Pine Tree Legal Assistance is proud to announce the launch of the:

Elinor and Charles Miller Rural Justice Fellowship!

We are delighted to share that the Elinor and Charles Miller Rural Justice Fellowship, an initiative aimed at improving access to civil legal services for residents of Aroostook, Hancock, and Washington Counties, has officially begun! This fellowship underscores our commitment to enhancing legal services in underserved rural areas of Maine, ensuring essential legal assistance is accessible to those in most need while fostering the development of the next generation of public interest attorneys.

We are proud to introduce the inaugural recipient of the Elinor and Charles Miller Rural Justice Fellowship: Jordan Miller (no relation), a graduate of Colby College and New York University School of Law. He will dedicate his two-year fellowship to serving in the Machias office of Pine Tree Legal Assistance. Originally from Redlands, California, Jordan developed a passion for Maine and public service during an internship with Pine Tree Legal Assistance while studying at NYU.

In Maine, access to legal representation is predominantly centered in more populated areas, particularly Cumberland County. The Miller Fellowship is vital in responding to the urgent legal needs of low-income communities in rural regions, as over half of the state’s practicing attorneys are concentrated in Cumberland County. Each year, a Fellow will be chosen for a two-year term, with the current Fellow working in Machias, and the next Fellow assigned to the Presque Isle office. Future Fellows will rotate between the Machias and Presque Isle locations.

The fellowship targets civil legal issues such as eviction prevention, access to benefits, consumer protection, and support for victims of domestic and sexual violence, addressing critical needs faced by vulnerable populations. Not only does this program offer vital services to communities, but it also creates pathways for emerging lawyers to engage in public interest work, continuing the legacy of initiatives like the Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship.

The establishment of this Fellowship is a testament to the tireless efforts of many individuals who have contributed to making Pine Tree a strong advocate for equal access to justice. Among them, Ellie and Charlie Miller stand out for their enduring commitment. While we mourn the loss of Charlie, who passed away in August 2023, we continue to benefit from Ellie’s wisdom, care, and leadership as a Board officer, a position she has held for over a decade. Ellie’s decades-long service as a Pine Tree staff member, including her time as Assistant Director during some of the organization’s most challenging periods, highlights their dedication to equal access to justice in Maine.

Together, the Miller Fellows will carry forward this vital mission of service for years to come, embodying Ellie and Charlie’s remarkable legacy.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance is accepting applications now for a candidate to fill the position of the 2025-2027 Elinor and Charles Miller Rural Justice Fellow!

We invite current 3L students and law graduates finishing judicial clerkships to apply. The application deadline is October 15, 2024. We plan to finalize the selection process by early December, with the fellowship set to begin on September 2, 2025.

What brought you to Pine Tree?

"I love Maine and want to be a civil legal-services attorney--Pine Tree allowed me to pursue both passions."

What is your most memorable case, or favorite memory from working at Pine Tree?

"I interned at Pine Tree during the summer between my first and second year of law school. After that first year of law school, it was difficult to remember why I wanted to go to law school in the first place--the law seemed so abstract then and its practical aspects unclear. Going to my first eviction court date--FED-- and watching the attorney provide more time for the client to remain in their home reminded me why I wanted to practice law."

If you could have one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

"Some sort of pasta--Leftover pasta is often my breakfast of choice."

What does justice mean to you?

"Simply, justice is a process of trying to right wrongs. Often, that is fighting for an individual client's rights to be recognized and respected. On a larger scale, it is removing historic barriers and discrimination in our society that have rendered some people with less power than others. More abstractly, justice is recognizing and respecting the humanity within each person and fighting for a society and system that does the same."

If you could pick one song to play every time you enter a room, what would it be?



"Tom Sawyer--Rush."

Pine Tree Legal has a longstanding commitment to equal access to justice for all the people of Maine, in every community in our state. When access to justice is truly equal, it helps our neighbors, families, businesses and whole communities. 

The concept of the Fellowship made great sense when we decided to create it: honoring Ellie and Charlie Miller and bringing dedicated energy and attention to some of our most rural communities in order to motivate new lawyers to come work here. The Miller Fellowship is no longer just a concept; Jordan is here and getting to work! We could not be more pleased with our selection of Jordan as the first Fellow and are excited for the service he will provide Downeast. 

Our clients are why we do what we do,

you are the how.

You are the essential piece of the puzzle that allows our clients the same safety and protections as everyone else, regardless of economic status.

Your support keeps people housed, provides workplace opportunities for low-wage workers, keeps community members protected from abuse, provides a voice to those unheard and breaks down barriers to justice for Maine people experiencing poverty.

On behalf of the entire team at Pine Tree Legal,

we thank you for your support.



The fight for justice continues because of you.

Members of the Maine Bar can support PTLA’s work by donating to the Campaign for Justice, a special collaborative fundraising effort by Maine’s legal community to support legal aid.

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