The Frank M. Coffin Family Law Fellowship provides legal representation in family law matters to clients who have qualified for pro bono assistance through the Volunteer Lawyers Project. Named after Frank M. Coffin, Senior Judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the Project supports attorneys based in the Portland, Maine offices of Pine Tree…Read More
Access to Justice in Light of Recent Violence Against Black Americans – Statement of the Maine Justice Foundation
Every person in America must have access to the justice system and equal protection under the law. This is not a principle to be conditioned on race, gender, gender identification, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, financial condition or religion. We cannot faithfully profess this belief while standing silent and still in the face of so many…Read More
Maine Justice Foundation Announces New Executive Director
“After a national search, the Board of the Maine Justice Foundation has unanimously and enthusiastically selected Michelle Giard Draeger to serve as our new executive director,” announced Foundation President William S. Harwood. “She has the skills and abilities essential to leading the Foundation into the future and advancing our mission of ensuring access to justice…Read More
Legal Aid Providers Respond to COVID-19
The need for civil legal aid is increasing, and under difficult conditions Maine’s legal aid providers are responding to COVID-19. Evictions: Imagine, in the disruption and uncertainty of the last two weeks, being evicted and needing to find a new apartment in just a few days. Residents of an Augusta rental property say they were…Read More
Maine Justice Foundation honors champions of justice with new designation: Honorary Director
According to MJF Foundation President William S. Harwood, “Our foundation was established under the name “Maine Bar Foundation” back in 1983, thanks to the vision and hard work of these esteemed advocates, and we are incredibly proud to have them as our first-ever Honorary Directors.…Read More
Maine Law gets funding to continue Rural Lawyer Project
From October 23, 2019 – MaineBiz By Renee Cordes The University of Maine School of Law said it has received funding to continue the Rural Lawyer Project, launched in 2017 to improve access to justice in rural communities. Danielle Conway initiated the program during her tenure as dean, in a three-year pilot with funding from the Maine…Read More
Inaugural Grant from LGBTQ Justice Fund Awarded to Maine Equal Justice
The Maine Justice Foundation announced today that the inaugural grant from its LGBTQ Justice Fund has been awarded to Maine Equal Justice to fund a partnership with Maine TransNet, a group that advocates and supports Maine’s transgender community. Robyn Merrill, executive director of Maine Equal Justice, says “Research and our work in the community makes…Read More
Local Banks and Credit Unions Recognized for Their Support of Civil Legal Aid and “Justice for All”
Governor Janet T. Mills hosted a tea reception at the Blaine House on October 7th to officially acknowledge and express her appreciation to a group of Maine banks and credit unions that support legal aid for poor and vulnerable Mainers. William S. Harwood, president of the board of the Maine Justice Foundation, welcomed representatives from…Read More
Maine Justice Foundation welcomes growing bank support for legal aid
From Mainebiz, 4/18/19, by Renee Cordes: The Maine Justice Foundation said Sanford-based SIS Bank has signed on as a prime partner in a program to fund six providers of legal aid in the state. Since Maine’s Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts program was set up in the mid-1980s, it has generated more than $27 million. Under the…Read More
Report shows how to fix the broken defense system for Maine’s poor
From the Portland Press Herald Editorial Board, 4/10/19: Low-income Mainers are not being treated equally before the law. The U.S. Constitution says every American has the right to legal counsel when the stakes are high. In practice, however, the 80 percent of defendants who cannot afford an attorney are often left to navigate an adversarial…Read More