Staff Writer

Jennifer Thomas sees the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project as a way to give back to the community while equipping low-income Mainers with the skills to navigate the legal system.

Thomas, an attorney with Beagle and Ridge LLC of Portland, said free legal advice provided through the project is needed now more than ever. As more Mainers struggle with bankruptcy, unemployment and foreclosures, calls from people seeking assistance have increased, she said.

The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project is a nonprofit legal aid organization that provides free information, assistance and representation to low-income Mainers with civil legal problems. Community and attorney volunteers supervised by a small staff provide legal services. 

The project’s mission is to make “justice for all” a reality in Maine by giving people the knowledge, tools and supports to be equal participants in the justice system. The Volunteer Lawyers Project is a joint project of Pine Tree Legal Assistance and the Maine Bar Foundation. 

An increase in calls also means the need for volunteers has grown, according to Lin Martin-Hunt, the project’s volunteer coordinator. Volunteers are needed to answer calls and determine callers’ eligibility for services. The project receives thousands of calls each year from people across the state and each is answered by a volunteer, she said.

Intake volunteers are mainly community members with various career backgrounds, Martin-Hunt said. Volunteers do not need a legal background to work with the project as all volunteers are trained to handle calls and gather appropriate information for staff members. Volunteers also are taught to “appreciate the difficulties of poverty,” she said.

Martin-Hunt said volunteers who go through the organization’s application process are asked to work a minimum of three hours per week for six months, though she noted many stay for years. Shifts are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The project, based in Portland, currently has around 40 volunteers but has the capacity to work with 60 to 80 people, Martin-Hunt said. She said she would like to increase the number of volunteers by 20 to 25 community members before fall. 

Thomas, who lives in Saco, said she sees the opportunity to volunteer as a great one because of the flexibility it affords volunteers.

“One of the great things about the Volunteer Lawyers Project is whatever time the volunteer can put in is great,” she said. “Whatever time someone has they’re more than happy to fit them in.”

Thomas began volunteering with the project as an undergraduate student at the University of Southern Maine.  After graduating from USM, Thomas continued to volunteer during vacations from Vermont Law. 

Once she completed law school and returned to Maine, Thomas continued volunteering with the project. She now is a supervisor for the family law helpline. 

“Everyone deserves to have access to the legal system. Some people aren’t in the position to hire an attorney,” she said.

As a volunteer with the family law helpline, Thomas answers questions by phone about matters including divorce, child support and child custody. Volunteers assist people through the court process by answering questions along the way and providing “tools” for them to help themselves in the legal system, she said. 

Having questions answered by an attorney often relieves stress, Thomas said.

“They’re very relieved because they know what to expect when they walk into the courtroom or mediation,” she said. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Martin-Hunt by phone at 774-4518, ext. 1223, or by email at lmartin-hunt@vlp.org. 

If you are in need of legal help and would like to set up an intake interview, call 800-442-4293 between 9 a.m. and noon Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; or 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.