Hannaford

During the fall of 2005 I was an intern for the Maine Volunteer Lawyer Project (VLP). I was employed there for credit value from the University of Southern Maine, and worker for three and one half months. The VLP is a non-profit organization that provides legal assistance and information to low-income people throughout the state of Maine. Up to eight volunteers, four supervisors, secretary, and a few staff members, help to ensure a variety of services and/or information is provided. I worked as one of the aforementioned volunteers working on a helpline taking incoming calls. I did what is considered client interviews, where I answered the phone lines, interviewed the callers, reviewed their situation with a legal supervisor, and then linked the caller to their needed service. The calls typically lasted one half hour to 45 minutes in length, and volunteers usually completed four interviews per three hour shift.

For a standard incoming call I begin by completing and intake form to gather important data about there demographics and household income. We, as an organization, gather this type of information because we are a federally funded program and have strict guidelines about what cases we can accept or not. After concluding that the client is income eligible I proceed to take a brief statement of there problem. The VLP only deals with civil matters, so if it is a criminal matter I offer them some suggestions and end the call there. If it is a case that VLP handles regularly there are question packets put together that have a number of questions on them that gather the information that the supervisors need. After completing a question page and/or gathering a solid understanding of the client's issues I place them on hold and review it with a supervisor.

After relaying the appropriate information to management, and hearing what kind of help I should offer to the clients I return to the phone. Some times we can take the client's case for referral to local attorneys, but many times we can only offer advice and an information packet. Lawyers that will represent low income households are few and far between, which is difficult when trying to help our clients. After I communicate what help I can, I part with the clients and complete the necessary paperwork. During this step sometimes I have to gather packets of information and other resources and mail them out to the clients, or I simply write a brief statement going over the