Pine Tree has no job openings for attorneys or support staff right now. Please
check back frequently. If you are a student interested in clerkships or
internships, please see
Internships at PTLA.
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.
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Because we provide great staff support:
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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.
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Because of our healthy funding situation:
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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.
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Because of our great work environment:
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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.
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Because our salary and benefits package is very competitive within the public
sector:
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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.
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Who are we looking to hire?
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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.
