I can't reach VLP on the phone. What should I do?
Who is eligible for VLP services?
What kinds of cases does VLP handle?
What questions will I be asked during the intake interview?
I'm not eligible for VLP help. What do I do now?
How does VLP decide which cases to refer for a free
lawyer?
My case has been selected for referral to a volunteer
lawyer. What happens next?
I've been given an appointment on the Family Law Helpline.
What does this involve?
I thought your services were free; why is my lawyer asking me to pay?
I can't reach VLP on the phone. What should I do?
VLP receives thousands of phone calls every year and sometime our phone
lines cannot handle the volume. Be sure you are calling during the hours we are open
for new client intake interviews. If you cannot get through on the phone or
if you cannot call during the hours we are open, please contact us via this
contact the VLP by e-mail
, or by letter.
Who is eligible for VLP services?
VLP provides help to low-income Maine residents or low-income people living
in other states who have civil legal problems handled in Maine Courts. VLP
clients must have a household income that falls within guidelines established
by our federal and state funders and have a legal problem which VLP handles. Typically, VLP clients must have a household
income below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Determining income eligibility
is quite complex - please don't assume you are not eligible without talking
to VLP.
You also must be a United States citizen or a qualified non-citizen to get
help from VLP. We cannot help people who are currently in prison.
What kinds of cases does VLP handle?
VLP provides help with a variety of civil legal problems that are handled
in Maine courts, including family matters, consumer law matters and benefits
matters. We cannot provide help for criminal matters including drunk driving
cases or traffic violations.
What questions will I be asked during the intake interview?
We need to determine 1) whether you are eligible for services from VLP and 2) what your legal problem involves.
We need to know basic information about: how to contact you, about your household and your annual gross income,
and the person on the other side of your legal case. We will also ask you a number of questions about your legal
problem. Please have any legal documents such as court notices, orders or judgments available for the intake
interview.
I'm not eligible for VLP help. What do I do now?
You may not be eligible for help from VLP because your household income is
over our limits, because of your citizenship status, because you are in prison,
or because your legal problem is not one that VLP handles. Whenever possible,
VLP will refer you to another Maine legal services provider who can help you.
You can also call the Maine Lawyer Referral Service
for a short consultation
with a lawyer. The HelpMELaw website can help you find additional information
and resources about civil legal issues and Maine's court system. You can also
ask friends and family for recommendations for a lawyer or you can consult
the Yellow Pages.
How does VLP decide which cases to refer for a free
lawyer?
All of VLP's lawyers volunteer their time and are not paid for their services. Even if every lawyer in
Maine volunteered for an entire month every year, VLP would not be able to provide a free lawyer for everyone
who needs one. Right now, we are able to provide a lawyer for less than 10% of our eligible clients.
We use a set of case referral priorities to decide which eligible clients we will try to refer for free
representation with the goal of maximizing the impact of our volunteers' time. Some of the factors we consider are:
- Does the case threaten the client's basic safety, health or well-being?
- Is the client at risk of losing a home or the family income?
- Does the case involve threats to the well-being of children?
- Does the client have a disability that limits his or her ability to take
action by him or herself?
- Is there an attorney on the other side of the case?
- Do we have volunteer lawyers available in that region of the state or with experience in that area of the law?
- How strong are the legal merits of the case and what will happen if the
client loses?
We can never guarantee a free attorney for any client. Once we have accepted
a case for referral, we still have to find a volunteer lawyer who will agree
to take the case. We can't always find a volunteer lawyer for every case that meets our priorities or
in time to meet the deadlines for a case.
My case has been selected for referral to a volunteer
lawyer. What happens next?
You will receive several forms in the mail which you must complete, sign and return to us before we will
start looking for a lawyer for your case. For certain cases you may also be required to save up enough money to pay
the court fees in advance. Once we receive your forms, our volunteers will call lawyers in your area of the state
to see if they can find someone willing and able to represent you. It may take several months to find an lawyer
for you; sometimes we are not able to find someone in time. It is important that you keep us updated on any changes
to your contact information, your household, and the status of your case while your case is pending referral.
Often we provide assistance via our Family Law Helpline while a case is awaiting referral.
I've been given an appointment on the Family Law
Helpline. What does this involve?
The Family Law Helpline provides evening telephone appointments with senior law students and lawyers who give
hands-on help with court forms and preparing for court hearings for people who are representing themselves in divorce,
child custody and child support matters. These lawyers are not representing you, but they can give you legal advice
about your case and help you prepare a strategy for your case. You may ask for appointments on the Helpline at various
points in your case.
Our volunteers' time is limited and valuable and there are many people who need appointments. Please be
organized for your appointment by preparing a list of questions in advance and having all your legal
documents with you. If you are not home or not available for your appointment and have not contacted us to let us
know, we reserve the right not to provide you with future services.
I thought your services were free; why is my lawyer asking me to pay?
Our volunteer lawyers provide their services for free; however, there are a variety of fees and costs involved
in legal cases which are your responsibility. These costs can include: court filing and paperwork fees, fees for
medical or other records, fees for expert witnesses, court reporters or other professionals, and your lawyer's out-of-pocket
costs for telephone, postage, copying and travel. If you are unable to pay these costs, please talk with your lawyer.
If you are unsure about what you are being asked to pay, please call the VLP paralegal who is assigned to your case.
VLP policies allow volunteer lawyers to collect reduced fees from the client in a limited number of cases,
primarily those where the client receives a significant financial award as a result of winning the case.
(This does not include property settlements in a divorce.) If your case falls in this category, you will be informed
of this when we accept your case for referral to a volunteer lawyer and you will need to consent to this condition.
A volunteer lawyer may also ask the Court to order the opposing party to pay attorney's fees in a wide range of cases.
If the Court approves this request, the person on the other side of the case will be required to pay your attorney if you
win your case.
