2026 Campaign Co-Chairs Announced
The Campaign for Justice has named Eben M. Albert, Esq. and James L. Costello, Esq. as 2026 co-chairs.
With the singular mission of securing access to justice for vulnerable Mainers, the Campaign for Justice is a collaborative effort of the legal community to raise funds for the state’s six core civil legal service providers: Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP), Legal Services for Maine Elders, Maine Equal Justice, the Clinics at Maine Law, and Volunteer Lawyers Project. In addition to their years as members of the Campaign for Justice Cabinet, Eben and Jim have dedicated themselves to civic and professional service, with a special focus on helping the vulnerable and underserved.
Eben is a partner in the Energy group at Pierce Atwood in Portland. Eben is a prior co-chair of the Muskie Fund for Legal Services and served on the Board of Directors of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project. Eben has received distinction for pro bono service through the Katahdin Counsel Recognition Program and was named the 2013 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by ILAP.
His motivation for supporting the Campaign for Justice is simple. “Supporting civil legal aid means ensuring that people have access to legal counsel when they need it most. Civil legal aid ensures that families can stay housed, that survivors can find safety, that veterans can access benefits, and that older Mainers are protected from exploitation. As members of the bar, supporting civil legal aid is one of the clearest ways we can uphold our shared professional values and the integrity of the justice system we serve.”
Jim is a partner and the former managing member of Curtis Thaxter. Throughout his career, Jim has served a number of nonprofit boards, including as a past board and executive committee member of the Maine Bar Foundation, now the Maine Justice Foundation, where Jim is an Honorary Life Fellow. Jim has also served on the boards of Common Good Ventures, Lift 360 and the Maine Children’s Museum as well as local community volunteer efforts.
Like Eben, Jim has a simple motivation for supporting the Campaign for Justice, he believes in its mission. “There is no greater legal principle in our democracy than equal access to justice, and no greater responsibility placed on lawyers than deliberately helping to ensure this is achieved. Civil legal aid offers the most vulnerable among us, who otherwise cannot afford a lawyer, the prospect of equal access, dignity and security by opening the door to legal advice, counsel and advocacy. The money raised from the Campaign for Justice helps victims of domestic violence seek protective orders, provides advocacy for children caught in the web of domestic challenges, offers older Mainers legal help securing Medicare benefits and housing, and helps low-income immigrants navigate the complexities of our legal system.”