Training Sessions

For interested library systems, local training can be provided (in person or via Zoom) from the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library and other members of the Conference of Maryland Court Law Library Directors.
 


Upcoming Sessions  |  Completed Sessions  |  Submit a Question/Comment


Upcoming Sessions

As a specialized area of knowledge and resources, law and legal reference can be a challenging area for providers of general reference. Law on the Frontlines: Legal Reference for Public Libraries enables and empowers public library staff across Maryland to provide quality legal reference in their local communities, ensuring that the law is accessible to every Marylander who needs it.

Brought to Maryland's public libraries through a partnership of the Thurgood Marshall State Library, the Maryland Access to Justice Commission, and the Conference of Maryland Court Law Library Directors.

For each completed training, a Certificate of Completion indicating Contact hours will be provided.

Frontlines sessions address:

  • The role of public libraries in advancing Access to Justice
  • Best Practices for legal reference interviews
  • Legal resources in a variety of subjects
  • Basics on the structure of law
  • Recognizing the difference between information and advice
  • Where to refer forward

The Frontlines curriculum includes introductory sessions on Legal Reference Best Practices and Foundations of Law for Public Library Reference. Frontlines also offers topic-based sessions, Navigating the Law, on the most heavily requested areas of law. Navigating sessions include a deeper dive into resources and referrals for each specific topic.

NEW - In response to feedback from Frontlines participants, 2024 sessions will expand to 90 minutes. Each session will incorporate demonstrations of the resources provides and offer the opportunity for participants to practice using those resources in the live environment. Attendees to all sessions are invited to bring to the session real-world reference questions for consideration during workshop time.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 9-10:30am, Law on the Frontlines: Navigating the Law – Life & Health Planning
Frontlines Topics help develop recognition of law topics through terminology and a deeper dive into the range of questions and concerns related to that topic. Life & Health Planning looks at the span of topics related to decision-making in the areas of advance directives, estate planning, guardianship, powers of attorney, and more.

For more on Legal Reference Training see the Law on the Frontlines: Legal Reference for Public Libraries webpage at the Thurgood Marshall State Law Library.

 


Completed Sessions

Law on the Frontlines: Legal Reference Best Practices

Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Recording (Passcode: wC!2=+*x)
Slides

Law on the Frontlines: Foundations of Law for Public Library Reference

Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Recording (Passcode:?78qqISU)
Slides

Frontlines: Navigating the Law - Consumer Law

Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Recording (Passcode: H3te6B$R)
Slides 
Consumer Law Tip Sheet

Frontlines: Navigating the Law - Family Law

Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Recording (Passcode: NceT$u8v)
Slides

Frontlines: Navigating the Law - Finding Maryland Legal Forms

Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Recording (Passcode: wGWUq!7P
Slides 

Frontlines: Navigating the Law - Landlord and Tenant

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Recording (Passcode: m=Mp2Mz3)
Handout (links from the presentation)
Slides

Frontlines: Navigating the Law - Life & Health Planning

Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Recording (Passcode: VuqzH4K. - passcode includes the "dot" or period at the end.)
Handout (links from the presentation)
Slides

Frontlines: Navigating the Law - Public Benefits

Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Recording (Passcode:iU5a0m9?)
Slides
Tip Sheet