Greetings and happy fall!
Please see a report from the Commission’s Access to Attorneys Committee and an update on funding for a new civil legal aid directory. Please also mark your calendars for 2022-2023 Commission meetings.
Commission’s Access to Attorneys Committee Report on Fee Shifting in Family Law Litigation
On behalf of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission’s Access to Attorneys Committee, I am pleased to share the “Report on Fee Shifting in Family Law Litigation.” The Report summarizes and comments on results from two surveys on fee-shifting practices, one issued to judges in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court and the other to family law practitioners in Massachusetts. The Commission thanks Commissioners Hon. Robert Fields, Laura Gal, and Joel Feldman and Committee members Shannon Barnes and Laura Unflat for their efforts in researching and writing the Report. The Commission is also grateful for its collaboration with the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court.
Boston Bar Foundation Grant for Civil Legal Aid Directory
The Boston Bar Foundation (BBF) announced that it will grant $12,000 in special funding for the purpose of creating a civil legal aid directory to serve the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The donation was made to the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC), acting for the benefit of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission. The directory will inform and educate private foundations and businesses about philanthropic opportunities to support legal aid programs by enabling potential donors to quickly and easily find where to make donations to legal services that align with their ideals and goals. Read here for more information.
Save the Dates: Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission Meetings 2022-2023
- October 11, 2022, from 2:30-4:00 pm (John Adams Courthouse, 1 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA (Room TBD))
- February 15, 2023, from 1-2:30 pm (Zoom, link to be provided)
- May 15, 2023, from 10-11:30 am (Trial Court Learning Center (Worcester Law Library), Room 300, 184 Main Street, Worcester)
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Best,
Carolyn