The Maryland Disability Law Center is a free legal resource funded by the federal government

The Maryland Disability Law Center (MDLC) is a nonprofit law office that provides free legal help to people with disabilities in Maryland. It is funded through a federal program called Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Disabilities (PAID), which means there is no cost to you for their services. The Baltimore office serves the entire state, though MDLC also has regional staff in other parts of Maryland.

MDLC focuses on systemic disability rights issues — meaning they work on cases and policy changes that affect many people with disabilities, not just one person's individual problem. They handle cases involving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), employment discrimination, housing, education, and access to services. If your issue involves your disability and your legal rights, MDLC is worth contacting to see whether they can take your case.

The center operates under a specific legal mandate: they must prioritize cases involving abuse, neglect, or rights violations in institutions or care settings. After that, they take cases based on the impact they will have and the resources available. This means they cannot take every case, but they will tell you directly whether they can help and may refer you elsewhere if they cannot.

Key Takeaways

  • MDLC provides free legal representation and information to people with disabilities in Maryland, funded by the federal government.
  • They prioritize cases involving abuse, neglect, or institutional rights violations, then take other disability rights cases based on impact and available resources.
  • MDLC handles SSDI and SSI denials, employment discrimination, housing access, education disputes, and other disability-related legal matters.
  • You can reach the Baltimore office by phone at 410-727-6352 or through their website; they will screen your case during an intake call.
  • If MDLC cannot take your case, they often refer you to other legal aid organizations or disability lawyers who may be able to help.

What kinds of cases MDLC handles

MDLC takes cases across several areas of disability law. For Social Security matters, they represent people whose SSDI or SSI claims have been denied and who want to appeal. They also handle cases where Social Security has stopped benefits or reduced them, and cases involving work incentives or how work affects your benefits. These cases often require understanding both the law and Social Security's own rules, which is where a lawyer's help becomes valuable.

Beyond Social Security, MDLC handles employment discrimination cases — situations where an employer has refused to hire you, fired you, or denied you accommodations because of your disability. They work on housing cases, including discrimination by landlords and disputes over reasonable accommodations in rental housing. They also take education cases, such as disputes with schools over special education services or accommodations for students with disabilities.

MDLC also works on cases involving access to services and supports. This includes disputes with state agencies over Medicaid coverage, disputes over access to mental health or substance use treatment, and cases involving your rights in institutions or group homes. If you have been abused or neglected in a care setting, MDLC prioritizes your case.

How to contact MDLC and what to expect during intake

You can reach the Maryland Disability Law Center by calling 410-727-6352 during business hours. You can also visit their website at www.mdlclaw.org to find contact information, learn more about their work, and see whether they have published information about your specific issue. Some people prefer to call; others prefer to submit a written intake form online. Either way, you will speak with or write to a staff member who will ask you questions about your situation.

During intake, be prepared to explain what happened, when it happened, and what you want the outcome to be. If your case involves Social Security, have your Social Security number and any denial letters or notices handy. If it involves employment, have the dates you worked and the names of people involved. If it involves housing or education, have lease agreements, school documents, or correspondence with the agency. You do not need to have everything perfect — the intake person will ask follow-up questions — but having some documents ready speeds up the process.

After intake, MDLC will review your case and decide whether they can take it. This can take a few weeks. If they can, they will contact you to discuss next steps. If they cannot, they will tell you why and may refer you to another organization that can help, such as a local legal aid office or a private disability lawyer who takes cases on a reduced-fee basis.

When MDLC may not be able to take your case

MDLC receives many more requests for help than they have staff to handle. They prioritize cases involving abuse, neglect, or violations of rights in institutions or care settings. After that, they look at the impact of the case — whether winning it would help many people or set important legal precedent — and at their available resources. This means some cases that are important to you may not be taken by MDLC, even though they are legitimate disability rights issues.

If MDLC declines your case, ask them for a referral. Maryland has several legal aid organizations that handle disability cases, including Community Law Center and Maryland Legal Aid. You can also search for a disability lawyer through the National Disability Rights Network or through the State Bar of Maryland's lawyer referral service. Some disability lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they take payment only if you win your case.

MDLC's role in systemic disability rights work

Beyond individual cases, MDLC works on policy and systemic issues that affect many people with disabilities in Maryland. They may file lawsuits on behalf of groups of people, comment on proposed regulations, or work with state agencies to change how they administer programs. This work often takes years but can result in changes that benefit thousands of people. If you have experienced a problem that you think affects many other people with disabilities, mentioning that during intake can help MDLC understand the broader impact of your case.

MDLC also publishes information and resources on their website about disability rights topics. These resources are free and available to anyone, whether or not MDLC is representing you. If you are researching a disability rights issue, their website is worth checking.

How MDLC differs from other legal help for disability

MDLC is different from Social Security's Office of Hearings Operations, which holds appeals hearings for denied SSDI and SSI claims. MDLC is a lawyer who can represent you at those hearings, but they do not run the hearings themselves. MDLC is also different from a disability lawyer in private practice, who typically charges a fee (though some take Social Security cases on contingency, meaning they take payment from your back pay if you win).

MDLC is also different from a Social Security representative payee or work incentives planning and information (WIPA) counselor. Those roles help you manage your benefits or plan work; MDLC provides legal representation when you have a legal dispute. You can work with both MDLC and a WIPA counselor at the same time — they serve different purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay MDLC for their help?

No. MDLC is funded by the federal government and provides free legal services to people with disabilities in Maryland. There are no fees, no hidden costs, and no requirement to pay them back if you win your case.

Will MDLC represent me at my Social Security hearing?

MDLC may represent you at a Social Security hearing if they take your case. During intake, tell them you have a hearing scheduled and provide the date. If they cannot take your case, ask for a referral to a disability lawyer who does Social Security appeals.

How long does it take MDLC to decide whether they can take my case?

Intake and case review usually take two to four weeks, depending on how busy MDLC is. If your case is urgent — for example, if you have a hearing date coming up soon — mention that during your intake call so they can prioritize it.

What if I live outside Baltimore?

MDLC serves all of Maryland from their Baltimore office and through regional staff. Call the main number and they will direct you to the right person for your area. Distance should not prevent you from contacting them.

Can MDLC help me with a problem that is not about disability?

MDLC focuses on disability rights issues. If your legal problem is not related to your disability or disability discrimination, they will likely refer you to a general legal aid organization or bar association referral service instead.