Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS), the largest provider of pro bono civil legal services to low-income Marylanders, today welcomed Cara Schaefer and Christina (Christie) Smith to the organization’s development and communications teams. As MVLS’ new development manager, Schaefer will be responsible for supporting grant and direct mail initiatives, donor relations and fundraising activities, including MVLS’ annual “A Taste for Pro Bono” event and Giving Tuesday. In her role as communications and outreach manager, Smith will be responsible for increasing awareness of MVLS’ civil legal services by promoting and building relationships within underserved Maryland communities.

“We are thrilled to welcome two professionals – Cara and Christie – who are driven to help the less fortunate throughout the Maryland community,” said Bonnie Sullivan, executive director, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS). “Cara and Christie’s responsibilities will be complementary as we continue to connect Marylanders in need of civil legal services with talented attorneys who volunteer their time to help low-income Marylanders.”

Cara Schaefer

Prior to joining MVLS, Schaefer spent more than four years at Catholic Charities in Baltimore where she held the positions of development associate and direct mail and web giving coordinator while playing a significant role in supporting grant and annual giving efforts. Schaefer earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Towson University. Currently, she serves as the annual giving roundtable co-chair for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Maryland Chapter.

Christie Smith

Prior to joining MVLS, Smith worked at World Relief in Baltimore as a refugee resettlement monitoring specialist, ensuring grant compliance among 20 U.S. field offices. Smith is the founder of Maryland Migration Professionals, a professional development group for individuals interested in fields of peacebuilding, migration and community integration. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in global studies and completed intensive Spanish language instruction during a semester abroad in Granada, Spain.

To learn more about MVLS’ services and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.mvlslaw.org.

About Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS)

Founded in 1981 with a mission to provide access to justice for all, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS) serves Maryland’s low-income residents by offering legal counseling and full representation for civil cases. MVLS matches clients with volunteer lawyers who represent them in a wide range of consumer, family and workforce re-entry situations, including foreclosure, bankruptcy, income tax disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, wills, estate planning, criminal record expungement, divorce/custody and deed changes. For more information about MVLS’ services, visit www.mvlslaw.org.