Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

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Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Established in 1985, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts does legal differently. We're here to make legal support accessible & affordable for creatives.

MdVLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Maryland artists’ legal rights. We believe it’s our responsibility to stand up for artists who need legal representation. Your work is precious. We can help protect it. Through the help of our professionally trained network of lawyers, we proudly provide pro-bono legal referrals and services to artists in the state of Maryland. We hold lectures and seminars as well as Art Law Clinics for consultations, and we generate educational materials to keep you in the know.

10/14/2026

Ready to strengthen the foundation of your creative practice? Join us for our monthly Art Law Clinic, where dedicated attorneys meet 1:1 with artists like you who are serious about protecting their work.

In this 30-minute consultation, you'll connect with an attorney who understands both legal complexities and creative realities. Whether you're finalizing a collaboration agreement, protecting your intellectual property, or planning your business structure, we're here to help you take the next step with confidence.

What makes our clinics unique:

🤝Direct access to attorneys who are actively engaged in creative communities
đź““Practical guidance tailored to your specific creative practice
đź“©Clear next steps you can implement immediately
🚀A supportive environment where your creative goals matter

Space is limited to ensure intentional time with each artist. Register now to secure your spot!

The business of art can feel particularly overwhelming for the artists of limited means in the communities we serve. Tod...
10/07/2026

The business of art can feel particularly overwhelming for the artists of limited means in the communities we serve. Today, we’re asking you to join us in empowering small business owners with the protective measures they need to flourish.

In 2020, demand for MDVLA’s pro bono legal services skyrocketed and has not slowed. While we’ve continued to adapt, one thing is clear: organizational growth is essential to keep pace and continue serving all the creative small business owners who come through our door.

MDVLA’s five-person team has allowed us to develop upon our core mission: provide stronger, more consistent, and higher-quality legal services and education to Maryland’s creative community.

We are doing everything we can to maintain this capacity because we know how important these services are to the artists, small business owners and arts organizations we serve.

From the volunteer attorneys that contribute their expertise daily to the community partners that lend MDVLA their spaces monthly: none of this is possible without our community.

In our 40-year history, we’ve never been able to do it alone.

We need to fundraise $5,000 by the end of this year and we can't do it alone.

Can you help?

Visit our support page to learn more about how your monthly contributions will be used, explore our other supporters, and make a donation today.

MDVLA's October Round-up! Join us online or in-person at MICA for a Contracts for Artists & Creatives workshop.đź“© Pro Tip...
09/29/2026

MDVLA's October Round-up! Join us online or in-person at MICA for a Contracts for Artists & Creatives workshop.

đź“© Pro Tip: check out our easy-to-understand legal guide on Contracts for Artists & Creatives to prepare before the session. It's always free to download at the link in our bio.

Are you running a small arts organization or creative business and wondering what laws and regulations apply to you? Joi...
09/21/2026

Are you running a small arts organization or creative business and wondering what laws and regulations apply to you? Join this session to learn about your compliance responsibilities as an arts business owner.

Join us and the Maryland State Arts Council for a discussion on common legal compliance issues facing small arts organizations, both nonprofit and for-profit. We will cover:

- Required registrations and filings
- Employment and labor requirements
- Maryland’s new Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program

Come to better understand your legal responsibilities and leave knowing common compliance pitfalls to avoid.

Thank you to the University of Baltimore School of Law & all who came out to visit the Art Law Clinic this Saturday! If ...
09/13/2026

Thank you to the University of Baltimore School of Law & all who came out to visit the Art Law Clinic this Saturday!

If you missed the opportunity to grab some information on Contracts, Copyright, Estate Planning and Business Entities for Artists and Creatives, they are always available for free online.

These booklets are written and edited in-house by MDVLA's staff attorneys and legal interns. They cover definitions you need to know, questions to consider and best practices for various topics with a focus on the creative sector.

Reading these booklets is a perfect place to start the journey of protecting the heart of your art.

Download all four guides for free at the link in our bio 🔗🧠

MDVLA's creatives, artists, small business owners, and volunteers make us who we are!Meet the creators of The StoryDance...
09/06/2026

MDVLA's creatives, artists, small business owners, and volunteers make us who we are!

Meet the creators of The StoryDancer: The Maria Broom Documentary, Gaia Bethel-Birch & Ania Flanigan Peña 🎥 Gaia & Ania worked with us as an additional support to their film project, The StoryDancer, over several months through our Art Law Clinic and Pro Bono Representation program.

Through the support MDVLA provided, these independent filmmakers were able to get legal support that would otherwise not be available to them, or would've required them to sacrifice valuable production costs.

Learn more about how we can support you today at www.mdvla.org and click "Get Help"

Don’t sign anything you don’t understand.You have support.Artists give a lot. They are part of the economy and the cultu...
09/02/2026

Don’t sign anything you don’t understand.

You have support.

Artists give a lot. They are part of the economy and the culture, but often lack resources and support to build a business and advocate for themselves legally.

At MDVLA, we’re changing that. Our programs are designed to give creatives back time to focus on their practice, their passions and get back to doing what they do best–create.

Explore our upcoming programs at www.mdvla.org or join the in-crowd: apply to volunteer with us today.

08/28/2026

Art Law Clinics are your first step to protecting the heart of your art. In these monthly sessions, we connect artists with lawyers who understand the unique challenges of creative work.

This opportunity is perfect for artists who want to:

🎯 Start taking your creative practice seriously
đź’« Gain clear, actionable legal guidance
đź“ť Get answers to specific questions about contracts, copyright, or creative business
🌱 Build something meaningful and protect it

Join us September 12th! Register at the link in our bio.

MDVLA's September round-up! Mark your calendars, share with a friend, and register at the link in our bio 🤝
08/25/2026

MDVLA's September round-up! Mark your calendars, share with a friend, and register at the link in our bio 🤝

Meet Tess Russell, a volunteer attorney at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts! Tess' journey back to her hometown i...
08/19/2026

Meet Tess Russell, a volunteer attorney at Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts! Tess' journey back to her hometown in her 30s brought her new opportunities to connect with community and MDVLA is a part of that story.

MDVLA is committed to relational alignment – fostering agency and empowerment for the diverse stakeholders we serve throughout the state of Maryland. We practice authentic relationships through a commitment to transparent communication, respect, empathy, and mutual exchange.

Through these relationships, we've committed to the growth of our clients, Maryland’s creative community, pro bono volunteers, and staff.

This work would not be possible without volunteers like Tess! By providing volunteer legal services, you help to build a foundation for Maryland's cultural economy to thrive.

Through education and expert guidance, our volunteers contribute to a Maryland where artists and creatives know their rights, protect their work, build sustainable practices, and shape their communities.

Make an impact from your desk. Join us today: www.mdvla.org

Address

1505 Eutaw Place, Suite 205
Baltimore, MD
21217

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14107521633

Website

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