You may think all lawyers claiming to be “local” are the same. This is simply not true.
Consider what “local” actually means. In many cases, a local lawyer is a lawyer not actually based in the local community. They may only lease an office space that they occasionally use. We know it is hard to believe, but some lawyers list offices on their websites or market in areas where they don’t have any community presence.
At Maronick Law LLC, we take pride in having a local presence where we practice—not just an office we go to once or twice a year.
What local means to us
We have deep-rooted ties in the communities we serve. We don’t just show up to court or advertise in a category like “Eastern Shore Sex Crimes Lawyer” with an office elsewhere, like Baltimore, without any local ties.
In Ocean City and the Lower Shore
Attorneys Joe Shanno and senior partner Tom Maronick Jr have deep ties to Ocean City and the Lower Shore. Joe worked for over 30 years in private practice and as a former assistant public defender before joining Maronick Law LLC. Tom opened his first office in Worcester County in 2009 in Berlin, and he has had an office in Ocean City or Berlin for over 13 years.
We are proud to have donated to charities benefiting (hyperlink) the Ocean City Police Department’s fallen officer scholarship fund, the Ocean City Paramedics Association. In 2022, we proudly sponsored the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation’s annual charity fundraiser.
During COVID-19, we bought dinner for first responders at Atlantic General to thank them for being on the front lines. Our office in Ocean City is open with Tom or Joe in it nearly every day—unless we are in court.
We are proud to own property and live and work in Worcester County. Joe is a full-time county resident, and Tom is a full-year, part-time resident. With a year-round gym membership in Ocean City, you might see Tom working out if you’re up early.
In the Mid-Shore
We supported first-responders at Shore Medical Center by buying dinner from Bannings Tavern to thank them for their support. To ensure our community knows of the work they do to keep us safe, we advertised in a local paper promoting their efforts.
We also have a great presence in other Mid-Shore counties, including Queen Anne’s County, Caroline County (where we have handled many high-profile cases) and Kent County.
In Frederick and Carroll County
We are proud to be on a first-name basis with local coffee shop owners and lunch places in Frederick and Westminster. We don’t often bring sandwiches to work because we want to support our friends in the community. We love bringing others with us to help bring new business into those businesses we support.
In Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Anne Arundel County and Howard County
Our office is located on Lawyer’s Row at 7418 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. We are in the big blue building with the green sign. We proudly employ 10 staff members in the Glen Burnie office and support many local charities. We are honored to be 5-year supporters of the Annapolis Film Festival, supporting the local arts community and the many jobs and economic impact it brings every year. Tom is a proud member of the Anne Arundel Bar Association and actively supports its events.
In addition, Tom lives part of the year in Hanover. He is the Vice President of his HOA and volunteers his time and money to the community. Before moving to Anne Arundel, Tom previously lived in Columbia and still goes to the gym in Howard County.
In Rockville, Silver Spring, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County
We have a great location near the district and circuit court with parking in an office suite. Our of counsel attorney, Leon Geller, has been a mainstay of the Montgomery County community for years. We are proud to continue with an office in the exact location.
Tom is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park and still goes back to attend school and sporting events.
In Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Harford County
Originally from Towson, Tom Maronick is a Loyola Blakefield graduate. A scholarship is awarded to the speech and debate champion annually in his honor.
Tom’s dad, Tom Sr, is an incoming partner of the firm and a longtime professor at Towson University. He was honored with carrying the mace at his final graduation before retiring from teaching.
Tom Jr is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and the Hibernian Society. Each year, he volunteers at the Irish Festival to help raise funds to benefit charities across the state of Maryland.
We have one office in Baltimore on Liberty Street, available for appointments.
Tom is a member of The Bar Association of Baltimore City, where he serves as a trustee for the Bar Foundation. He is also a member of the Baltimore County Bar Association and the Harford County Bar Association.
Tom is also a jazz singer and even performed at The Tower right in Bel Air. For years, he has supported the Lardarius Webb Crab Feast for charity at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. And for years, Maronick Law LLC has supported Baltimore’s (hyperlink) Maryland Film Festival and the artists and economic impact that it has brought to the area.
We have also had members or former members of our law firm who have worked as assistant state attorneys in Harford and Cecil Counties and former assistant public defenders.
In Garrett County and Western Maryland
Tom is proudly a landowner and taxpayer in McHenry. We proudly represent our clients in Garrett, Allegheny and Washington County.
So, if you want an attorney and a law firm that truly cares about the communities they represent, do not be fooled by people advertising local offices. Ask questions before you hire. Don’t believe promises of what they claim to deliver.
Eight Questions You Need To Ask Your Lawyer
- How often are you actually at the local office you have in a community?
- Do you actually handle cases in that community?
- What charitable causes do you support in the local community?
- How often do you attend local events?
- Where is your principal office based?
- Do you charge a fee for transportation to the local community from your main office?
- Do you charge transportation for meeting in the local office?
- Would you put in writing that a fee in the jurisdiction of your principal office is the same fee as in the local jurisdiction?
Finally, you should run far away from lawyers who make you guarantees. Unless they are a judge or a prosecutor, it is unethical to make guarantees about the outcome of your case. We believe in giving you a strategy-based appraisal of your case and a realistic understanding of what we can and cannot do.
If the lawyer talks negatively about or personally attacks another lawyer, that is not someone who should represent you. Lawyers are not supposed to speak ill of other members of the Maryland Bar. This is a clear sign the lawyer will do anything to get a fee. While it is fair to compare services, speaking ill of other lawyers tells you the lawyer is more concerned about taking your money than handling your case.