Local attorneys learn how to help human trafficking survivors

In Wicomico County, a training session is giving local attorneys the tools they need to help survivors of human trafficking.

Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service is hoping to educate our community about human trafficking and the legal services that can be provided to survivors who have been convicted of crimes such as prostitution.

The lawyer service, which is actually based out of Baltimore, coordinated this session after noticing an uptick in human trafficking cases here on the eastern shore.

They say more and more people who were found guilty of prostitution were looking for legal help so they held an informational seminar for local attorneys.

"It's a very therapeutic process for the individual because it acknowledges that at the time they were found guilty that they themselves were a victim of a crime and not actually guilty of the crime that they committed because they were under force, fraud or coercion of someone else," says Laurie Culkan, from the Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service.

 MVLS has teamed up with Mid Shore Pro Bono so that possible victims and survivors have a local group to connect them to services.

Both the lawyer service and mid shore pro bono are organizations dedicated to helping low income families, so their services are free.

If you think you are a victim and need legal help you can reach out to Mid Shore Pro Bono and they will contact you to the right services.

They are located at 212 W. Main Street, Suite 302, in Salisbury and you can reach them at 410-829-0394.