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The Massachusetts Bar Association is seeking attorney volunteers for its new statewide Lawyer for the Day Program in the Massachusetts Superior Court. The program, which the MBA will help staff with its volunteers once a week for 52 weeks, is designed to reduce the justice gap by assisting self-represented litigants (SRLs) virtually in civil matters before the Superior Court. It was developed in conjunction with the Superior Court, spearheaded by Judge Valerie Yarashus and with the support and insight of Superior Court Chief Justice Heidi Brieger.

As a volunteer lawyer for the day in the Superior Court, your insight and expertise will be invaluable. While the legal issues will be variable, most SRLs can benefit immensely from organizational assistance, broad legal advice, assistance asking the court for a further date, or connections to other legal assistance organizations. Read the Frequently Asked Questions section below to learn more about this program and how it will work.

If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please visit www.legalsquirrel.com/advice_clinics/305/contribute.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHO: Any non-incarcerated self-represented litigant (“SRL”) in a civil Superior Court case. The SRL could be either a plaintiff or a defendant. There are no income eligibility requirements for an SRL to participate in this program. This program does NOT apply to any litigant who already has the right to counsel.

WHAT: Any civil case brought before the Superior Court. Most frequently, these would be 30A administrative cases, request for injunctive relief, neighbor disputes, and breach of contract cases. Volunteer lawyers are able to provide a range of services on their volunteer date from answering specific legal questions, providing advice and guidance, and/or providing referrals to legal service entities or other programs and resources. Volunteer lawyers may choose to continue representation on a pro bono basis or through limited assistance representations. 

WHERE: This program is statewide. The volunteer lawyer for the day is available one day a week to all Superior Courts in Massachusetts. The program is on a first-come, first-served basis each week.

WHY: It is a lawyer’s ethical duty to provide pro bono services in their practice but, moreover, the MBA has seen time and time again how many of our members are keen to serve our Massachusetts community through volunteer and pro bono service. Under this program, there are slots for 52 volunteer attorneys to provide a whole host of services to an underserved population.

HOW IT WORKS:

  • The MBA's Superior Court Lawyer for a Day Program offers non-incarcerated self-represented litigants (“SRLs”) with civil Superior Court cases the opportunity to speak with volunteer lawyers* remotely on Thursdays.
  • SRLs sign up to speak with a lawyer and enter information about their case ahead of time.
  • Sign up for the entire day, or only portions of the day that fit your schedule. It can be as little as 30 minutes, but you can volunteer for any time, or time block, that is available. You will receive a text message at the appointed time when someone is waiting to speak to an attorney.
  • While not required, lawyers may choose to represent the SRL if they think it would be a good fit for their practice.

*Lawyers who wish to participate must be members of the Massachusetts Bar Association and admitted to practice in Massachusetts in good standing. 

This program is generously funded by the Massachusetts Bar Foundation.