In hiring,
wages, promotions or other terms or conditions of employment, Pine
Tree Legal Assistance does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, sex, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, age, religion,
political affiliation or belief, disability, or marital, parental,
military or financial status, including educational indebtedness.
Full-time Paralegal/advocate for a Pilot Employment Law Project
(posted April, 25 2008)
Pine Tree Legal Assistance is announcing a pilot employment law project to be staffed by a full-time
paralegal/advocate. The pilot project will begin this spring and run for six months. The position will
be housed in the Bangor office of Pine Tree under the supervision of Eric Nelson, who directs the program's
Farmworker and Native American Units. The Pine Tree Board will make a decision in November regarding
continuation of the project, based on its activities to date and its success in addressing the legal needs
of low-wage workers.
The pilot project has grown out of a study undertaken by Pine Tree Legal Assistance's Board of Directors
regarding the legal needs of Maine's low-wage workers, a group which includes roughly half of our existing
client households. Many of these families have mentioned problems related to their jobs, including wage and
hour disputes or jobs lost when an employee exercised her right to family medical leave to care for a sick
child or to recover from an act of domestic violence. The loss of earnings then precipitates a financial
crisis that leads to other legal difficulties, including eviction or foreclosure. While Pine Tree receives
special funding to target the employment law needs of migrant farmworkers, it has not had the resources to
address these problems within the general population since the early 1980’s. Our study subsequently confirmed
that none of Maine’s other legal aid programs have prioritized this work, although all agree that it is one
of the most significant unmet legal needs in our State. Conversations with private attorneys also indicated
that most cannot tackle individual cases unless a significant money claim is possible. The claims handled by
the pilot project will be limited to those for which private counsel is unavailable. The project will not be
advertised to the general public because it is a pilot program. Instead, clients will be referred primarily by
other legal aid staff or by social service partners whose staff can recognize the need for legal services
related to employment law on behalf of individual clients.
The responsibilities of the Employment Law paralegal/advocate will include responsibility for initial intake
of individuals referred to the project or who contact the project on their own for help with employment
law problems. This work will include eligibility screening and computerized data entry, as well as the
provision of legal information or referral services to eligible clients. As part of the initial intake
process, the paralegal/advocate will also provide advocacy services to eligible clients, under attorney
supervision. The paralegal/advocate is also expected to maintain a caseload for clients whose cases cannot
be resolved with brief services. Some community outreach may also be appropriate to organizations that work
closely with low-wage workers, particularly those in Penobscot County. However, the pilot project is
envisioned as a statewide effort and clients served by the project may live anywhere in Maine.
The ideal candidate will have prior experience with employment law issues, as well as advocacy experience
with low-income individuals. The annualized salary for this position begins at $24,000 and it maybe adjusted
for experience. While insurance benefits are not available for this temporary position, PTLA does provide
vacation and sick leave
Interested applicants should write to Eric Nelson, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, 61 Main St. Room 41,
Bangor, ME 04112 or via email to
describing their interest in the position and enclosing a resume and list of three references.
Eric Nelson with a resume and cover letter.
Available Opportunities
Full-time Foreclosure Assistance Paralegal
(posted March 13, 2008)
This full-time paralegal will work with staff attorney members of a new Foreclosure Assistance Project team on
the full range of cases being handled by the Project. This work will include initial intake and response to
individuals seeking legal help from Pine Tree, as well as more detailed work on cases accepted for representation
(including analysis of mortgage lending documents, research on title and tax issues, and organization
of procedural paperwork related to active foreclosure cases.) Under attorney supervision, the paralegal
will also negotiate work-outs with the mortgage holder in appropriate cases that can preserve the client's
home.
Hiring preference will be given to applicants who have previous experience with mortgage lending documents
or in other areas significant to a foreclosure defense practice. The successful applicant will be very
detail-oriented, possess strong analytic and time management skills, and be able to work effectively
within a legal services setting. Prior experience as a litigation paralegal is also valued.
The salary for this paralegal position begins at $24,500 but is adjusted up for relevant experience. Interested
applicants should write to Executive Director Nan Heald, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, P.O. Box 547, Portland, ME
04112 or via email to
describing their interest in the position and enclosing a resume and list of three references. Finalists
will be asked to provide a writing sample and interviewed initially by phone or in person. The position
is open until filled.
Pine Tree is an Equal Employment/Equal Opportunity employer.
