Free Legal Assistance for Eligible Low Income Mainers
The mission of the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project is to increase access to justice in Maine through volunteer engagement. To achieve this end, the VLP attempts to find pro bono attorneys to help individuals with civil legal issues who cannot afford attorneys.
If you are an attorney interested in joining our volunteer team, please click here.
Our Story
In 1983, Pine Tree Legal Assistance (PTLA) partnered with the Maine Justice Foundation to create a project dedicated to engaging volunteer attorneys to provide civil legal aid. Housed within PTLA for 35 years, in 2017 the VLP became a separate non-profit organization with its own board.
The VLP has a small staff and also recruits, trains, manages, and supports volunteers. In most VLP cases, the legal assistance is provided by pro bono attorney volunteers. Staff, student and community volunteers conduct intake interviews, organize clinics, and help develop new service projects.
Thanks to the generosity of our funders, our services are free of charge to Mainers with low incomes. We are pleased to thank the following organizations for their generous support: Maine Justice Foundation, Maine Civil Legal Services Fund, Campaign for Justice, & other individual contributions and funding sources.
Deirdre Smith
Executive Director
Deirdre M. Smith is the Executive Director of the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project. Prior to joining VLP in 2024, Deirdre was a member of the faculty of the University of Maine School of Law for nearly 20 years. From 2004 to 2022, she served as Director of Maine Law’s Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic, and she also supervised student attorneys in that program. Deirdre enjoys yoga, reading, and taking walks and hikes with her dog, Sachi.
Samantha Dickson
Community Development Coordinator
Sam joined the Volunteer Lawyers Project in October 2022 as the Justice Referral Coordinator and is now the Justice Project Coordinator. She helps coordinate the Small Claims Clinic, Worker’s Rights Clinic, and the intake interview process. She has her BA in Political Science and her MS in Criminology. New to Southern Maine, Sam can usually be found exploring local coffee shops, reading, or creating art.
Kathryn Reid
Pro Bono Engagement Director
As Pro Bono Engagement Director, Kathryn supports attorneys seeking volunteer opportunities with the VLP. She serves clients through her work with the VLP’s Small Claims Clinic, small business/nonprofit legal consultation program, and the Maine Homeless Legal Project/Preble Street Clinic. She is also the state administrator for the ABA’s Free Legal Answers and assists with the Justice Andrew M. Mead Fellowship for Pro Bono Service. She joined the VLP in 2021 after 8+ years as a VLP volunteer and in-house counsel. Kathryn is a graduate of the UMaine School of Law and Bowdoin College.
Sam Seidl
Justice Project Referral Coordinator
Sam joined the Volunteer Lawyers Project in 2023 as the Justice Referral Coordinator. In this role, he helps clients obtain pro bono representation for civil legal matters. Before joining VLP, Sam worked in the political-tech field and has a background in disability insurance. When not assisting folks at the VLP, Sam can be found reading, gaming, moseying around Portland with his partner, relaxing at the beach or lake, or cooking up a new dish to try.
Amanda LaBelle
DV Program Coordinator
Amanda "Mandi" LaBelle joined the Volunteer Lawyers Project in 2023 as a Justice Project Coordinator. She is a 2018 graduate of the University of Maine School of Law. Mandi practiced family law and also served as a Guardian ad Litem and a CADRES family law mediator in southern Maine prior to joining VLP. She is a life long resident of Maine and currently lives in Saco with her husband and daughters. You can often find her reading a book or out for a motorcycle ride with her husband.
Jim Mitchell
Bangor Office Staff Attorney
As the Bangor Office Staff Attorney, Jim supports clients in the central-Maine area. Before joining the VLP, Jim practiced law in Maine for 36 years. He is now semi-retired and works part-time for the VLP.
Judy S.
Communications Manager
Judy is the VLP Communication Manager. She has a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Northeastern University and has spent some time in the field of patent law. Judy is a life -long resident of New England and enjoys the seasons and weather changes of this part of the world. She enjoys exploring near the coast with her family, friends and her shelter dogs.
Our Services
Family Law | Small Claims | Protection Orders | Workers' Rights | Other Civil Legal Matters
Family Law
Click here to fill out an Intake Request Form for a family matter case. If you qualify for our services and we are able to help you, you will be a part of our CHAP clinic or Helpline program. We will call you from a “blocked” or Google voice number to complete an Intake Interview or may email you with some other resources pertaining to your legal matter.
Court House Assistance Projects (CHAPs)
Volunteer Family Law Attorneys provide free 30 minute consultations to qualified people in need of assistance with divorce, child custody, and related matters. Multiple appointments are available as needed. CHAP clinics operate remotely by Zoom or phone on Thursday and Friday afternoons, with statewide referrals.
The Family Law Helpline
The Family Law Helpline connects volunteer attorneys who provide in-depth advice and assistance to people who have questions about family law matters, including cases that involve domestic violence. Clients are scheduled for evening telephone consultations and may have multiple appointments over the course of their cases. To access this service, please contact your local Domestic Violence Resource Center. To find the DVRC closest to you, please click here.
Small Claims
Volunteer lawyers are available to help with Small Claims cases.
Small Claims Courthouse Clinic
Volunteer attorneys provide advice for small claims litigants every other week. Attorneys can help with jurisdictional issues, stating a proper legal claim, and understanding how to defend in these matters. This clinic operates on a remote basis and you can attend by Zoom or by phone. Click here to apply for an intake interview via our Google form.
