1. Statewide Legal Aid Organizations
- Pine Tree Legal Assistance (PTLA)
- Maine’s primary provider of free civil legal services (housing, family law, consumer rights, public benefits).
- Website: ptla.org
- Phone: 1-800-442-4293 (Statewide Hotline)
- Regional Offices:
- Portland: ptla.org/portland-office | 207-774-4753
- Presque Isle: ptla.org/presque-isle-office | 207-764-4349
- Bangor: ptla.org/bangor-office | 207-942-8241
- Augusta: ptla.org/augusta-office | 207-622-4731
- Lewiston: ptla.org/lewiston-office | 207-784-1558
- Machias: ptla.org/machias-office | 207-255-7686
- Legal Services for the Elderly (LSE)
- Free legal help for Mainers aged 60+ (Medicare, elder abuse, housing, estate planning).
- Website: mainelse.org
- Phone: 1-800-750-5353
- Office: Augusta (serves statewide).
- Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP)
- Connects low-income residents with volunteer attorneys for civil legal issues.
- Website: vlp.org
- Phone: 1-800-442-4293
- Office: Portland (serves statewide).
2. Directories & Search Tools
- LawHelp Maine
- Search for legal resources by topic: lawhelpmaine.org.
- Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
- Low-cost consultations: mainebar.org.
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Directory
- Federally funded programs in Maine: lsc.gov/find-legal-aid.
- Maine Judicial Branch Self-Help Center
- Forms, guides, and referrals: courts.maine.gov/selfhelp.
3. Hotlines
- Pine Tree Legal Assistance Hotline: 1-800-442-4293
- Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-866-834-4357 (Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence).
- Senior Legal Helpline: 1-800-750-5353 (Legal Services for the Elderly).
- Veterans’ Legal Assistance: Contact PTLA or mainevets.org.
4. Additional Resources
- 211 Maine: Dial 211 or visit 211maine.org for community referrals.
- Pro Bono Programs:
- Volunteer Lawyers Project: vlp.org (statewide).
- Immigration Legal Aid:
- Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP): ilapmaine.org (statewide assistance).
- Native American Legal Services:
- Native American Unit (PTLA): Serves tribal communities (Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Micmac).
- Native American Rights Fund (NARF): narf.org (national advocacy).
- Self-Help Centers:
- Cumberland County Courthouse Self-Help Center (Portland): courts.maine.gov.
- Bangor District Court Self-Help: courts.maine.gov.
- Law School Clinics:
- University of Maine School of Law Clinics (Portland): mainelaw.maine.edu/clinics (family law, immigration, and more).
Note
- Eligibility: Most programs prioritize low-income residents (under 200% of the federal poverty level) and specific case types (e.g., eviction, domestic violence, public benefits).
- Apply Online: Pine Tree Legal offers an online intake form: ptla.org/apply.
- Urgent Issues: For emergencies (evictions, restraining orders), contact hotlines directly or visit courthouse self-help centers.
- Tribal Members: Contact PTLA’s Native American Unit or local tribal courts for specialized assistance.