Available Opportunities
MBF Part Time Project Coordinator
The Maine Bar Foundation is hiring a a Project Coordinator to coordinate the work of the
Justice Action Group (JAG). The JAG is composed of members of the federal and state judiciary,
associations of the private bar and legal service providers, dedicated to ensuring access to justice
in civil matters. The Coordinator provides staff support, arranges meetings and acts as liaison between
JAG, its task forces and the legal aid providers and organizations participating in its work.
Applicants should have skill and experience in project administration, volunteer management and public
policy research. Strong communication skills required. Knowledge of and experience with the legal
system, legal aid and poverty law issues and the legislative process preferred.
Hours are flexible with estimated average of 20 hours/week. Salary DOE with pro-rated benefit package.
Please send resume, cover letter and references electronically to Calien Lewis, Executive Director,
Maine Bar Foundation;
or mail to 40 Water Street, Hallowell, ME 04347. www.mbf.org
Legal Services for the Elderly - Helpline Attorney
Posted April 9, 2008
Immediate opening for a Helpline Attorney in Augusta. Work with a team of attorneys providing information and advice
to seniors via telephone in a wide variety of substantive areas, including health care, housing and debt collection.
Must be licensed to practice in Maine, and have a strong commitment to working with the elderly.
Part-time help desired (15-30 hours per week) but fulltime may also be an option. Flexible schedule.
Send resume, cover letter, and references to Jaye L. Martin, Executive Director, 5 Wabon Street, Augusta, ME 04330.
WHY SHOULD I WANT TO WORK AT PINE TREE?
Because our staff are the best of the best:
For forty years, Pine Tree has built its reputation as a creative,
effective advocate for poor Mainers with an extraordinarily talented staff:
Our alumni include the former Governor of the State of Maine, judges
who now serve or have served on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Superior
Court and District Court, individuals in leadership positions in
State government, and attorneys in prominent private firms around the State.
All staff are expected to meet the program's high standards for legal advocacy.
Because we provide great staff support:
Pine Tree’s diverse staff includes several
attorneys with 15 – 30 years of experience as legal service advocates;
new and continuing funding has allowed the hire of
several new attorneys at entry-level positions. Pine Tree is committed to
strong support and mentoring of its entire staff, and relies on its existing
managers in local offices as well as its Director of Training and Litigation
to provide this support. The program offers ongoing in-house training
and access to formal CLE programs on a regular basis. Pine Tree
advocates are encouraged to develop effective working relations with community
organizations and client groups in their service areas and to pursue issues
of special interest that will strengthen their ability to serve our clients.
Because of our healthy funding situation:
Pine Tree currently receives
funding from a wide variety of sources, helping to insulate the program
and its staff from funding cuts to any one program or grant stream.
Funding sources include the Legal Services Corporation, the Maine Civil
Legal Services Fund, an annual appropriation from the State of Maine, IOLTA
funding administered by the Maine Bar Foundation, and a variety of special
grants including United Way, US Department of Justice, and other sources.
Because of our great work environment:
Our
desks and bookcases may be hand-me-downs from other sources, but our legal
research materials and computers are top-quality, reflecting our program's
commitment to providing effective tools to maximize the efforts of each
individual. Local offices offer a warm collegial atmosphere which
encourages collaboration and promotes respect for each individual's contribution
to expanding justice for poor Mainers. Pine Tree also enjoys good
relationships with Maine's other legal service providers: our staff regularly
train and confer with our counterparts at Legal Services for the Elderly,
the Maine Equal Justice Project, and the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic.
Because our salary and benefits package is very competitive within the public
sector:
Salary levels are currently under review.
All full-time and part-time (60% or more) employees are eligible
for health and dental insurance coverage for themselves and their family
members, with a small co-payment. Pine Tree annually contributes a
flat percent of salary for each eligible employee into a tax-sheltered
annuity program. The Maine Bar Foundation also operate a loan repayment fund
for which our attorney staff members are eligible.
Who are we looking to hire?
Job applicants must demonstrate an energetic commitment to justice
for low-income individuals, the ability to relate effectively to diverse
clients, and very strong legal skills. Past experience in a legal
service setting, and special skills such as bilingual language ability (including
ASL for our hearing-impaired clients), are also valued highly.
Pine Tree is an equal employment/equal opportunity employer and we honor
diversity in our work force. Because Pine Tree is highly computerized,
a good comfort level with Word, LEXIS, and the Internet will make the transition
to Pine Tree easier. Attorney applicants must be members of the Maine
bar or be prepared to take the next Maine bar examination.
