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Maine Supreme Judicial Court Recognizes Pro Bono Attorneys

Lettter to Maine State Bar (PDF)

October 26, 2009

To the Members of the Maine State Bar:

Maine Lawyers are among the most generous in the country. This week, the American Bar Association is sponsoring National Pro Bono Celebration Week. Throughout our country, states are taking this opportunity to honor the hundreds of thousands of lawyers who volunteer their time to provide legal services to the many Americans faced with civil legal problems who cannot afford to hire an attorney.

Maine lawyers have been leaders in this spirit of volunteerism. For example, nearly 1,000 cases are currently open among volunteer attorneys offering their services through the Volunteer Lawyer’s Project. This only begins to capture the innumerable hours donated by attorneys throughout the State to help those in need. As the economy struggles, the need becomes ever more profound. The Maine State Bar Association continues to provide invaluable leadership in this area, recently launching its Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service to expand the opportunities for Maine’s lawyers to provide pro bono service.

The efforts of Maine lawyers to provide legal services to those in need can be illustrated by the innovative work of individuals like Attorney Tom Cox, who donates several hours each week to the Maine Attorneys Saving Homes (MASH) project. This project helps people facing foreclosure and the loss of their homes understand their rights so that they can negotiate with banks on equal footing.

Other lawyers help Maine people who are threatened with violence by people close to them, or whose families are in crisis. More than fifty clients each week are served by volunteer attorneys in the Courthouse Assistance Programs found throughout the State. Just recently, the Penobscot County Bar Association opened a free walk-in legal clinic on Saturday mornings, similar to the clinic in Androscoggin County, which is staffed by volunteer attorneys, who assist low-income individuals facing civil legal problems. These volunteer lawyers understand that the unforeseen legal problems faced by their neighbors may potentially affect entire communities.

On behalf of all of the Justices of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, I take this opportunity to express our profound appreciation to lawyers throughout this state for their time and commitment to providing meaningful access to justice for all of Maine’s citizens. Their efforts have helped countless people, and their work upholds the great tradition of equal justice under the law. We encourage new attorneys to follow their lead in making Maine a leader in pro bono publico: working for the public good.

Thank you.

 

Leigh I. Saufley Chief Justice