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Judicial Branch Applauds Attorneys Participating in the "Katahdin Counsel Recognition Program" for 2025
Date: 10/31/2025
The Maine Judicial Branch announced today that in the 2024-2025 reporting year ending on June 30, 2025, one hundred and three Maine attorneys who reported contributing fifty or more hours of free legal services to low-income and elderly individuals received certificates honoring them as "Katahdin Counsel." In all, attorneys provided 11,130 hours of pro bono services with an estimated market value of $1,669,500.
Mainers receiving legal services in the 2025 reporting period faced significant civil legal issues related to housing, family relations, bankruptcy, immigration, and food insecurity, among others. The help provided by Katahdin Counsel attorneys was indispensable in helping achieve fair, practical, and cost-efficient outcomes for those who might otherwise be self-represented.
Katahdin Counsel Recognition Program (KCRP) ceremonies were held at Judicial Branch facilities during October to coincide with the National Celebration of Pro Bono, originally begun by the American Bar Association in 2009. The Judicial Branch created the KCRP in 2011.
"Maine attorneys make contributions to our communities in many ways, including providing pro bono legal services. The KCRP is a small, but we hope meaningful, way of recognizing the work of attorneys who go above and beyond the charge contained in Rule 6.1 of the Maine Rules of Professional Conduct that 'every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay,'" noted Supreme Court Associate Justice Andrew M. Mead.
In addition to recognition, another important goal of the KCRP is to draw attention to the continuing unmet need for civil legal representation and increase the number of lawyers who voluntarily offer free legal assistance. Justice Mead, who serves as Chair of the Maine Justice Action Group and who also oversees the KCRP, expressed the hope that participation in the program will continue to grow in the coming years, noting, There continues to be a significant need for pro bono services in civil cases.
How a Maine attorney can participate in the Katahdin Counsel Recognition Program:
To be recognized as a KCRP lawyer, an attorney must provide 50 or more hours of qualifying pro bono legal services between July 1 and June 30 of the preceding year. Information on participating in the program can be found on the Information for Attorneys page of the Judicial Branch.
Legal Aid Resources on the Judicial Branch Website
On its website, the Judicial Branch has compiled a list of all of the civil legal aid organizations in Maine. The list, eligibility for legal services, and contact information can be found at: https://www.courts.maine.gov/help/legal/legal-aid.html.