The Boston Bar Association recently celebrated the graduation of the Public Interest Leadership Program (PILP) Class of 2026, recognizing a remarkable group of attorneys dedicated to serving their communities and strengthening access to justice across Massachusetts.
For 20 years, PILP has brought together attorneys from legal services organizations, government agencies, nonprofits, and other public-interest-focused practices for a year of learning, reflection, and connection. Through workshops, mentorship, and candid conversations with experienced professionals, fellows explore what it means to lead with purpose while building relationships that often last well beyond the program itself.
At this year’s graduation ceremony, BBA President Suma V. Nair congratulated the fellows on completing the program and encouraged them to carry forward the values that define both PILP and the broader public interest community: service, collaboration, and a commitment to making the legal system more accessible and equitable for all.
Since its launch in 2006, PILP has graduated hundreds of attorneys who have gone on to lead legal services organizations, government agencies, advocacy groups, and bar associations throughout Massachusetts and beyond. Their work has expanded access to justice, shaped public policy, strengthened communities, and helped ensure that legal services reach those who need them most.
As the Class of 2026 joins this growing network of alumni, they become part of a tradition that continues to shape the future of public interest law in the Commonwealth. Congratulations to this year’s graduates, and thank you to the faculty, mentors, and supporters whose dedication makes the program possible year after year.
PILP is made possible through the support of the Boston Bar Foundation and its donors, whose commitment to investing in the next generation of public interest attorneys helps ensure the program’s continued impact on communities throughout Massachusetts.
