Legal Services
Maine Resources
Pine Tree Legal Assistance (PTLA) - PTLA is Maine’s largest statewide civil legal aid provider, offering free legal services to low-income residents. Their areas of focus include housing issues (such as evictions and foreclosures), family law, public benefits, consumer rights, and protection from abuse. PTLA also operates courthouse assistance programs and maintains a special unit dedicated to the legal needs of agricultural workers.
Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) - VLP connects low-income individuals with volunteer attorneys who provide free legal assistance in civil matters. They handle cases related to family law (including divorce and child custody), protection from abuse, small claims, bankruptcy, probate, and unemployment appeals. VLP also organizes legal clinics and offers resources for those seeking legal help.
Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic - Operated by the University of Maine School of Law, this clinic allows law students, under faculty supervision, to represent low-income clients in civil, criminal, juvenile, and family law matters. The clinic serves courts in Cumberland, York, Sagadahoc, and Androscoggin counties, as well as individuals incarcerated in the Maine state prison system.
Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) - ILAP is Maine’s only statewide nonprofit dedicated to providing free and low-cost immigration legal services. They assist low-income individuals with issues such as asylum, deportation defense, family reunification, and citizenship. ILAP also offers education and advocacy to support Maine's immigrant communities.
Legal Services for Maine Elders (LSE) - LSE provides free legal assistance to Maine residents aged 60 and older, focusing on issues like elder abuse prevention, healthcare access (including Medicare and MaineCare), housing preservation, and protection from financial exploitation. They operate a statewide helpline to assist seniors in need.
Maine Equal Justice (MEJ) - MEJ works to improve the lives of low-income Mainers through legal representation, policy advocacy, and community education. Their efforts concentrate on public benefits, healthcare access, housing stability, and workers' rights. MEJ also engages in impact litigation to address systemic issues affecting disadvantaged populations.
Disability Rights Maine (DRM) - DRM offers free legal services to individuals with disabilities, addressing matters such as access to education, housing, employment, voting, and government services. They also advocate for the rights of people who are deaf or hard of hearing and provide training on self-advocacy and disability rights.
Regional Resources
GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) - Based in Boston, GLAD provides legal advocacy and litigation support for LGBTQ+ individuals and people living with HIV across New England, focusing on civil rights and anti-discrimination efforts.
National Resources
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) - NDRN is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) systems and Client Assistance Programs (CAP) in the United States. These programs offer legal advocacy services to individuals with disabilities across all states and territories. NDRN supports these agencies by providing training, technical assistance, and promoting policies that protect the rights of people with disabilities.
Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC) - Founded in 1975, DRLC is the nation's oldest program dedicated to disability rights. It provides legal assistance to individuals with disabilities and engages in civil rights litigation to address systemic issues, aiming to promote equity, inclusion, and access. Disability Rights Legal Center.
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) - Established in 1979, DREDF is a national law and policy center led by individuals with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities. It focuses on legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities.
The Arc's Legal Advocacy Fund - The Arc participates in litigation to advance the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through its Legal Advocacy Fund, it engages in cases related to community integration, fair housing, employment, education, and more, aiming to enforce disability and civil rights laws.
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law - Founded in 1972, the Bazelon Center advocates for the rights of individuals with mental disabilities. It engages in litigation and policy advocacy to ensure access to community-based services and to protect against discrimination.
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) - COPAA is a national organization of parents, attorneys, advocates, and professionals who work to protect the legal and civil rights of students with disabilities. It provides training, resources, and advocacy to ensure access to appropriate educational services.
National Health Law Program (NHeLP) - NHeLP is a nonprofit organization that protects and advances the health rights of low-income and underserved individuals, including those with disabilities. It engages in litigation, policy advocacy, and provides technical assistance on issues like Medicaid, Medicare, and healthcare access.