Our Enduring Commitment to Fostering Belonging in the Legal Profession
by Matthew V.P. McTygue
As a leader in our profession, an equity partner at a major law firm, and, importantly, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I feel deeply compelled to speak out in support of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts. These values are not just abstract ideals—they are personal to me. They shaped my own path in the legal profession and are essential to ensuring fairness, opportunity, and the extraordinary potential that each person brings to the practice of law.
When I first became involved with the Boston Bar Association, I found a community that embraced these values—a place where I belonged and where I saw the power of a legal profession that welcomes and lifts up all voices. Throughout my career, both in rising to the level of leadership at a law firm and serving in many leadership roles within the BBA, I have seen firsthand the essential brilliance, dedication, and innovation that diverse individuals bring to our profession. I have seen teams thrive because they draw from a variety of perspectives and life experiences. I have watched colleagues overcome systemic barriers to achieve extraordinary success. And I know, from my own journey, that when an environment fosters true belonging, it empowers people to reach their fullest potential.
The Boston Bar Association has long recognized this truth. For more than a century, we have stood on the front lines of civil rights and social justice. In 1974, when Boston was in turmoil over school desegregation following Judge Arthur Garrity’s decision in Morgan v. Hennigan, the BBA appointed a Committee on School Desegregation. The Committee’s report, “Desegregation: The Boston Orders and Their Origin,” played a key role in educating the public on the court’s authority, the ruling, and its impact. In 2003, we reaffirmed our commitment to equal rights by filing an amicus brief supporting marriage equality in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, the case that made Massachusetts the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage. More recently, in response to our country’s reckoning with racial injustice, we conducted a groundbreaking study in 2017 that shined a spotlight on racial disparities in the Massachusetts legal system, and that has since informed our involvement as amici in several cases before the SJC. This is the legacy we carry forward.
But today, that legacy is under attack. We find ourselves in a moment when these principles are being challenged, misrepresented, and undermined. Federal executive orders, policies, and rhetoric—not to mention EEOC letters sent to 20 law firms—threaten to erase decades of hard-fought progress. Some would have us believe that diversity diminishes merit or that inclusion comes at the expense of fairness. These narratives are not only false—they are harmful. They marginalize talent, silence voices, and perpetrate exclusion in a profession that should stand for justice.
At the Boston Bar Association, we reject these falsehoods unequivocally. We affirm that talent is not defined by a single identity and that opportunity must never be limited by age, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, veterans’ status, or any other factor. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts are not about lowering standards; they are about ensuring that everyone has the chance to meet them. They are about breaking down barriers, expanding opportunity, and ensuring that every lawyer can thrive in an environment where they feel valued and supported.
As a leader in our profession, I know how essential it is for us to stand up for these principles—not just for our institutions, but for the people who make them thrive; for the associates who need mentors who see their worth; for the clients who benefit from broader perspectives; and for the communities we serve and the justice we strive to achieve.
Our work is far from over, and at times it may feel daunting. But we cannot lose sight of what is at stake—or of the progress we have made together. For more than a century, the Boston Bar Association has been a force for change, proving that a more inclusive legal profession is a stronger one. We will not turn back now. We will continue to champion equity, foster belonging, and ensure that our profession truly reflects the full diversity of our society.
To every member of our legal community: You belong here. This is your professional home—a place where you are valued, where your voice matters, and where we stand together in our commitment to fairness, justice, and opportunity for all.
