HELP BRIDGE THE JUSTICE GAP -- PLEASE ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS TO INVEST IN CIVIL LEGAL AID!

Civil legal aid serves a diverse range of individuals, including survivors of domestic violence, individuals fighting wrongful foreclosures or landlord actions, veterans seeking rightful benefits, parents asserting parental rights, individuals seeking essential healthcare access, and those striving to secure work authorization and legal status, among countless others.   In most of these matters, Mainers who can’t afford a lawyer must face these civil legal problems without help. Free civil legal aid serves as a critical resource in addressing these challenges, yet to meet the legal needs of individuals, it's imperative for the state to maintain and enhance its commitment to supporting civil legal aid.

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 underfunded. Thousands of Mainers have legal needs that go unmet, which has negative consequences for them, for our communities, and for our economy.

With your help, last year the Justice Action Group was able to secure state funding to help us come closer to meeting the civil legal needs of low-income Mainers. Unfortunately, the appropriation was one-time funding and does not extend beyond the current state fiscal year. It is critical that the Legislature converts this one-time funding into ongoing baseline support in the state supplemental budget.

Please join the Justice Action Group and 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 ensuring adequate support for civil legal aid in the state supplemental budget.

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!

Need more information? You can learn more about civil legal aid and why this investment is so important here.