Without legislative action, civil legal services will be slashed this year. Sustaining and increasing the state's investment in civil legal aid is crucial for maintaining access to justice and well-functioning judicial and economic systems in Maine.

Civil legal aid works to:

• protect people from domestic and financial abuse and neglect;

• keep people housed;

• help people get and keep jobs;

• keep custody of a child;

• gain access to health care; and

• much more…

In most civil legal aid matters, there is no right to counsel, so Mainers who can't afford a lawyer must face these legal problems alone.

Civil legal issues such as eviction, domestic violence, and exploitation can hinder community and workforce stability and create greater societal costs long-term. State investment in civil legal aid helps people navigate these complex problems, promoting healthier, more productive lives and a thriving Maine culture and economy.

Maine has a strong civil legal aid infrastructure in place - made up of seven core legal aid providers who coordinate closely and make efficient use of their funding. Unfortunately, this system has long been woefully underfunded. Thousands of Mainers have legal needs that go unmet, which has negative consequences for them, for our communities, and for our economy.

Right now, Maine legislators are working on the state's biennial budget. We need to urge lawmakers to convert funding that will expire this summer into ongoing funding to avoid significant cuts to legal services. An increase in legal aid funding is also needed to bridge the justice gap in Maine by investing in our state’s civil legal aid services.

Join the Justice Action Group to help us make the case for investing in civil legal aid in Maine. Please take a few minutes to write to your representatives to share why you support this investment.

We know that investing more in civil legal aid will:

• move Maine closer to fulfilling the promise of equal justice for ALL;

• result in an influx of millions of dollars into Maine’s economy, bring tangible cost savings to our state, and stimulate our local economy; and

• make the court system work better and more efficiently.

Maine lawmakers need to hear from us! Thank you for sending a letter to YOUR legislators! When they hear from you, they know an issue matters!