As befits one of the original 13 colonies, Maryland law has been around since before colonial times. The Maryland state code has existed in some form or another since 1639, and the court system in its present form was created in 1776.

Maryland's legal system has several interesting features. Its highest court is the Court of Appeals. An Orphan's Court handles all matters of wills and testaments in addition to the guardianships of minors and their property.

You should know:

1. The biggest Maryland law firms are located in Baltimore and Annapolis. Most major D.C. firms also work with the laws of Maryland, in spite of the fact that D.C. is a separate entity.

2. Most of Maryland's judges remain politically liberal. The only Republican governor in Maryland since 1970 lasted only one term.

3. The law in Maryland is considered in the middle tier of states when it comes to being business friendly. Maryland state law has some emphasis on maritime practices, and in particular regulates the state's prominent seafood industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know where to find the information about the laws of Maryland

Several good websites offer easy access to Maryland state laws and cases.

I recommend: The Michie company, official publisher of the Maryland state code, has a website that offers both the complete Maryland statutes and the rules and regulations. For Maryland cases, there is the Maryland Judiciary Case Search website, which offers an easy way of finding Maryland cases by title, citation or court.

Utilize tools to help you analyze and understand Maryland law

Several good legal self-help websites offer insight into how Maryland law works beyond the published statutes and cases.

I recommend: The best of these websites is the Maryland's Peoples Law Library, maintained by the Maryland state law library. It offers links to help on subjects ranging from benefits to youth law. If you can't find what you're looking for here, the District Court of Maryland offers a self-help page that offers useful advise about obtaining an attorney, researching a legal issue, and explaining pleas and verdicts.

If you're dealing with a complex legal issue in Maryland, know where to find a Maryland attorney

Several good resources provide lists of Maryland lawyers and Maryland law firms.

I recommend: The Maryland Bar Association posts a comprehensive listing of Maryland lawyers who are members of the bar, separated by practice area and region. A Maryland attorney or Maryland law firm can also be found in the AttorneyPages website, which links to information on various lawyers in Maryland, listed by region.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The Maryland's Peoples Law Library should be the first place you start if you have a legal issue in Maryland because of its amazing scope and detail.
• •  If you have a complex legal issue, make sure you hire a Maryland lawyer or Maryland law firm rather than represent yourself.
• •  Remember that law firms in both Northern Virginia and Southern Pennsylvania, as well as D.C., will often feature lawyers that can practice in Maryland.