Protection Orders
Legal Assistance in PFA matters is a priority for the VLP.
Domestic Violence Pro Bono Panel
VLP has trained, experienced, volunteer attorneys to assist parties in Protection From Abuse (PFA) matters. Clients referred from domestic violence resource centers (DVRCs) are connected with attorneys for advice and guidance about court procedures, evidence, and strategy in PFA cases. While primarily operating on a remote basis, some in person representation is available depending on volunteer availability. To find the DVRC closest to you, please click here.
Lewiston Protection from Abuse Program
This program in the Lewiston District Court provides volunteer attorneys for qualified parties in a PFA matter when the opposing party is represented (walk-in only). Please note that, due to volunteer capacity, we do not always have attorneys available for this program.
Workers' Rights
Together with the Southern Maine Worker’s Center, the VLP can offer assistance in employment matters.
Worker’s Rights Clinic
Attorneys who specialize in employment law help low-income workers understand if they have a legal claim (or not) arising from a situation at their workplace, and address unemployment issues. Clients are referred for extended representation to the VLP or private lawyers as appropriate. This program operates on a remote basis. Contact our partner, the Southern Maine Workers Center, to request a consultation through this program or click here to apply for an intake interview for this program.
Other Civil Legal Matters:
The VLP has volunteers to help with a variety of legal problems. Please click here to fill out a General Intake Request for probate, end-of-life documents, SSDI/SSI denial appeals, unemployment denial appeals, bankruptcy and other civil legal issues. Links for specialized intake forms for Family Matters, Small Claims, and Worker’s Rights are above.
Guardianship: We do not have attorneys to assist with this type of case at this time. Click here for a document explaining Guardianship.
Please click here to see other resources available to low income Maine residents. Questions? Email the VLP intake account.
Full Representation
In some cases, we are able to find volunteer attorneys for full representation of a client. This is done with a consultation with the Executive Director to prioritize cases for full referral to volunteer lawyers for representation. These cases are typically probate, consumer, or benefit related cases.
Please click here to fill out an intake request form.
Free Legal Answers Maine
Another way we may be able to help you is through our Free Legal Answers in Maine program through which Maine volunteer attorneys provide confidential answers to legal questions. This service also has income eligibility requirements and clients are limited to 3 questions per year. Volunteer lawyers monitor and answer questions daily. Click for more information.
Maine Homeless Legal Project
Together with Preble Street Resources, VLP provides volunteer lawyers to consult with and advise people experiencing homelessness regarding their civil legal problems. This program is currently running on a remote basis, and clients complete an intake and are scheduled with assistance of a Preble Street caseworker.
Acadia Hospital Clinic
Northern Maine attorneys advise clients who have mental health or substance abuse issues. Client’s civil legal issues are reviewed, and clients are given appropriate next steps, including referral to the VLP for extended representation in appropriate cases. This program is operating on a remote basis at this time.
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness Clinic
In partnership with the Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, VLP provides volunteer lawyers to advise tribal members on a variety of legal matters.
Small Business/Non-Profit Legal Clinic:
Please contact Coastal Enterprise Institute (CEI) to explore the business formation and advising resources they provide. The CEI Small Business Development Center offers 1:1 business advising support, as well as courses, workshops and events to help entrepreneurs develop their business ideas, access capital, etc. This is a link to their website page: Business Advising - CEI (ceimaine.org)
SCORE may be able to assist and provides general guidance although they do not provide legal services. This is a link to the organization’s website: Mission & Values | SCORE
Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services
The Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services (MCILS) was established to provide high quality representation to Maine residents who are entitled to legal representation at state expense under the United States Constitution or under the Constitution or statutes of Maine, including in criminal, child protection, and mental health cases. The Commission’s mission is to protect the rights of Maine’s indigent citizens in courts throughout the State by providing oversight, support, and training to assigned counsel. For more information about eligibility for indigent legal services click here.
Juliet’s Vision Campaign
We are happy to share that our fundraising campaign to honor Juliet Holmes-Smith has been a success! The donated funds have helped add staff to work with DVRC’s for referrals and increased the number of people we are able to assist with legal help or by directing them to other resources. Thanks to all who made this a reality!
How to Support Our Work
Thank you for believing in our mission
Juliet’s Vision Campaign
Learn More | Donate
The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project fondly remembers Juliet C. Holmes-Smith, our founding Executive Director and friend. To honor her memory, the VLP is collecting donations that will be used to further support legal representation for parties impacted by domestic violence throughout the state of Maine.
Support Our Annual Operating Budget
Your Donation
The VLP is a well-established 501(c) (3) with a strong reputation. Your donation will fund our continued work for the people of Maine. Click here to support our work.
Campaign for Justice
Maine Attorneys are encouraged to support the VLP through the Campaign for Justice, a collaborative campaign that supports Maine's six legal aid providers. Click here for more information on the Campaign for Justice.
Bequest, Cy-Pres, and Other Gifts
If you would like to learn more about how you can underwrite a project at the VLP or make the VLP the recipient of a bequest or cy-pres award, please contact us at 207-523-8233.
Thank you for your support as we bring fairness and justice to Mainers. To donate, click here or send your donation by mail to: The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project, 75 Pearl St., Suite 215, Portland, ME 04101
