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| Search | Legal Library | Helpful Organizations | Maine Courts |
Helpful Organizations
These Maine organizations offer legal information and advice. To find out which of these groups, and others, may be able to help with your specific legal issue, please use our Search Page.
Legal offices serving low-income clients
Pine Tree Legal Assistance represents low-income people in many civil (non-criminal) cases. Pine Tree has offices in Portland, Augusta, Lewiston, Bangor, Machias and Presque Isle. Pine Tree offices have access to 7-1-1 (Maine's Relay) and Language Line translation services.
The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project can refer low-income people to private attorneys in many civil cases, particularly those that aren't handled by other legal services providers. The VLP has a toll free number. Call to see if you are eligible and whether they can help with your problem. NOTE: The VLP is no longer providing phone assistance for people needing help with divorce and parental rights cases. See if there is a Courthouse Assistance Project for help with family law in your area.
Legal Services for the Elderly helps socially and economically needy Maine seniors age 60 and over in many civil (non-criminal) cases. LSE has offices in Augusta, Bangor, Lewiston, Portland and Presque Isle, as well as a state-wide toll-free Hotline (voice, TTY and language line translation services). All of LSE's services are free and confidential.
Disability Rights Maine helps people with problems related to a disability. The Disability Rights Center has an office in Augusta and a state-wide toll free phone number (voice and TTY).
The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project helps low-income persons with immigration law and related issues for free or low fees. To get help with a new immigration case (whether a new client or a client who has worked with ILAP previously for a different matter) you must first come to or call their office on a Friday from 9am-1pm to go through our intake process with a volunteer. ILAP serves people state-wide and can be reached by telephone through its toll-free number.
The University of Maine School of Law Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic (CLAC) provides free legal aid to low-income individuals in Maine on a wide range of legal matters, including those involving family, probate, consumer, juvenile, and protection from abuse. All legal work is provided by Maine Law students, who are licensed to practice under faculty supervision.
Maine Equal Justice advocates in the legislature, courts, and administrative agencies on behalf of people with low income. Maine Equal Justice is interested in hearing the experiences of individuals and families who have received benefits, such as TANF/ASPIRE, MaineCare, Parents as Scholars, Emergency Assistance, Alternative Aid, and Food Supplements, in order to help with advocacy projects. Phone: (207) 626-7058 Toll free: (866) 626-7059
Other statewide legal services (not limited to low income)
American Civil Liberties Union of Maine provides lawyers for people whose constitutional rights have been violated or who have been the victim of illegal discrimination. The ACLU of Maine also has a prisoner's rights project. Its cooperating attorneys do not charge their clients attorney's fees. The organization has only one office, in Portland, but takes cases from all over the state.
The Maine Lawyer Referral and Information Service can help many people find a standard-fee attorney appropriate to their legal problems. One $25 will cover up to three referrals, if needed, to attorneys who will not charge for the first half-hour of a consultation.
Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library in Augusta features Ask A Librarian. You e-mail them your questions and they'll send you legal information. They also take phone calls. Although librarians cannot give you legal advice, they can help you find the information you're looking for.
