Serve. Lead. 2015 SERVICE REPORT Inspire. ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION “ Here’s what I see all across this great city—people working together to make Boston a better place to live and to raise children, to grow and pursue dreams.” —The late Mayor Thomas Menino Our Mission The mission of the Boston Bar Association is to advance the highest standards of excellence for the legal profession, facilitate access to justice, serve the community at large and promote diversity and inclusion. The Boston Bar Foundation is the charitable affiliate of the Boston Bar Association. Its mission is to promote justice by funding and promoting innovation in legal services, enhancing access to justice for the underserved, and supporting the public interest activities of the bar. If you would like to get involved in any of these programs, please contact: Katie D’Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator, at [email protected]. 2 2015 PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT WELCOME Dear Members and Friends, We’re proud to present the Boston Bar Association’s and Foundation’s 2015 Public Service Report. Each year, we are impressed and inspired by our members who step up to serve, engaging in a range of projects that improve people’s lives, and strengthen our neighborhoods. Some spend a day at Housing Court, on hand to ensure that pro se litigants have fair and equitable access to justice. Others donate time and resources to assist current and former members of the U.S. Military. And still more volunteer to teach future generations what it means to be a lawyer. In the pages ahead, you’ll read about the work of these volunteer lawyers, as told by the people who have seen the impact of their service first-hand. We hope these stories inspire you as they have us, and that you join us next year as we work to improve our community, help our fellow citizens and create a brighter future for Boston. If you would like to get involved in any of these programs, please contact Katie D’Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator, at [email protected]. Sincerely, Julia Huston Lisa Goodheart President President Boston Bar Association Boston Bar Foundation 4 2015 PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT Contents 6 About the Boston Bar Association & Foundation 8 Reentry Education Program 10 Summer Jobs Progam 14 Lawyer Referral Service 16 Law Day in the Schools 18 Judicial Internship Program 20 Lawyer for the Day in the Boston Housing Court 22 Further Initiatives 24 Public Interest Leadership Program 26 Expanding Access to Justice 27 John & Abigail Adams Benefit / Grants 28 Law Day Dinner: Honoring Public Service 29 Committees & Volunteers 32 Donors, Sponsors, Sustaining Members & Fellows 39 BBA Council and BBF Trustees ABOUT THE BOSTON BAR ASSOCIATION The Boston Bar Association (BBA) is the hub of the legal prominent industry practices: health, financial services, and profession—a strong and diverse group of attorneys college and university law. Our members are also proof that committed to professional excellence, giving back to our an inclusive legal community is a strong legal community. community, and fostering equal access to the justice As an organization, we’ve built formal partnerships with system for all. six affinity bar associations (the Asian American Lawyers Association, the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Starting as a small group of lawyers led by John Adams in Attorneys, the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, the the late 1700’s, the BBA is now more than 12,000 strong, with Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys, the Massachusetts members ranging from large firm practitioners, solo and bou- LGBTQ Bar Association, and the South Asian Bar Association tique lawyers, affinity bar leaders, in-house counsel, regula- of Greater Boston). Together with our fellow bar associations, tors, legal aid attorneys, court personnel, law school faculty, our partners in the city, and the Boston Bar Foundation, we law students, and other legal professionals. Our members are work to strengthen our initiatives and expand our capabilities experts in a wide range of fields, including Boston’s most as we look to a bright future. Community Justice 6 2015 PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT ABOUT THE BOSTON BAR FOUNDATION The Boston Bar Foundation (BBF), the charitable affiliate of opportunities that make a meaningful impact in our communi- the Boston Bar Association, is where the legal community ty. In addition to funding the portfolio of projects described in comes together to make a difference and give back. Since its this report, the BBF also provides direct grants to community founding in 1957, the BBF has engaged thousands of lawyers non-profits that provide legal assistance to those in need. in projects that directly improve people’s lives and strengthen our community. The Boston Bar Foundation is able to fund the projects and programs described in this report thanks to the generous The BBF takes a holistic approach to advancing its mission donations and financial support from individuals, law firms, to expand access to justice and engage lawyers in service businesses, and other sponsors. The Boston Bar Association and Foundation have engaged thousands of lawyers in projects that directly improve people’s lives. Volunteerism Pro Bono 2015 PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT 7 REENTRY EDUCATION PROGRAM The courtroom inside the John Joseph Moakley lihood of recidivism, both judges proposed to the Federal Courthouse buzzes with quiet activity. BBA the idea that lawyers might have helpful legal Attendees start to fill in the seats, some of them expertise to offer to probationers as they prepare equipped with pads of paper and pens. They are to reenter society. here to attend sessions of the Reentry Education Program. After incarceration, rejoining society again is no easy task. Formerly incarcerated individuals face The initiative began in 2012 as a collaborative effort obstacles in regaining their licenses, finding jobs, between Judges Leo T. Sorokin and Timothy Hill- securing housing, and any number of other basic man of the District Court and the BBA’s Public needs. Navigating this road without assistance can Interest Leadership Program (PILP). Involved with seem daunting. Topics covered in this program the probation programs C.A.R.E. and RESTART, include: CORI management, finding affordable which respectively offer support to probationers housing, family law, public benefits, financial literacy, struggling from drug addiction and the high like- reinstating drivers licenses, and landlord tenant law. 103 12 Number of Participants Number of Sessions “ The participants were incredibly engaged and eager to apply the class tools towards their own fresh start.” 7 Topics Covered —Adrienne Walker, Mintz Levin 8 2015 PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT LIFE ANEW: Adrienne Walker (right) and Raquel Webster (below) are two of the volunteers who help formerly incarcerated individuals rejoin society. OUR STORY Raquel Webster & Adrienne Walker | Volunteers Raquel Webster, on a second year. Workshop leaders class tools towards their own fresh start.” (National Grid) one include attorneys from private practice, That’s exactly what this program of the committee legal services, solo practitioners, and seeks to offer to the participants of the members involved more—all of whom have eagerly offered workshops: their best chance at a fresh with the creation of to volunteer for this critical program. start. Equipped with information about the program, cited So far, participants at the sessions have their rights and how to live responsibly, an overwhelmingly learned more about public benefits, participants are more likely to avoid enthusiastic response from participants their tenancy rights and affordable recidivism. The Reentry Education from the very start: “In the first work- housing options, driver’s license rein- Program teaches them that the justice shop, there were enough questions to statement, and beyond. system is there to support them, and have kept us there for hours. The at- As to whether the program continues in doing so creates a safer, healthier tendees were very engaged and had all to have a positive effect, the close atten- community for all. sorts of questions—you could see them tion that participants have shown in the scribbling down notes for the entire workshops is testament enough. Adri- PILP 11 AND CHOICE session, and many approached [the pre- enne Walker (Mintz Levin), who taught a senter] after to thank him and ask extra financial literacy course, affirmed, “Learn- Following the structure established by the Reentry Education Program’s questions. We left feeling encouraged ing about credit and the tools needed presentation, PILP 11 provided educa- that, even if it was in a short amount of to build a strong credit history are vitally tional programs to participants in the Boston Municipal Courthouse in Roxbury time, we could tell that they were trying important to regain independence and CHOICE program. Formed in 2009, the to soak it all in… ” financial security. The participants in the CHOICE program combines intensive probation supervision and monthly in- With resounding success in its first BBA Reentry Education Program…rec- court sessions with encouragement for iteration, the BBA formally adopted the ognized this need and were incredibly en- job placement and continuing education. Reentry Education Program to embark gaged and eager to learn, and apply the 2015 PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT 9 SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM MY STORY youth. But I want to do more than that; partner in supporting my Summer I want to connect jobs to the college Jobs