afterward.

Questions to ask at the first consultation

• How much of your practice is matters like mine, and in this county?
• What are the realistic outcomes, and what are the main risks?
• Who will handle my case, and how do I reach them?
• How do you charge, what is extra, and can I see a written agreement?
• Which deadlines apply, and what should we do first?
• Is there anything I should avoid saying to an insurer or the other side?
• How and how often will I hear from you?

Free and low-cost legal help

Maryland Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to low-income Marylanders in housing, family, consumer and benefits matters. The People's Law Library, a resource of the Maryland courts, publishes plain-language legal information and forms, and the courts' self-help centers assist people without lawyers. Local and state bar associations run lawyer referral services with a low-cost first meeting, and the law schools in Baltimore operate clinics that take selected cases. A person charged with a crime who cannot afford a lawyer may apply to the Office of the Public Defender.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed Maryland attorney about your situation.