The Maine Justice Foundation is pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 Access to Justice Tax Credit Program will open on June 8, 2026. The Foundation will accept applications from eligible attorneys from June 8-22, 2026. Please visit https://www.grantinterface.com/sl/KBfB9F to apply starting on June 8.
To encourage lawyers to provide services to underserved areas of our State, the Legislature enacted this program in 2022. 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.
Now in its fifth year, the program will authorize up to five additional eligible attorneys to receive a $6,000 tax credit in 2026 and in each year thereafter through 2027. 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 (PDS) to accept court appointments to represent clients in an underserved area, and must agree to perform pro bono legal services in an underserved area.
In 2022 -2025, the Foundation received submissions from eligible applicants statewide. The attorneys selected through this process to date include:
Benjamin Everett, Fort Fairfield ME, Aroostook County
- Taylor Kilgore, Turner ME, Androscoggin County
- Gregory LeClerc, Standish ME, Cumberland County
- Cassandra Rodgers, Presque Isle ME, Aroostook County
- Ryan Rutledge, Anson ME, Somerset County
- Shamara Bailey, Patten ME, Penobscot County
- Lynn Madison, Rockland ME, Knox County
- Cheryl Saniuk-Heinig, Rockland ME, Knox County
- Brittany Sawyer, Arundel ME, York County
- Stephen Smith, Augusta ME, Kennebec County
- Andrew Catherman, Waterville ME, Kennebec County
- Sarah Catherman, Waterville ME, Kennebec County
- Adrienne Fernstrom, Rockland ME, Knox County
- Benjamin Fowler, Bangor ME, Penobscot County
- Jeremiah McIntosh, Washburn ME, Aroostook County
- Nicholas Fowler, Bangor ME, Penobscot County
- Julia Lodsin, Skowhegan ME, Somerset County
- Elizabeth Shardlow, Augusta ME, Kennebec County
- Nolan Tanous, Millinocket ME, Penobscot County
These attorneys can continue to claim this credit for up to five years provided they maintain their eligibility. This benefit will be expanded for up to five additional eligible attorneys each year through 2027. “This tax credit is one more creative tool in our collective effort to ensure Mainers in need can access quality legal representation. By encouraging attorneys to serve in underserved communities, we’re addressing a real gap and we’re proud to administer a program that makes a tangible difference. We look forward to reporting its positive impact to the Legislature and continuing to find innovative solutions to access to justice challenges across our state,” says Draeger.
The Maine Justice Foundation, founded in 1983 as the Maine Bar Foundation, is the state’s leading funder of civil legal aid for poor and vulnerable Mainers. 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.