Professor Blom is the Director of Clinical Programs at the law school. She works to ensure that there are both sufficient offerings for students to satisfy the Cardin requirement at the school, and that faculty and students are meaningfully engaged in the delivery of legal services to those who lack access to justice. Believing that the core duty of those who choose (and are given the opportunity) to study and practice law is to be a good steward of the justice system, creating opportunities for students and faculty to learn about the law while being engaged in solving problems for clients is central to her work.

Professor Blom is the instructor for the Community Justice Clinic. Through her work with the National Task Force of Community Oriented and Problem Solving Lawyering, she has developed a deep appreciation for the work that is happening across America and in other countries by people who are trying to transform structures to use restorative justice methods for solving problems in communities. This national work is linked to efforts to develop models of restorative justice in communities in Baltimore. Having worked on a community prosecution project with the Baltimore City States’ Attorney’s office, she is working collaboratively to in the Community Justice Clinic. Combining the efforts of community based organizations, schools, the courts, prosecutors and defenders, this clinic explores and evaluates efforts to reduce violence and reclaim communities currently in crisis.

Her previous work in the Economic, Housing and Community Development Clinic providing legal representation to community based non profit organizations dovetails nicely into the work she is doing today. She has spend many years providing general legal counsel to community based nonprofits handling a wide range of complex issues facing organizations attempting urban revitalization from the ground up.

Professor Blom serves as National Co-Chair and a member of the Advisory Board to the National Law School Consortium Project, and serves on the Board of the local affiliate, Civil Justice, Inc. These organizations are part of the law school’s commitment to creating opportunities for those students who are interested in both “doing well and doing good.” By supporting post law school training for people who choose to practice in a solo and small firm that includes increasing access to justice as a core part of their mission, law schools across the country are redefining public interest work. The University of Maryland School of Law was one of the founding members of the Law School Consortium Project.

She has also been active in the American Bar Association’s Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development and has served as the Co-Chair for the Legal Educators Committee., participated on panels, both as a panelist and moderator. She has a deep and abiding commitment to using the law to support community building activities, the development of affordable housing and urban policies that support the creation of healthy communities.

Prior to joining the Law School, Professor Blom worked as a staff attorney for the Community Law Center, then as Executive Director of Empowerment Legal Services Program. She has given numerous presentations on the role of academia in community development and has been a tireless advocate for developing neighborhoods in Baltimore City.