Celebrate Pro Bono Month! With the Right Training, You Can Take on a Pro Bono Matter

Saying that “the promise of equal justice under law is the most fundamental tenet of our justice system,” the Boston Bar Association (BBA) today announced that its governing Council has adopted a resolution recognizing October as a month to renew its longstanding commitment to maximizing opportunities for attorneys to donate legal services to people of limited means. With that in mind, the BBA will convene four free training sessions during the month of October, with the understanding that attendees will put their new skills to work — taking on a pro bono assignment in one of these areas:

• Family Law Conciliation – October 5
  Become a certified conciliator so that you can volunteer for the Probate and Family Court conciliation project. Spots are limited and prospective volunteers must meet minimum experience requirements.

• Helping DREAMers (Immigration) – October 9
  This pro bono training will provide an overview of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative.

• Housing Court: The Basics of Landlord/Tenant Law – October 15
  The Volunteer Lawyers Project in partnership with the Real Estate section of the Boston Bar Association will conduct a training on the basics of landlord/tenant law. 

• Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Pro Bono Volunteer Lawyer: Representing a Pro Bono Debtor – October 29
  The program will cover the basics of preparing and filing a Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy case for a pro bono debtor.  There is no fee for this program, but we ask that attendees put their new skills to work by taking on a pro bono case through the Volunteer Lawyers Project.

In addition, the BBA Litigation Section — in partnership with the Rappaport Center at Suffolk Law School, will be convening a pro bono fair to help connect prospective volunteer lawyers with a variety of legal aid group on October 22. For more information about these and other Pro Bono Month events please take a look at the BBA Calendar. 

The BBA takes a multi-prong approach to advancing access to justice for all. Members of the private bar donating time cannot be a substitute for professional legal services attorneys at organizations such as Greater Boston Legal Services or Cambridge Legal Services & Counseling Center. Thus, in its public policy advocacy activities, the BBA works zealously to secure federal and state funding for civil legal aid. In addition, the Boston Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the BBA, raises money from the private bar and makes grants to legal services providers.