Clinical Programs
Prisoner Assistance Clinic
Students in the Prisoner Assistance Clinic assist prisoners in the State correctional system on civil matters. Because of its large client base, and the varied legal problems faced by incarcerated individuals, the Prisoner Assistance Clinic provides student attorneys with a diverse and ever-changing legal practice and with a group of very appreciative clients. Students meet each week with male and female prisoners at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham, and assist inmates in other institutions throughout the state via phone, fax, mail and video. Student attorneys handle matters involving family law (including guardianship of prisoners’ children), probate, bankruptcy, debt collection, social security and other issues. Once the student attorney identifies the prisoner’s legal issues, the student attorney decides upon and takes the appropriate steps to solve the problem. Those steps may be as simple as answering questions or providing assistance with the completion and filing of legal forms, to full representation in court proceedings, including negotiations, trials and appeals in both federal and state courts. The diversity of subject matters and tasks provides students with extensive opportunities to develop a variety of
