Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc. is a comprehensive civil legal aid provider dedicated to ensuring fairness and justice for all residents of Maine. Specializing in free legal services for low-income individuals and vulnerable populations, the organization stands out for its deep commitment to addressing systemic inequities and providing accessible resources across a wide range of civil matters.
With a mission-driven approach rooted in core values of equity and community support, Pine Tree Legal Assistance offers extensive self-help tools and direct legal representation to empower clients. The organization focuses on serving tenants, survivors of domestic violence, veterans, farmworkers, Indigenous communities, and others facing legal barriers, ensuring that economic status does not prevent access to critical legal protections.
Services Offered
- Rental Housing legal assistance (eviction, unsafe housing, utilities)
- Money, Taxes, and Debt issues (debt collection, liens, identity theft, credit)
- Health and Public Benefits (MaineCare, Medicare, SSI, TANF, SNAP/Food Stamps, General Assistance)
- Homeownership and Foreclosure support (property taxes, tax programs, foreclosure handling)
- Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Abuse legal protections and resources
- Divorce, Custody, and Family law (parental rights, child support, guardianship, name changes)
- Indigenous Peoples Unit (cross-border rights, Tribal Court assistance)
- Farmworkers, Work, and School rights (worker rights, education rights for children and students)
- Going to Court resources (self-representation, small claims, criminal charges)
- Veterans and servicemembers assistance (VA benefits, education, job training, legal rights)
- Self-help legal tools and forms
- Free civil legal aid and representation
Pine Tree Legal Assistance serves all counties in Maine and offers resources in multiple languages, including English, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, and others, ensuring broader accessibility for diverse communities. The organization also produces publications like the Wabanaki Legal News and maintains specialized units to address the unique legal needs of specific populations.
