PORTLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined officials from Pine Tree Legal Assistance (PTLA) and the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to announce a new technology initiative aimed at improving civil legal aid for veterans, particularly underserved female veterans.

The initiative, which is led by PTLA and supported by a 36-month grant from LSC, will expand StatesideLegal.org, a national legal assistance website for military members, veterans, and their families. It will also help develop new user-friendly tools tailored specifically for female veterans needing civil legal assistance.

“Every American deserves the benefit of high-quality, affordable legal services, especially those who have served to defend a country founded upon the rule of law,” Senator King said. “Through this initiative, Pine Tree Legal Assistance will further expand its reach to provide critical legal assistance to veterans, particularly women veterans, in Maine who may otherwise have had a difficult time locating or affording the counsel and advice they need.”

PTLA recently won a grant of $138,139 through LSC to fund the initiative. LSC, an independent corporation founded by Congress, is the country’s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans. This initiative is one of 38 projects nationwide that will receive funding in 2014.

LSC President Jim Sandman and Pine Tree Legal Assistance Executive Director Nan Heald also spoke at today’s event.

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