Maine's first nonprofit, incubator law firm. Increasing access to justice while training new attorneys.
Please note: Neither the MCLC itself, nor the content of this site should be interpreted as legal advice. In addition, any interaction or engagement you may have with this site does not establish any attorney-client relationship.
The Maine Community Law Center (MCLC) is Maine's first nonprofit law firm. MCLC is an "incubator" law firm with the purpose of providing a legal residency program for new attorneys and increasing access to justice for low and middle income individuals.
The MCLC is designed to offer legal services to people of modest means, those who earn too much to qualify for legal aid but cannot afford a full priced attorney. The clients pay a flat fee or on a sliding fee scale. Clients who need help with only part of their case, or services that can be provided through technology would further reduce client costs. The new attorneys will be connected to senior attorneys in the community who practice in a variety of fields who can provide specific guidance on a case by case basis.
Many people in Maine who need to access the courts do so without the benefit of an attorney. The consequences of this fact are significant: the individuals involved do not understand the process and have disappointing and confusing results. Mistakes can have serious consequences, including for the best interests of children as well as financial problems for the parties. Errors can require a return trip to court to be corrected, with more expenses. The public’s confidence in the court system as a source of justice has become frayed. The court system faces delays, difficulties and inefficient operations due to inexperienced litigants needing more time and direction from judges, magistrates and clerks. The consumers of legal services need more options for assistance when legal aid is not available and the retainers of a typical law firm are out of reach.
Legal services.
