Augusta, ME | The Maine Justice Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of the Access to Justice Tax Credit Program. In an effort to encourage lawyers to provide services to underserved areas of our State, the Legislature enacted the Access to Justice Tax Credit Program. Starting in 2022, the program authorized tax credits for five lawyers who practice in underserved areas. Now in its fourth year, the program will authorize up to five additional eligible attorneys to receive a $6,000 tax credit in 2025 and in each year thereafter through 2027.
36 M.R.S. Section 5219-ZZ provides that the Maine Supreme Court or its designee shall certify up to five qualified attorneys annually for participation in the Access to Justice Tax Credit Program. The Court has designated the Maine Justice Foundation to administer the program and established a Standing Committee to assist and advise the Foundation in the process. The Standing Committee includes representatives of the Maine Justice Foundation, the Maine State Bar Association, and the Maine Trial Lawyers Association.
The Foundation accepted applications from eligible attorneys from June 2-16, 2025 and received submissions from several new eligible applicants statewide representing underserved areas. The Foundation has recertified the 2022, 2023 and 2024 applicants for their second, third, and fourth program years. The attorneys represent areas across the state including Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Kennebec, Knox, Penobscot, Somerset, and York counties.
To be eligible, attorneys must commit to practicing law in an underserved area for at least five years, must be rostered by the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services to accept court appointments to represent clients in an underserved area, and must agree to perform pro bono legal services in an underserved area.
The new attorneys selected through this process for 2025 include Nicholas Fowler of Bangor, Julia Lodsin of Skowhegan, Elizabeth Shardlow of Augusta, and Nolan Tanous of Millinocket. The attorneys who have been recertified include Cassandra Rogers of Presque Isle, Benjamin Everett of Presque Isle, Taylor Kilgore of Turner, Gregory LeClerc of Standish, Ryan Rutledge of Skowhegan, Britany Sawyer of Arundel, Shamara Bailey of Patten, Lynn Madison of Rockland, Stephen Smith of Augusta, Sarah Catherman of Waterville, Benjamin Fowler of Bangor, Andrew Catherman of Waterville, Adrienne Fernstrom of Rockland, and Jeremiah McIntosh of Washburn. “The Access to Justice Tax Credit continues to be a powerful way to encourage attorneys to practice in underserved areas across Maine,” says Michelle Draeger, Executive Director of the Maine Justice Foundation. “By continuing to strengthen this program, we will ensure that more Maine people receive the legal help they deserve,” adds Draeger.
The Maine Justice Foundation, founded in 1983 as the Maine Bar Foundation, is the state’s leading funder of civil legal aid for Mainers in need. Find us online and support access to justice through donations to various funds at www.justicemaine.org.
FMI: Contact Michelle G. Draeger, Executive Director: 207-620-1351, mdraeger@justicemaine.org.