Building the Next Generation of Legal Leaders: The Impact of the BBA’s Public Interest Leadership Program

The Boston Bar Association understands the importance of nurturing a continuous pipeline of current and future leaders across the legal landscape. Doing so is imperative to its mission to advance the highest standards of excellence in the legal profession, promote access to justice, foster a diverse and inclusive legal community, and serve the broader community.

Launched in 2003 and revamped in 2012, the BBA’s Public Interest Leadership Program (PILP) is a year-long initiative designed to equip new attorneys—those within their first 5-10 years of practice—with the skills needed to become effective leaders not only within their firms but also at the BBA and in the broader community.

We spoke with Christpher Escobedo Hart, partner at Foley Hoag and current BBA Treasurer, and Emily Hodge, partner at Choate and current BBA Council member, about their experiences with PILP, the lessons and strategies they learned, and how they’ve continued to put those lessons to use in the years since.

“I learned of the program from a colleague who had done it before, and I was inspired to participate to meet peers who were committed to pro bono work and community involvement and to learn from leaders in that space,” said Hodge, who participated in PILP during the 2012-13 program year.

Through the Program, participants engage in monthly training modules incorporating education, discussions, and debriefing sessions. These trainings include meetings with local members of the judiciary, informational panels with nonprofit board members, and conversations with senior attorneys in leadership roles at their firms.

“PILP provides a rare opportunity for different kinds of practitioners to learn from each other,” said Hart, a member of the 2015-16 PILP class. “It broadened my perspective, allowing me to engage with solo practitioners, government attorneys, and non-profit lawyers.”

In addition to these educational sessions, PILP members take on larger projects within the community, often with long-lasting impacts.

“Our PILP class worked together to establish and conduct a Community Reentry Readiness Program that continued on for a few years after our PILP year,” recalled Hodge. “In the course of putting that project together, executing it, and passing it along for those behind us, we learned how to engage and take into consideration input from a range of stakeholders and how to work together to accomplish a common goal, which I think are important leadership skills.”

Hodge says her PILP experience strengthened her leadership skills and encouraged her to volunteer for other leadership positions and roles within her firm and on non-profit boards. She’s a former member of Choate’s Pro Bono Committee, as well as a current member and past President of the Lawyers Clearinghouse Board of Directors. She also is a Past President of the Boston CASA Board of Directors, and has volunteered extensively with Christmas in the City, and as a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team, running the Boston Marathon and fundraising for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Hart, who called PILP a “horizon-expanding experience,” has also utilized his skills as a leader to make a difference within his firm and community. He has served as Chapter Chair of the Boston IAPP KnowledgeNet, as well as Co-Chair of the Federal Bar Association International Law Committee. In addition, he served on the Board of Overseers of Beth Israel Deaconess-Milton and as an elected Town Meeting and Warrant Committee Member for the town of Milton.

In addition to fostering community outreach and providing the skills and training to become a leader within their firms, PILP also served as a gateway to deeper involvement with the BBA for both Hodge and Hart.

“The program is an incredible way to get more involved in the BBA community,” Hodge said. Hart agreed, saying “PILP introduced me to the BBA’s rich history and resources, and I eventually sought ways to contribute.”

Both Hodge and Hart have contributed to the BBA in myriad ways, including in their current roles as Council member and Treasurer, respectively. Hodge is a former member of the BBA Reentry Committee, which coordinated the reentry education program established by her 2012-2013 PILP class. She’s a former member of the BBA’s Criminal Law and Annual Meeting Steering Committees, served on the BBA’s Death Penalty Working Group—which conducted research and made recommendations regarding the BBA’s position on the death penalty in federal cases—and participated in the BBA’s Law Day in the Schools Program. Hart served on the BBA’s Dobbs Task Force, serves as Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Network, and previously Co-Chaired the BBA’s Mentoring Committee. In addition, he was part of the BBA contingent welcoming new attorneys to the Boston legal community during November’s Swearing-In ceremonies.

“The PILP Program left me with a lasting impression that part of our job in the legal profession is to make not only the legal market more attractive for a more diverse array of attorneys,” Hart said, “but also to make Boston the kind of place where young people—especially those of color—want to stay.”

“I think so fondly of my time in PILP, meeting people who are doing such different day to day work than you, but who have the same commitment to bettering this world and supporting those who need it most,” said Hodge.

Hart agreed, saying, “It was an opportunity to meet peers who share a passion for improving the profession and giving back to the community. I have stayed in touch with a number of my PILP colleagues and became friends with many.”

Though the program lasts for just a year, “the connections and friendships formed during PILP persist,” said Hodge. “It’s special to bond with people from different backgrounds who share common values and a desire to give back to the community.”