Beacon of Justice Supporter Brown Rudnick LLP Holland
Beacon of Justice Supporter Brown Rudnick LLP Holland & Knight LLP Krokidas & Bluestein LLP Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P. C. Nutter Mc. Clennen & Fish LLP Prince Lobel Tye LLP Sunstein Kann Murphy & Timbers LLP Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen, P. C. Champion of Justice Individual Contributor Bingham Mc. Cutchen LLP EMC Corporation Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Mary Lu Bilek on behalf of University of Massachusetts School of Law — Dartmouth Brett Carroll John Carroll Ben Clements George Field Paul James Steve Rosenfeld Lisa Goodheart Christine Griffin Ken Vacovec Organizational Contributor MLAC Board and Staff Biogen Idec Boston Bar Association Collora LLP Lee, Rivers & Corr LLP Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys Massachusetts Bar Association Mike Badger Marijane Benner Browne Rahsaan Hall Janne Hellgren Martha Koster Tim Lee Timothy Linnehan Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association Sally & Fitch LLP Judith Martinez Maria Matos William Newman Martha Rush O’Mara Lonnie Powers Martin Tomassian
30 Charlie Harak, National Consumer Law Center “ I've been very fortunate to work on a range of energy and utility matters that help low-income families keep warm and stay connected to their utility service. ”
Sen. Robert Travaglini receives an award from a domestic violence survivor at an event celebrating the expansion of the Battered Women’s Legal Assistance Project (October 1995).
The Ma family arrived in the United States from a small village in China after waiting more than a decade to enter the country lawfully. When their landlord was foreclosed upon, Greater Boston Legal Services helped them avoid eviction.
30 Wendy Kane, Community Legal Aid “ I enjoy assisting people to present their cases and assert their rights. I have been lucky to have far more positive outcomes than not and that has made this a happy and positive experience in my life. ”
Chief Justice Roderick Ireland former client board member Eileen Ryan, holding her award for advocacy on behalf of legal aid programs (2006).
“ That job meant the world to me. But how do you abandon your own daughter? ” Susan Jones was fired for missing work to welcome her daughter home after a six-month deployment in Iraq and Kuwait. Legal aid helped her get the unemployment insurance for which she was eligible.
30 Paula Starr, Greater Boston Legal Services “ Each client who gives me a hug at the end of a difficult time of her life, each woman I try to put on a path to safety – those are my memorable moments. ”
“ Legal aid is there for people like me. ” Former client Remon Jourdan at the 13 th Annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid in 2012. Remon recounted his story of how Greater Boston Legal Services helped him with a Mass. Health dispute.
30 John Busbin, Community Legal Aid “ I’ve worked in legal aid over the many years I have because I enjoy the work and I’m a helper – that is, I enjoy helping clients trying to resolve the legal issues they have. ”
Missy Brinson and her children endured years of racially motivated beatings and verbal attacks after they moved into an all-white housing complex. Legal aid won compensation for Missy and an order for the housing authority to end racial discrimination in tenant placement and take steps to address racial violence at the complex.
30 Steven Schwartz, Center for Public Representation “ It has been a long haul, but it has been a blessed endeavor. ”
Mary Doyon, former MLAC fiscal director. In August 2012, Mary became the first MLAC employee to retire.
When Ottilie Nowikow’s new landlord tripled her rent and tried to evict her, Greater Boston Legal Services had the eviction dismissed and negotiated an agreement to keep the rent at its original level until Ottilie could find a new home.
30 Alan Minuskin, Boston College Law School “ I have served only clients living in poverty for my whole career because the greatest justice system in the world is of absolutely no use to people who have no access to it. ”
When David Thomas was hospitalized for six weeks, a friend stole his money, leaving David broke and unable to pay his rent. A legal aid attorney negotiated an affordable payment plan and found a local charity willing to pay part of his overdue rent.
Former Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall and former MLAC board member Peggy Santos at MLAC’s 20 th anniversary (May 2003).
30 Will Ogburn, National Consumer Law Center “ It has been an amazing privilege to have had a hand in issues of vital importance to low-income families, and to know that my career has made a difference. ”
Steve Oleskey, former chair of the Equal Justice Coalition and former MLAC board member, at an Equal Justice Conference (1998).
Neighborhood Legal Services Executive Director Sheila Casey and Metro. West Legal Services Executive Director Betsy Soule at MLAC’s 2012 annual meeting.
