Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project

The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) is a legal aid organization that, through a volunteer network, provides free legal information, advice, and representation on civil (noncriminal) matters to people living in Maine who have low or no income. Created in 1983, the VLP has a small staff that recruits, trains, manages, and supports volunteers to provide free legal help to people throughout the state. Attorneys may volunteer to provide limited representation through VLP’s family law, workers’ rights, small claims clinics, Free Legal Answers Maine (www.freelegalanswers.org), the Maine Homeless Legal Project, and other programs. Attorneys also may volunteer to provide full pro bono representation. Student and community volunteers help by conducting intake interviews, providing information regarding legal resources, and organizing clinics. VLP’s core service areas include family matters such as divorce and parental rights actions; protection from abuse; small claims; employment; financial matters such as bankruptcy, debt collection, and foreclosure; and other matters such as unemployment, social security disability, and wills/probate. For over thirty years, the VLP has worked to make "justice for all" a reality in Maine. To transform justice from an ideal into a reality for our clients, the VLP acts as a nexus, connecting pro bono attorneys and individuals with civil legal issues who cannot afford attorneys. To learn more about our organization and how you can become involved, please visit our website: www.vlp.org.