Maine Justice Foundation

Access to our system of justice is a basic human right, one that should be extended to all Maine people. The Maine Justice Foundation funds programs around the state that make sure that poor and vulnerable Maine residents have a lawyer when faced with civil legal issues like divorce, eviction, protection from abuse and immigration status. In 1983, leaders of the Maine State Bar Association and the University of Maine School of Law created the Maine Bar Foundation, which is today’s Maine Justice Foundation. They recognized that low-income Mainers involved in civil matters like disputes with landlords or serious child custody issues could not afford legal representation. The complexity of legal proceedings had tipped the scale in favor of those who could afford to hire a lawyer.In 2015, we became the Maine Justice Foundation. Our goals remain the same: we are committed to helping those for whom the courthouse doors are closed. We make grants to civil legal aid programs throughout Maine and the more than 19,000 clients they serve each year. These include, but are not limited to, the following: The University of Maine School of Law Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic; Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project; Legal Services for the Elderly; Maine Equal Justice Partners; Pine Tree Legal Assistance; and Volunteer Lawyers Project. The Foundation supports other law-related program initiatives, education and services.