Why Do Pro Bono?

The Need:

The need in Maine for pro bono legal services is vast.  Approximately one third of all Mainers is low-income and qualifies for legal services.   Most people that request an attorney have a serious legal issue that affects daily life, including family relationships, health and safety concerns, and basic necessities such as food and shelter.  In 1990 the Maine Legal Needs Study found that the average low-income household experienced at least one legal problem per year.   Yet, the civil legal aid providers in Maine are able to assist only one-in-four individuals seeking legal aid.   

The Role of VLP:

For nearly thirty  years, the VLP has responded to requests for help by providing free information, assistance and pro bono representation.  VLP volunteers empower people to assert their rights and help to ensure that access to justice for all of Maine’s citizens is more than just a concept, but is a reality for all Mainers.

The Impact of the Private Bar:

The private bar continues to play a crucial role in serving the ever-growing civil legal needs of low-income people in Maine.  In 2005, through the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project, more than 700 members of the Maine bar provided legal assistance to low-income people in over 1500 cases.  Another 200 attorneys volunteered their time as “Lawyers of the Day,” helping VLP place cases around the state.  In 2008 lawyers donated over 500 pro bono hours to other Maine legal service organizations including the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, and Legal Services for the Elderly. The contributions of the private bar continue to be an essential component of meeting the need for legal aid in Maine.  Yet, there is still an enormous unmet need for legal advice and representation for thousands of low-income Mainers each year.

Pro bono and Professionalism

Many of the legal profession's controlling documents include a call to support pro bono. Pertinent parts of these documents are excerpted below.

The Maine Bar Rules state that all Maine attorneys have a “professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay.” The American Bar Association states that “a lawyer should aspire to render at least (50) hours of pro bono publico legal services per year.”   Pro bono legal representation allows indigent Mainers to have access to the judicial system.  Equal access to the justice system is not just an aspirational ideal, it makes a concrete difference in peoples’ lives.

Pro Bono and Judiciary

Directory of Law School Public Interest and Pro Bono Programs