Schultz has been deeply engaged in the work to expand access to justice. Last year, Schultz was tapped by Attorney General Frosh to lead the Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force. She is currently a commissioner on the Maryland Access to Justice Commission.

Before working at the University of Baltimore, Schultz was a deputy assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama administration. She oversaw the Division’s fair housing and fair lending enforcement, as well as the division’s human rights work. Prior to that, Schultz served as senior adviser to then-Maryland DLLR Secretary Thomas E. Perez to help craft the state’s foreclosure reforms and response to the mortgage crisis. She also worked on other consumer-protection issues and key labor initiatives at DLLR.

Schultz worked in the community development field before joining state service, first directing a statewide project providing legal services to nonprofits and then administering HUD and other government funds for Baltimore County to strengthen and build communities.

Schultz began her legal career as a litigator and an advocate at Maryland Legal Aid where she handled housing and consumer cases, as well as domestic and custody cases in Baltimore for low-income clients. 

For the past 26 years, as MLA Executive Director, Wilhelm Joseph has been instrumental in advancing equal access to justice and protecting the human rights of low-income individuals and communities locally, nationally, and internationally. Under Joseph’s leadership, MLA has increased its financial resources more than fourfold from about $9 million to a current annual revenue in excess of $33 million. With expanded resources, MLA has been able to secure innumerable outcomes, successes, and benefits for its clients. Additionally, MLA has been able to significantly increase its staffing; enhance its advocacy efforts; upgrade its technology; secure modern, accessible, and professional workspaces; develop innovative approaches to the provision of direct civil legal services to clients in their communities; broaden its reach within the business, governmental, and non-profit sectors; solidify its place in Maryland’s legal and judicial arenas; and raise its profile to be among the most successful legal services organizations in the country.  

The establishment of Maryland Legal Aid’s Equal Justice Council by Mr. Joseph more than two decades ago also played a critical role in the success of the organization. 

Mr. Joseph shared, “Wishing a most fruitful and rewarding tenure for Ms. Schultz as she embarks on this honorable journey of leading Maryland Legal Aid.”

Schultz will start at Maryland Legal Aid on May 31, 2022. Wilhelm Joseph, Jr. will continue as Executive Director to ensure a smooth transition.