By Stephanie Grinnell
Staff Writer
Saco resident Donna Bailey likes to help people. As an attorney practicing family law, real estate law and working with probate issues, she gets to help a lot of people. But, that’s not enough for Bailey, who is campaigning to be elected York County Judge of Probate June 10.
Probate court judges mostly deal with estates, filing wills and taking care of the estate, in addition to monitoring trusts and assigning guardianships and conservatorships for incapacitated adults as well as minor children.
Bailey said the only experience needed for probate judges is they must reside in York County and be an attorney in good standing. Probate judges are considered part-time positions and are expected to continue to practice law.
“I think it’s wonderful to be allowed to do that,” she said. “[being a probate judge] seems like a logical extension.”
Bailey said she envisions jumping into the judge’s chair with a passion, even if it means she would have to hear adoption cases on a Saturday, outside normal court hours.
“People need to be heard, adoptions need to be heard,” she said. “I envision I would do what needs to be done.”
There is one probate judge for each county in Maine, with the tenure lasting four years. Bailey ran for probate judge in 2004, but was defeated by current incumbent Robert Nadeau. In the crowded race, Bailey placed second in number of votes.
“This time I’m grateful the other attorneys allowed me to be the only opponent,” she said.
Bailey originally became interested in law when she was a young girl. Her mother worked as a secretary for a law office servicing low income clients while they lived in New Hampshire.
“I met lawyers and saw the work they did and I kind of fell in love with it,” she said.
A friend from high school mentioned to her several years ago that Bailey ended up doing what she said she wanted to do when she was 14 years old. The friend, who envisioned being a mother as her career, consulted Bailey for an adoption when she shared the story. 
“I didn’t remember saying that at age 14,” she said with a laugh.
Bailey attended Bates College in Lewiston where she graduated with a history degree in 1983. The history program was considered to be pre-law, she said. She was turned on to Bates after taking a course there during high school.
“I fell in love with it and I dreamed of going there,” she said. “After going four years at Bates, I knew I wanted to stay in Maine.”
She sought an interview with the Bates Legal Affairs Committee, which gave recommendations to students wishing to attend law school. Bailey said she was asked during her interview with the committee why she wanted to practice law.
“Because I want to help people,” she recalls responding. “As corny as it sounds, that’s really why I wanted to be a lawyer.”
Bailey said one woman on the committee immediately scoffed at her answer and suggested she was only interested in becoming a lawyer for the money. Nevertheless, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the University of Maine Law School.
Bailey said lawyers have many different duties.
“It isn’t just about the nuts and bolts of the law,” she said. “A lot of what lawyers do is listen and give advice.”
Bailey said she considers herself a counselor as well as a legal representative for her clients. She chose family law because of that aspect and said she doesn’t hear from her clients unless there is something wrong.
“If people come to see a lawyer they usually need help with a problem that is going on,” she said. “People don’t come see me if everything is OK.”
Bailey said the job of a probate judge is similar – to listen to issues and sort through them to arrive at a decision. She has experience with investigating situations involving minor children as a guardian ad litem, which she said is similar to a judicial situation. The guardian ad litem interviews all involved parties and reports to the judge in the case which situation would most benefit the minor child. 
While she enjoys helping people, Bailey said it is also important to remain emotionally distant from clients and their cases. She said many attorneys in her field get burned out because of the heavy emotional toll. She said it is sometimes difficult to “walk the fine line” between being sympathetic and being emotionally invested in a case.
“You can’t be an effective advocate if you’re emotionally involved,” she said.
An experience during the past year has helped Bailey understand a client’s point of view. Bailey said she had to invoke a power of attorney for her husband’s hospice care before he died of cancer last year.
“The experience with my husband gave me a new appreciation for what the families go through, especially the emotional aspect,” she said.
The detail Bailey remembers most in taking care of her husband’s affairs after his death is trying to remember to cancel his cell phone. Small details such as cell phones are often overlooked by attorneys, who are looking at the larger issues, she said.
“I have even more sympathy for clients who are going through that,” Bailey said.
Bailey has two sons; Gunner, 22, who lives and works in South Portland and Aaron, 18, who lives and works in Boston.
For more information about Bailey, visit her Web site, www.freewebs.com/donnabailey. 
Contact Stephanie Grinnell by calling 282-4337 ext. 213 or email news@inthregister.com.