By Matthew V.P. McTygue
When assuming the role of President of the Boston Bar Association, one naturally tries to anticipate the road ahead. You imagine the conversations you might lead, the issues you hope to advance, and the ways the organization can continue championing the work of our members and our profession. You look to the examples set by your predecessors, because this role is not about individual leadership, but about contributing to something much larger than yourself. It is about honoring a legacy but also responding to the present and helping to shape what comes next.
But anticipation is not prediction. And the road ahead rarely looks exactly as imagined.
Recent executive orders and related actions by the administration have sent waves of concern through the legal community. Law firm leaders, in-house counsel, and individual attorneys are rightly alarmed—not only by the chilling effect these measures may have— but by the dangerous precedent they set in eroding the principle that every client deserves representation. Efforts that undermine the rule of law or threaten the independence of the legal profession do more than disrupt our work. They strike at the foundation of our democracy.
No BBA President imagines confronting challenges of this magnitude. But the Boston Bar Association exists precisely for moments like these.
To lead this institution is an extraordinary honor. It means stepping into a role shaped by generations of legal leaders, beginning with John Adams, who helped define the very ideals of justice, fairness, and due process that remain central to our democracy. I came into this role ready to support an organization with a proud legacy. I did not expect to be called upon to help defend it so directly. But I stand ready to do so. Because of the strength, conviction, and clarity this community has brought to this moment.
In response to the executive orders, the BBA has not remained silent. We have joined amicus briefs in support of firms targeted by executive orders, including WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Perkins Coie. We have stood with a nationwide coalition of bar associations and legal organizations to affirm, unequivocally, that the independence of the legal profession is not negotiable. Lawyers must be free to represent their clients, even in the most controversial cases, without fear of government retaliation. That is not just a professional standard. It is a pillar of democracy.
We have faced defining moments before. Just five years ago, the onset of COVID-19 showed how quickly the ground beneath us can shift, disrupting every aspect of our lives and our work. Yet even amid that uncertainty, our legal community revealed its resilience, its compassion, and its unwavering commitment to justice.
Times of grave uncertainty, especially in our society at large, test the strength of our institutions and invite us to explicitly recommit to living our mission. The BBA is here to advance the highest standards of excellence for our profession, to support lawyers in their vital work and to safeguard the rule of law, especially when it is under threat. The BBA is proud to step forward when it matters most. We cannot not stay silent when the rule of law is threatened.
This is not the path I anticipated, but it is one I am honored to walk with all of you. The strength of this association lies in its people: our members, our sponsors, our partners. Thank you for standing with us. We will continue to stand with you.
