Volunteer with the VLP
Over 15% of Maine's citizens live in poverty, half of all Mainers read at or below an 8th grade level
and approximately 70,000 low-income households experience a significant legal problem every year.
Using toll free and local lines, low-income people across the state call the Volunteer Lawyers Project
(VLP) for legal assistance.
For twenty-five years, The VLP has responded to their calls by providing free information, assistance
and pro bono representation. Empowering people to assert their rights, extending the protections of the
law to everyone, and using the law to change lives for the better is what every Mainer deserves.
Eight major volunteer components, plus staff, ensure that a variety of services are provided.
- Client Interviewers: Trained volunteers answer the phone lines, interview the callers,
review the matter with legal supervisors, and act as the link to needed services. Volunteers are
recruited from the broad Southern Maine community, various universities and colleges within Maine
and elsewhere, and the University Of Maine School Of Law.
- Administrative & Technical Assistants: Volunteers assist staff with various administrative
tasks, including data entry, web updates and design, Facebook design updates, general office work
and specifically designed projects.
- Helpline Advocates: Law students and lawyers provide assistance to those individuals going
through family law matters pro se (without an attorney). Direction is given on court papers,
understanding the procedures, and developing the clients pro se family law matter. After an initial
interview during the day, staff schedule appropriate cases for evening Helpline services.
- Interns and Fellows: Undergraduate and Law Students commit to various levels of extended
time and service to the program. (12 hrs, 16 hrs, 20 hrs and 35 hrs per week per semester)
Responsibilities and opportunities include client interviewing, court observations, trainings with
attorneys, mentoring, and projects specific to program needs and intern interest.
- CHAP Interviewers:
Undergraduate and law student interns interview walk-in clients at
the Courthouse Assistance Project in Portland, Biddeford, and/or Lewiston. Interns are trained to
handle initial interviews, coordinate with attorneys on duty, and when appropriate, assist clients with
filling out family law pro se materials.
- Lawyers of the Day: Area attorneys volunteer to come into the Portland office or Bangor
satellite office for the sole purpose of referring accepted cases to other attorneys around the state.
VLP staff determines whether a case is accepted for pro bono (free representation) or reduced fee
referral.
- Limited Representation Panels:
Attorneys volunteer to assist pro se clients with their
family law matters in the Biddeford, Lewiston, and Portland Disctrict Courts. Attorneys also provide
limited representation on certain Protection from Abuse and Eviction matters.
- Pro Bono Panel Members: Attorneys throughout the state volunteer to accept cases and provide
free or reduced fee services.
To learn more about volunteering with VLP, follow the links to the left. If you would
like to volunteer, please contact our
Volunteer Coordinator.
VOLUNTEERS ARE HIGHLY REGARDED FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE.
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