Our Mission

Maine Equal Justice (MEJ) is a nonprofit civil legal aid and economic justice organization working to increase economic security, opportunity, and equity for people in Maine.

We:

Advocate for fair public policies in the legislature and with governmental agencies;
Provide direct legal services and representation through impact litigation on systemic issues; and
Partner with diverse low-income communities and agencies through outreach, organizing, and education.

We are a civil legal aid organization that represents the interests of people with low income in all three branches of government to ensure access to economic security programs (the safety net of government assistance) and to protect and advance the rights and interests of people with low income. We have expertise in the laws governing economic security programs and consumer finance protections. We fight hard for our clients and persistence and collaboration help us achieve the best possible outcomes.

We are an economic justice organization that strives to bring people and communities together to build the movement for economic security and opportunity for ALL Mainers. We partner with people who are impacted by poverty because we believe that they should be at the forefront of the fight to end it. Together we aim to shape policies that increase economic security and address systemic discrimi¬nation and disparities. People coming together across differences to work toward shared goals can make significant systems-level change to improve peoples’ lives, our communities, and our state.

People + Policy = Solutions

Maine Equal Justice strives to bridge people and their day-to-day experiences with public policy changes that will solve the problems they face.

Allina Diaz is working her way through college as a single mom in the Parents as Scholars program. As a member of the Equal Justice Partner’s Circle, she has testified in front of the legislature to increase opportunities so that parents with low income can succeed in their educational pursuits. Allina has overcome barriers to getting her degree so that she can provide for her three daughters. Not only that, Allina has joined Maine Equal Justice to advance policy solutions that will impact thousands of other Maine families.

“I grew up in a small town in Maine, and like many of the kids around me, our families were more focused on getting enough to eat and buying oil than on encouraging us children to get an education. Even without my degree in hand, education has transformed my life; I’ve gained purpose, direction, confidence, and hope. As I interact with my community, especially young parents, I see so much untapped potential. Offering easier access to education and improving these life-changing programs is essential to the growth of Maine. I see strong women and men making major changes in their lives, graduating and breaking the cycle of poverty.”

—Allina Diaz, Warren, testifying before the legislature in 2019

Poverty is a systemic problem

Poverty is a systemic problem and must be addressed through systemic change.

In the United States, the income gap between the rich and everyone else has been growing markedly, by every major statistical measure, for more than 30 years. Over the past five decades, the top one percent of American earners have nearly doubled their share of national income. Meanwhile, despite our nation’s abundance, the poverty rate for all U.S. families has merely inched up and down with an estimated 43.5 percent of the total U.S. population either poor or low-income.

Living in poverty is often presented as a personal struggle, which it can be, but it is also rooted in and perpetuated by laws and policies—like those that affect access to education and training, wages, taxes, healthcare, housing, and our social safety net.

Poverty and economic inequality impact all of us; we see its consequences in our education system, our health system, our workforce, and our economy—it’s in all our interests to address poverty. We all have a stake in this and together we can make a meaningful difference to create greater fairness in public policies and laws.

“I put in a lot of hard work to get to where I am, but I’m also fortunate because Maine helped sustain me and my three kids with food, housing, heating, and childcare assistance while I was in school. Maine invested in me and as a result, my oldest child is applying to college. I am determined that she won’t experience poverty like I did. The cycle of poverty ends with me.”

—Robyn Stanicki, Clinical Researcher, Winterport

Our Roots

In 1996, Congress passed legislation that prohibited Legal Services Corporation grantees, such as Pine Tree Legal Assistance, from representing low-income people in the Legislature, before administrative agencies, and in significant class action litigation. Thanks to the vision and support of Maine’s legal community, including the Judiciary, the Bar, and legal service providers, Maine Equal Justice was formed to continue these vital advocacy and litigation services.

Since its inception Maine Equal Justice has developed expertise and experience in representing the interests of people with low income in Maine. Our highly qualified staff has extensive knowledge of federal and state law and policy, and the issues facing individuals and families who are struggling to move out of poverty. MEJ takes pride in its leadership role and commitment to improving the lives of Maine people with low income.