Walk to the Hill 2016 was a huge success. More than 600 attorneys packed the State House’s Great Hall and spread throughout the building, telling their legislators about the importance of civil legal aid and explaining the urgent need for an additional $10 million in funding. This increase would bring total funding for the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (line item 0321-1600) to $27 million, allowing them to greatly expand essential services to the most vulnerable populations.
BBA President Lisa Arrowood speaking at Walk to the Hill
Our day began with the BBA’s annual pre-walk breakfast where more than fifty young lawyers gathered to prepare their talking points over coffee and donuts. We were especially excited to welcome a busload of UMass Boston Law School students who helped get the hashtags “I Walk for Justice” and “Walk to the Hill” trending!
BBA President Lisa Arrowood with Representative Stanley
BBA President Lisa Arrowood met first with her Representative, Thomas Stanley, and then her Senator, Michael Barrett. Both were interested in learning more about the findings of our Investing in Justice report that for every $1 spent helping fight against wrongful evictions and foreclosures, Massachusetts saves $2.69 in shelter, health care, foster care, and law enforcement costs. In addition, every $1 spent on legal aid for survivors of domestic violence results in $2 in medical and mental health care savings, and every $1 spent on legal aid attorneys working to secure federal benefits yields $5 in federal economic benefits to Massachusetts residents.
BBA President Elect Carol Starkey with Representative Coppinger
BBA President-Elect Carol Starkey also paid a call on her legislators, Representative Edward Coppinger and Senator Mike Rush. They both noted their support and thanked Carol for spreading the word.
By 11:00 we were registering and entering the Great Hall with more than 500 of our colleagues. Equal Justice Coalition Chair John Carroll welcomed everyone to the event and spoke passionately about the importance of legal aid and everyone’s efforts on this day.
Attorney General Maura Healey was full of high praise, noting that while many think of her office as the “people’s attorney,” legal services are as well. She applauded them for their work and the legal community for its great showing of support, asking that we all “remember who we are and what we should always aspire to be.”
Chief Justice Ralph Gants put the funding request into perspective, explaining that $27 million is less than the cost of a single round-trip T-ride for every Massachusetts resident and at less than $4 per person, is below the New York funding rate of $4.30 per resident. He encouraged attendees to answer legislators who asked how they could afford such an increase with a question of their own, “How can we afford not to?” He finished, much like a Supreme Judicial Court holding, with a strong closing statement – that supporting legal aid is right, reasonable, and smart. Read his full remarks here.
MBA President Bob Harnais encouraged legislators to visit the courts to see the effects of the lack of representation – both on the court system and on the pro se litigants themselves, who are confused and overwhelmed. He recommended attendees invite their legislators to court to offer hard proof of the need for legal aid funding because “seeing is believing” and justice should not be reserved for those who can afford it.
BBA President Lisa Arrowood held up the BBA’s Investing in Justice report and encouraged attendees to spread the word about its contents – making the argument that funding legal aid makes sound business sense for the Commonwealth. Watch the video above for her full remarks.
Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) client, Lisa, spoke about how civil legal aid literally offered her son a second chance at life. When her son was a senior in high school, routine surgery to remove his wisdom teeth resulted in an addiction to pain medication, and a 10-year battle with heroin. Shortly after he committed himself to methadone treatment, working hard every day to overcome his addiction, he was declared ineligible for MassHealth care coverage because of an administrative change. Lisa feared that, if he were to miss even one day of treatment, he would suffer withdrawal symptoms and quickly relapse. GBLS took her case and worked with MassHealth to resolve the issue in short order, taking action Lisa recognizes as the difference between life and death for her son. Read more about her story here.
Everyone was moved by her story and inspired by all of the speakers to speak with their legislators. This year’s Walk to the Hill was an unqualified success and a remarkable demonstration of the private bar’s support for access to justice. Thank you to everyone who participated – we hope that you will continue to be involved throughout the budget process and we look forward to seeing you again at next year’s event!
– Jonathan Schreiber
Legislative and Public Policy Manager
Boston Bar Association