30 Paul Tremblay, Boston College Law School “ I do this work because justice demands it, because I love doing it, and because I came of age in the 1960 s, so I have to do it. ”
Joyce Allen Beckford, MLAC’s Diversity Coalition Director, leads a workshop at National Consumer Law Center (2009).
30 Neil Cronin, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute “ Combining my interest in AIDS activism with my work as a health care advocate makes me feel the proudest of all. We changed the world. ”
Greater Boston Legal Services helped Gladys Dixon receive muchneeded federal disability benefits.
“ My legal aid lawyer was heaven-sent. ” Daniele Bien-Aime spoke at the 14 th Annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid in 2013. South Coastal Counties Legal Services helped Daniele after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, lost her job and was nearly evicted from her apartment.
30 Kitty Callaghan, Community Legal Aid “ During my career, it has been my passion to advocate for tenants, homeowners, and homeless people. It has been an honor for me to help people to obtain justice. ”
Sen. William Golden and Rep. Frank Hynes receive awards at an MLAC board meeting (December 1988).
Bob Sable of Greater Boston Legal Services, Rep. Byron Rushing and legal aid client Melvin Fransisco at the Equal Justice Coalition’s legislative recognition awards ceremony (2004).
30 Jennifer Kurrus, Merrimack Valley Legal Services “ What keeps me going in this work is the satisfaction of knowing I can make a difference in the lives of those who would otherwise have no voice. ”
When Mary Marco couldn’t get into her new apartment, an attorney from South Middlesex Legal Services negotiated with her landlord, the local housing authority, to make modifications to accommodate her wheelchair.
Pattye Comfort, Executive Director of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts and former Equal Justice Coalition Director.
30 Nancy Lorenz, Greater Boston Legal Services “ I have been able to go to work each day knowing that my work makes a difference in people’s lives and promotes social and economic justice. ”
Former client Natasha Torres spoke about how Community Legal Aid helped her obtain the funds to make her house wheelchair-accessible at the 12 th Annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid in 2011.
30 Eneida Sanchez, Greater Boston Legal Services “ I am deeply committed and passionate about serving our most vulnerable clients ”
Allan Rodgers, former executive director of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.
After Allison’s husband beat her when she dropped her daughter off for court visitation, a legal aid attorney helped her obtain custody of her daughter, safe visitation arrangements and child support payments.
30 Jeff Luekens, Massachusetts Justice Project “ I have been committed to doing work which empowered poor people while attacking the poverty that weighed them down. ”
30 Julie O’Hanley, South Coastal Counties Legal Services “ Working with dedicated legal advocates and volunteer attorneys willing to commit to the ideal of equal access to justice has given me much personal and professional satisfaction. ”
Governor Deval Patrick (center), with MLAC Chair Rahsaan Hall and Executive Director Lonnie Powers at the 14 th Annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid in January 2013.
30 Ken Mac. Iver, Merrimack Valley Legal Services “ Time flies when you’re having fun. And, it’s undeniably fun to help otherwise powerless folks grab hold of their rights and emerge triumphant. ”
MLAC Executive Director Lonnie Powers with former staff in 1995. From left, Karen Green, James Crawford, Sharon Rancourt, Barbara Callwood, Bruce Stone and Sandy Wu.
30 Dan Manning, Greater Boston Legal Services “ Fighting the good fight for truth and justice – what’s not to like! ”
Managing partners from more than 20 Massachusetts law firms attended the 14 th Annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid in January 2013.
30 Pat Baker, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute Pat met with United States Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Kevin Concannon in March 2013 to advocate for adequate assistance for elderly food stamp applicants.
When Jason Vyce lost his job, he could no longer pay rent. After the Department of Transitional Assistance delayed his family’s admission to a shelter, a legal aid attorney navigated them through the process and helped place them in shelter.
Mary Daley’s new landlord tripled her rent and tried to evict her. A legal aid attorney helped Mary negotiate with the landlord and move into a subsidized elder housing development.
Children waiting outside the offices of Legal Services for Cape Cod and Islands in Hyannis as their parents look for affordable housing (1991).
Ken Vacovec speaking at a press conference for the Commission on Equal Justice (1996).
Former Equal Justice Coalition chair Steve Oleskey addresses the audience at the 8 th Annual Walk to the Hill for Legal Aid (2007).
30 Mac Mc. Creight, Greater Boston Legal Services “ The most inspiring thing has been the growth of networks of support among colleagues and community advocates which has crossed the generations in advocacy. ”
John Brooks, 1914 -2012 “ There are really few people in history who have left such a deep and wide mark on legal services for the poor. – Willard Ogburn ”
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