Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

Your Work Is Precious. Let Us Help You Protect It.

At MDVLA, we lawyer differently. We know the legal side of the art world can feel confusing. Artists are expected to give a lot. They are part of the economy and the culture, but often lack resources and support to properly build a business. That’s why we’re here to make legal support accessible, affordable, and solution-focused. With us, artists have the tools to advocate for themselves, protect their work, and build a thriving creative business.

About Us

Legal Services

If you have a legal issue, we may be able to help. To get started, please complete a Lawyer Request Form.

Volunteer With Us

Help protect artists’ and arts organizations’ legal rights while empowering them to advance their creative work. Find out all the ways to get involved.

Donate

Support MDVLA’s mission to make artist-centered legal support accessible.

Maryland Volunteer Lawyer for the Arts

Your Work Is Precious. Let Us Help You Protect It.

At MDVLA, we lawyer differently. We know the legal side of the art world can feel confusing. That’s why we’re here to make legal support accessible, affordable, and solution-focused. With us, you’ll have the tools to advocate for yourself, protect your work, and build a thriving creative business. Artists are expected to give a lot. They are part of the economy and the culture, but often lack resources and support to properly build a business or advocate for themselves. At MDVLA, we help artists advocate for themselves. This lets them take back their time, focus more on their practice, their lives, and their passions because they have a solid business foundation.

About Us

Get Legal Help

If you have a legal issue, we may be able to help. Learn about the opportunities available to you by contacting our intake team.

Volunteer

Your time and skills can change someone’s experience with the legal system—from facing it alone to having an advocate beside them. Get involved by volunteering, taking a case, or accessing our trainings.

Donate

Be there when our clients reach out for help. Discover the ways you can support MDVLA.

How To Get Started

#1 Apply

Apply for a legal referral to help get started.

#2 Assess

Connect with one of our team members to discuss your issue and assess options for support.

#3 Support

Let us match you with a program or a lawyer who can help.

Services We Offer

Art Law Clinics

In these monthly 1:1 sessions, we connect artists with attorneys who understand the unique challenges of creative work.

Workshops

Our workshops provide artists with an opportunity to learn more about legal topics that affect their creative businesses.

Legal Representation

MDVLA matches artists and arts organizations with pro bono attorneys for representation on matters that impact their ability to create and thrive.

MDVLA Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events.

02 March 5:00pm

MICA Workshop: Business Entities for Artists

Take part in our in-person 2026 workshop series with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, who will be covering a range of topics geared toward providing valuable business tips for artists and creative entrepreneurs.

Find Out More

2 November 6:00 PM

MICA Workshop: Copyright, Trademarks, and Patents

Brown Center (1301 W Mt Royal Ave, Baltimore, MD 21217), Room 320

Join MDVLA for a session on the business structures available to creatives and the advantages and disadvantages of each. We will cover sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), C- and S-corporations, non-profit organizations, fiscal sponsorship, and more! Join if you are at the beginning of your journey as a creative entrepreneur, already have a business entity and are considering restructuring, or have any other questions specific to your business.

9 November 2:00 PM

MSAC Workshop: How to Negotiate an Artist Contract

Join MDVLA for a practical workshop on negotiating contracts. This session will explore strategies for preparing for negotiations, communicating with collaborators, and documenting revisions. Through case studies, we’ll discuss how different negotiation approaches can lead to different outcomes. Whether you're reviewing a commission agreement, licensing deal, or collaboration agreement, this workshop will help you approach contract negotiations with confidence.

14 November 1:00 PM

Art Law Clinic

Art Law Clinics are your first step to protecting the heart of your art. We connect artists with lawyers who understand the unique challenges of creative work for thirty minute one-on-one advice sessions.

This opportunity is perfect for artists who want to:

Start taking your creative practice seriously

Gain clear, actionable legal guidance

Get answers to specific questions about contracts, intellectual property, business formation and governance, and other creative business issues

Build something meaningful and protect it

16 November 6:00 PM

MICA Workshop: Business Entities for Artists

Brown Center (1301 W Mt Royal Ave, Baltimore, MD 21217), Room 320

Join MDVLA for a workshop on the basics of copyright, trademark, and patent law. The presentation will explain what each type of intellectual property covers and does not cover, ownership rights, and the steps you can take to prevent or address infringement of your work. Join if you’ve wondered what it means to share copyright with a co-author on song lyrics, whether you can patent a clothing design, whether you should register a trademark for your logo, or if you have any other questions specific to your work.

17 November 2:00 PM

MSAC Workshop: Copyright Basics for Artists & Creatives

Join MDVLA to understand the essentials of copyright for artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs. This session will cover what copyright is (and isn’t), how and when protection begins, what rights you hold, and how to register your work. It will also explain how to respond when someone uses your work without permission, including recent changes in copyright law. Whether you’re new to the topic or seeking a refresher, you’ll leave with practical tools to protect your work.

Educational Resources

Find our resource guides in Spanish here.

Our 2025 Community Impact

Community Legal Education

Educated about 1,500 individuals through 54 workshops and community events

Legal Consultation Support

Provided artists and arts organizations with 130 individual legal consultations

Pro Bono Pairings

Paired 54 cases with attorneys who worked to support each case at no charge to the individual or organization

Artist Legal Support

Spoke with about 350 artists about their individual legal issue

Art Law Clinics

Hosted 10 Art Law Clinics

#1 Apply

Apply for a legal referral to help get started.

#2 Assess

Connect with one of our team members to discuss your issue and assess options for support.

#3 Support

Let us match you with a program or a lawyer who can help.

Art Law Clinics

Art Law Clinics are your first step for getting legal support for your creative practice. In these monthly 1:1 sessions, we connect artists with attorneys who understand the unique challenges of creative work.

Lectures and Seminars

Our workshops provide a chance to connect with fellow creators and legal professionals who understand the creative world. These gatherings bring together artists and attorneys in spaces where creativity and legal knowledge flow freely.

Pro Bono Program

MDVLA matches artists and arts organizations with pro bono attorneys for representation on matters that impact their ability to create and thrive. This program is available to creatives who qualify for pro bono services through MDVLA.

Artist Testimonials

“After completing the legal work we were able to remove a lot of stress and anxiety that haunts artists when legal elements are involved. MDVLA is a resource that is truly set in place to protect artists. Legal representation is expensive and many artists do not have direct lines to people in the legal field. It feels very comforting to be represented by people who truly have the best interest of the artist and their work at the foundation of their practice.”

“My work with MDVLA on this broadcast ban case was extensive and all the more rewarding for it. The entire case took more than five years and is a notable first amendment case in the State of Maryland. Among the strange, unexpected stakes of this was that there is now something called "Soderberg v. Carrion" about this case. That's kinda wild!…Without MDVLA, we would not have been able to challenge this rule at all. It would have put my work and livelihood at great risk.”

“I was coming from a place of knowing nothing about entertainment law. Working with MdVLA was not only a professional experience but, most importantly, an artist-friendly one. It gave me the guidance I needed and truly opened doors for me. The work I initiated with MdVLA has brought connections, opportunities, and support into my career.”

“When I first came into MDVLA’s orbit over a decade ago, I was like so many artists. I was intimidated, unsure, and completely out of my depth when it came to legal matters. The idea of working with a lawyer felt inaccessible, expensive, and, honestly, a little scary. But after connecting with MDVLA, that fear melted away. I quickly learned that legal support isn’t a luxury for artists—it’s a necessity.”