Legal Help & Guides

Legal Disclaimer: The Maine Judicial Branch and the Administrative Office of the Courts are not permitted to give legal advice. Guides and publications, and links to external websites are made available as a public service, and do not constitute legal advice. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information presented is accurate, comprehensive, and clear, the Judicial Branch does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information. If you have any questions about your legal rights you may consult an attorney.
New civil forms assistance: AmeriCorps Legal Access Navigators (ALANs) are trained non-lawyers providing free civil forms assistance, legal education, and legal aid referrals to help people without a lawyer navigate the legal system. Access ALAN support in-person on Mondays at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Portland, Tuesdays at the York Judicial Center in Biddeford, or by appointment at navigators@alphalegalfoundation.com. Learn more: www.courts.maine.gov/help/legal/alan.html. Learn more about Alpha Legal Foundation: www.alphalegalfoundation.com.

Lawyers & Legal Help

Legal Aid Resources in Maine

A list of organizations in Maine that offer legal services. Most agencies offer services for low income, the elderly, or people with disabilities.

See all legal aid resources

MSBA Lawyer Referral Service

The Maine State Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service charges a $35 administrative fee, and referred attorneys will not charge for the first half-hour of a consultation. After the first half-hour, standard legal fees may apply. Everyone is eligible for this service.

Connect to the MSBA Lawyer Referral Service.

Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) Family Law Clinics

If you meet income-based eligibility requirements, 30-minute consultation appointments by Zoom (video and phone options) may be available. VLP also offers in-person help at the Lewiston DIstrict Court two Wednesdays a month on a first come, first served basis. For more information, see the "VLP Family Law Clinics" web page on the VLP website: https://www.vlp.org/family-matters-1.

Employee Assistance Programs

Some Maine employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) with legal assistance or consultation. Check with your employer's Human Resources department to see if your employer offers an EAP that includes legal assistance.

Tips for Finding and Hiring a Private Lawyer

Maine civil legal aid organizations help thousands of eligible people with legal issues every year but get far more requests for help than they can respond to.

Consider hiring a private lawyer to handle your legal issue or case if the case is too complicated or too important to handle on your own. Be aware that people who represent themselves in court are held to the same standards of complying with court rules, preparing the case, and following court procedures that licensed lawyers must follow.

A few tips:

  • Get recommendations from family and friends for lawyers to contact.
  • If you are only looking for limited help with your issue or case, talk with the lawyer about the availability of “limited scope representation” services and whether it is appropriate for your situation.
  • If you have a low income but cannot access legal aid services, ask the lawyer whether a sliding scale hourly rate is available.  

Maine Commission on Public Defense Services

Provides lawyers to low-income people in criminal cases, juvenile cases, emancipation cases, child protection cases, and involuntary commitment cases. For more information: https://www.maine.gov/pds/.

Maine Law

Sources of Maine Law

Consumer Protection Resources

Guides & Publications

The Judicial Branch has published a number of guides and publications for non-attorneys that outline a person's rights, responsibilities, and court process, as well as provide steps on how to file various types of cases.

See all guides and publications

Libraries

Ask a Law Librarian

Reference librarians at the Maine State Law and Legislative Library will research and respond via email to requests that can be answered briefly and are of a legal, legislative, or governmental nature.

Maine State Law and Legislative Library

The Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library in Augusta, a division of the Maine Legislature, is the state's public law library. The library is staffed full-time, provides reference services over the phone and via email, and mails materials to Maine residents.

Interested in borrowing a book?
Contact the library directly to ask to borrow materials, or place a request through your local library.

  • Books can be delivered in one of three ways:
    • In-person pickup.
    • At your local library, if you place your request through your local library.
    • By mail.

The library also offers legal ebooks which can be read remotely from a desktop computer, tablet, or smart phone. Maine residents with proof of address can sign up to read any of the 900+ titles published by LexisNexis, the American Bar Association, and West Academic. For more information, contact the library at (207) 287-1600.

The Nathan and Henry B. Cleaves Law Library

The Nathan and Henry B. Cleaves Law Library provides legal research and assistance to all lawyers, to the courts and to the public. The library strives to maintain a complete and up-to-date collection of materials in an appropriate physical setting, and to deliver competent, professional research assistance that allows patrons to make full use of the Library's resources.

www.cleaves.org

Penobscot County Law Library

The Penobscot County Law Library at the Penobscot Judicial Center in Bangor has patron access to Westlaw, a comprehensive electronic research service. Hardbound materials include the Maine Revised Statutes, the Maine Reporter, and several Maine-specific treatises. These are for reference only and are not to be taken from the library. The Penobscot County Law Library is staffed part-time.

Donald L. Garbrecht Law Library

The Donald L. Garbrecht Law Library supports the research and educational needs of the students, faculty and staff at the University of Maine School of Law. The Library provides assistance to the state's judiciary, members of the bar, the legal community, and the general public.

mainelaw.maine.edu/library

Other Resources

  • Legal Food Hub (Free service that connects eligible farmers, food entrepreneurs, and food-related organizations to volunteer attorneys).
  • Stateside Legal (Self-help tools for veterans, service members, and their families).
  • Maine Free Legal Answers (Free virtual legal advice clinic. Eligible users may post questions to be answered by pro bono Maine attorneys.)