About MJF: Committed to Fairness.

In 1983, leaders of the Maine State Bar Association and the University of Maine School of Law, with wisdom and foresight, created the Maine Bar Foundation, which is today’s Maine Justice Foundation. They recognized that low-income Mainers involved in civil matters like disputes with landlords or serious child custody issues could not afford legal representation. The complexity of legal proceedings had tipped the scale in favor of those who could afford to hire a lawyer.

Since becoming the Maine Justice Foundation in 2015, our mission has remained clear. We are committed to expanding access to justice and supporting social justice efforts throughout Maine. The Foundation provides critical funding to civil legal aid programs to ensure that all Maine people – regardless of income – can access the legal help they need. We also fund Maine-based nonprofit organizations working to advance fairness and justice across all areas of Maine society in crucial areas such as the legal system, healthcare, education, the workplace, food insecurity, natural resources, and housing.

We support a broad range of legal service providers and community programs across the state of Maine.

Financial information about The Maine Justice Foundation is provided here to be transparent and accountable:

Civil cases can be complex and are often life changing. Without assistance, Maine residents needing legal help would be forced to navigate the legal system on their own, often putting their families, homes and livelihoods in jeopardy. On any given day, in every pocket of Maine, low-income people are facing civil issues including the following:

• Unlawful evictions and landlord tenant disputes
• Denial of government benefits or health insurance
• Home foreclosures
• Divorce and child custody cases
• Unfair employment and wage claims

These are matters of civil law. These are arguably common problems involving everyday concerns. Imagine though that you cannot afford a lawyer to help you navigate the complex legal system. And unlike criminal cases, Maine’s judicial system doesn’t offer free legal assistance to those who cannot afford a lawyer. Without help, those so-called “common problems” can take on a life of their own. They can affect your job, your children, your home and your own well-being.

With a strong delivery system and enough funding to meet growing needs, civil legal aid has far-reaching impacts that affect taxpayers, businesses and health care providers. Civil legal aid helps:

• Families stay in their homes
• Keep children from being taken away from a parent
• Hard-working people stay employed
• An elderly person retain much-needed health care
• Businesses and investors with foreclosure prevention
• Families secure health insurance coverage or Medicaid
• Control and resolve community-housing issues