Equal Justice Associates - Maryland Legal Aid

The Equal Justice Associates (EJA) comprises attorneys under the age of 40 who support Maryland Legal Aid’s mission of providing equal access to civil legal assistance and representation for low-income Marylanders through organizing and participating in pro bono service and fundraising. In addition to organizing pro bono service opportunities, fundraising activities, and social networking events, EJA members also receive high quality training and mentoring from MLA attorneys in a variety of practice areas.

EJA Chair Darryl L. Tarver with Equal Justice Council (EJC) Co-Chair Lee H. Ogburn at the 2018 Equal Justice Awards Breakfast

EJA Leadership:

Chair: Darryl L. Tarver, Esq. – DLA Piper (US)
Vice Chair: Ernie Dominguez, Esq. – Office of the Public Defender
Secretary: Aaron DeGraffenreidt, Esq. – Baltimore City Department of Law
Treasurer: Alicia Shelton, Esq. – Zuckerman Spaeder LLP
Member-At-Large: Megan E. Davis, Esq. – Federal Communications Commission
Pro Bono Committee Chair: Joanna Diamond, Esq. – Health Care for the Homeless

Equal Justice Associates:

Participate and coordinate a variety of pro bono service opportunities to help meet the legal needs of low-income Marylanders
Build camaraderie with peers by coordinating fun and engaging activities to raise funds and awareness of Maryland Legal Aid
Receive high-quality training and mentoring from Maryland Legal Aid attorneys in a variety of practice areas.

EJA Impact:

Through participation in EJA, you can:

Keep families in their homes by successfully challenging illegal evictions;
Provide representation and support for victims of domestic violence;
Secure critical medical benefits for older adults and persons with disabilities;
Expunge criminal records so that individuals can obtain employment, housing, and child custody;
Ensure that veterans receive benefits for which they are eligible.

Member Obligations:

Each EJA member will support Maryland Legal Aid by participating in at least one event, including attending a clinic and/or taking a pro bono case.
If this is not possible, the EJA member can instead make a financial contribution (refer to the chart below to see contribution amounts). This financial contribution can be fulfilled through a personal donation or by raising the amount below through different contributions.