Commission to Address Legal Challenges Impacting Seniors in Baltimore City
(Photo Courtesy: Mark L. Dennis)
Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), the largest provider of pro bono civil legal services to low-income Marylanders, today announced that Susan Francis, deputy director of the organization, is now a member of the Baltimore City Council’s Commission on Aging and Retirement Education (CARE). CARE, in partnership with other senior-serving organizations, is the primary public agency in the city responsible for advocating for and delivering services to Baltimore’s older adult population, their families and caregivers. Susan will join other commission members to help shine a spotlight on legal issues affecting seniors living in Baltimore City and develop a plan to help educate and protect this population.
“It is an honor to be appointed to the Baltimore City Council’s Commission on Aging and Retirement Education as I’m strongly committed to assisting, educating and protecting older populations so they can thrive in the second half of their lives,” said Susan Francis, deputy director, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. “I look forward to joining fellow members to educate seniors about financial exploitation and their civil legal rights because the more they are informed, the more likely they’ll be protected.”
At MVLS, Susan Franics is instrumental in driving the mission of the organization to connect thousands of low-income Marylanders to private attorneys who provide essential pro bono representation. In her role, Susan oversees all aspects of MVLS’ pro bono program and its initiative to expand consumer law protection for Marylanders. Currently, she is leading MVLS’ new Advanced Planning project to increase community stability in Baltimore City – a program made possible through a grant from the Leonard & Helen R. Stulman Charitable Foundation.
CARE
The Commission on Aging and Retirement Education is a chartered organization created in 1973 to advocate for older Baltimore residents by developing and funding programs and services for seniors. CARE envisions Baltimore as the most elderly-friendly city in America, where older adults will have the opportunity to age with choice, independence and dignity as they move along the aging continuum.
About Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS)
With a 35-year history and a mission to provide access to justice for all, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) serves Maryland’s low-income residents by offering counseling and full representation for civil legal cases. MVLS matches clients with volunteer lawyers who represent them in a wide range of consumer and family situations, including foreclosure, bankruptcy, income tax disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, denial of public benefits, divorce/custody, deed changes and estate planning (wills, advance health care directives and financial power of attorney). For more information about MVLS, please visit www.mvlslaw.org.
