Updated Summer 2006

About Pine Tree Legal Assistance

Pine Tree Legal Assistance is a non-profit organization that gives free legal help to poor people with civil (non-criminal) legal problems in Maine.

Pine Tree operates a special Native American Unit in its Bangor, Maine office. The unit is staffed by attorneys Judith Plano, Mike Guare,Paul Thibeault, Jeff Ashby, and Paul Sabonis, paralegal Danny Mills, and is headed by Eric Nelson. Judith, Mike and Danny have been with the Unit for several years. Paul has specialized in Indian Law since 1983. Jeff works on Native American issues out of our Presque Isle Office. Peter is the KIDSLegal attorney handling Native American Youth issues. Eric has worked at Pine Tree for many years on behalf of migrant farmworkers and Native Americans.

Pine Tree attorneys are not licensed to practice law in Connecticut. However, the Native American Unit may be able to give information and help to low-income Native Americans in Connecticut with federal legal problems, such as questions about the Indian Child Welfare Act and the Jay Treaty. Pine Tree can also refer cases to lawyers in Connecticut. The telephone number is 1-800-879-7463.