Free Legal Assistance for Eligible Low Income Mainers

The mission of the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project is to connect dedicated volunteer attorneys with individuals needing legal assistance with civil matters, ensuring equal access to justice statewide.

If you are an attorney interested in volunteer opportunities, 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.

Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, including attorney and community volunteers, VLP provides legal help to more than 2,000 individuals in all sixteen Maine counties each year. This assistance ranges from providing legal information and advice to full representation in court. A significant percentage of the people we serve are domestic violence survivors seeking legal help to achieve safety and stability for themselves and their families. 

Our Staff

Amanda LaBelle, Program Coordinator 

Carolyn Graney, Intake Specialist 

Deirdre M. Smith, Executive Director 

Jessica Lovitz, Administrative Coordinator 

Jim Mitchell, Bangor Office Staff Attorney 

Judy S., Communications Manager 

Kathryn Reid, Pro Bono Engagement Director 

Samantha Dickson, Community Development Coordinator 

Sam Seidl, Referral Coordinator 

VLP Board of Directors

Beth Richardson, President 

David Sherman, Secretary 

David McConnell, Treasurer 

Christian Lewis, Past President 

Jared des Rosiers 

Martha Gaythwaite 

Sandra Livingston 

Jodi Nofsinger 

Mariah Reed 

Keith Richard 

David Soley