Boston Bar Association

Kicking off #ProBonoMonth with a proclamation from Gov.
Maura Healey!

As access to justice faces challenges, lawyers' commitment to service matters more than ever.

Join us in making a difference this October!
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#BostonBar #Law #AccessToJustice

Justice shouldn’t depend on your income.

Volunteer Lawyers Project is expanding access to justice in MA, one case at a time.

Lawyers! Take a pro bono case! Volunteer at a Clinic! Join a training (next: 10/16 eviction defense)!

Learn more here: bostonbar.org/news/volunte...

#ProBono #BostonLaw

We are deeply grateful to the Boston Bar Foundation for its timely support and partnership!

We look forward to working together in the upcoming year as we improve access to justice for vulnerable immigrants in our community.

We’ve streamlined membership to better meet you where you are. Whether you’re building your own practice, deepening your expertise, or looking to lead, there’s a BBA membership that fits your goals.

Learn more >> bostonbar.org/join-now

To learn more about these grants, and for a full list of our 2025-26 granteres, read more below:

bostonbar.org/news/bbf-gra...

The organizations receiving BBF grants serve the needs of Greater Boston’s most vulnerable communities—including domestic violence survivors, immigrants, incarcerated individuals, low-income workers, veterans, children, and families in crisis.

“These grants are more than just funding—they’re a statement of our values as a legal community,” said BBF President Megan Gates. “We’re proud to support organizations doing life-changing work, helping people who might otherwise fall through the cracks of the justice system.”

These totals mark an increase in both total funding and the number of recipient organizations compared to last year.

The Boston Bar Foundation (BBF), which serves as the charitable arm of the Boston Bar Association, announced today that it will award $2 million in legal services grants for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to 53 local organizations in the Greater Boston area.

As a reminder, the BBA is closed today for July 4th. We hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend!

For her leadership during a critical moment and her commitment to a legal system that is just, fair, and rooted in compassion and empathy, the Boston Bar Association is proud to recognize Chief Justice Kimberly Budd with the Haskell Cohn Distinguished Judicial Service Award.

Throughout her tenure, she has worked to demystify the judicial appointment process. With humility and thoughtfulness, she has used her own story to make members of the bar feel welcomed and supported, reinforcing her belief that the legal system must consider people in their full contexts.

Budd has served as the 38th Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court since December 1, 2020, guiding the Court through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the appointment of two new justices, all while confronting escalating threats to the judiciary’s legitimacy and judges’ security.

Tonight, the BBA honors Kimberly Budd, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, with the Haskell Cohn Award.

You can read more about Juneteenth, as well as the the landmark legal battles that abolished slavery in Massachusetts nearly a century prior, here:

bostonbar.org/news/the-lan...

The BBA is closed today in celebration of Juneteenth, which commemorates the day Union troops rode into Galveston Bay, TX and announced that the more than 250k enslaved Black people in their state were free, celebrating the effective end of slavery in the United States.

Are you a solo or small firm practitioner? Do you like pizza? Join us for a casual pizza lunch at the BBA today from 12-1pm. Our discussion, led by Barbara Bowe of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, will center on wellbeing while running your own firm.

bostonbar.my.site.com/LightningMem...

That concludes tonight’s speaking program. Thanks for following along—and Go Sox!

“We must never forget the needs of the most vulnerable members of our society,” says A2J Commission co-chair Marijane Benner Browne

And now President McTygue welcomes the A2J Commission to the stage as we recognize their 20 years of vital support for pro bono legal services in MA. You can read more about the A2J Commission here:

bostonbar.org/news/bba-hon...

…It ensures that justice is not wielded as a weapon of the powerful, but as a shield for all. It promises that outcomes are determined by principle, not privilege; that due process triumphs over arbitrary judgment; and that every person, regardless of status or wealth, stands equal before the law.”

President McTygue:

“No matter where we celebrate it, Law Day is about just that – the rule of law, and its necessity in a functioning society. The rule of law is not abstract. It is the backbone of civil society, the safeguard of liberty, and the guiding force in the pursuit of fairness and equity…

President McTygue notes tonight’s event raised more than $160,000 to support the BBA and our community.

The speaking portion of tonight’s Law Day event will begin soon! We’ll hear from BBA President Matt McTygue and tonight’s honoree, the Access to Justice Commission. Follow live for updates and clips.

This room will soon fill up with more than 400 members of our legal community. And it’s hard to beat that view!

Have you heard? Tonight, we're hosting #LawDayLive, the must-attend event of the summer for Boston's legal community, at the iconic Fenway Park. We'll be live-posting starting around 5:30 pm, so be sure to keep an eye out if you aren't able to attend in-person. To those who are -- see you soon!

Great to have our Summer 2025 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Fellowship class at 16 Beacon St. tonight to meet and greet with our DEIB Section!

You can learn more about our Summer Fellowship Program here:

bostonbar.org/diversity-eq...

"Know Your Rights" poster with titles of featured articles. See links for title names and more information.

"Know Your Rights" poster with titles of featured articles. See links for title names and more information.

"Know Your Rights" poster with titles of featured articles. See links for title names and more information.

"Know Your Rights" poster with titles of featured articles. See links for title names and more information.

Do you speak Haitian Creole, Portuguese, or Spanish? Get information about your legal rights in Massachusetts!

Visit MassLegalHelp today:

www.masslegalhelp.org/immigration/...
www.masslegalhelp.org/domestic-abu...

Translations made possible with the support of the BBF @bostonbar.bsky.social.