Nominations sought for Pro Bono Publico Awards and Pro Bono Honor Roll
The Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services announced this week that it is seeking nominations for the 2023 Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards.
Named for attorneys John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the Adams Awards honor Massachusetts lawyers, law students, law firms and legal organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to providing pro bono services for the benefit of individuals of limited means. Service worthy of an Adams Award may include, but is not limited to:
- The creation of or participation in an activity or pro bono program that expands legal services to underserved segments of the population or fills a previously unmet need;
- Significant work on litigation, the outcome of which benefits persons of limited means; or
- Significant work on the adoption of legislation or policies that benefit individuals of limited means.
The committee encourages the submission of nominations that reflect the diversity of the commonwealth’s residents. More information about award criteria and nomination guidelines can be found on the
About the Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards webpage. The deadline for nominations is June 23.
The committee is also seeking submissions by lawyers, law students, law firms and other legal organizations that qualify for the Pro Bono Honor Roll.
- To be eligible for the Honor Roll for Individual Attorneys, attorneys must certify that they have provided at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services during calendar year 2022. Attorneys who completed at least 100 hours of pro bono legal services during calendar year 2022 are eligible for the High Honor Roll for Individual Attorneys.
- The Honor Roll for Law Students recognizes students who have completed at least 50 hours of law-related pro bono services over the course of their law school careers.
- The Honor Roll for Legal Organizations recognizes law firms, solo practitioners, in-house corporate counsel offices, government attorney offices, nonprofit organizations and law schools that meet certain criteria for the number of hours of pro bono legal services provided by their attorneys and firm policies concerning pro bono service.
More information and links to online application forms are available at the
About the Pro Bono Honor Roll webpage. Applications for the Pro Bono Honor Roll should be submitted by Sept 29.
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CPCS hosting info sessions for interested
private attorneys
The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) will host informational sessions on May 18 and June 15 for attorneys interested in representing indigent clients as trial and appellate counsel. Individuals who join the CPCS network of private attorneys have the opportunity to expand or change their practices, gain valuable courtroom experience and perform powerful, impactful work.
CPCS works to provide excellent legal services to each and every client by ensuring that all assigned attorneys have ready access to mentoring, support, training and continuing legal education.
The informational sessions will take place via Zoom at the following links:
Click here for additional information about creating or expanding your criminal defense practice.
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Superior Court seeks applicants for new
Fellowship Program
The Superior Court has announced a new Law Fellowship Program and is seeking to fill two or more fellowship positions.
The goal of the Fellowship Program is to provide entry-level or junior attorneys with opportunities to develop legal research and writing skills and gain valuable knowledge and experience in a broad range of civil and criminal matters by assisting the justices of the Superior Court. The fellowship is also intended to serve as a potential pathway for outstanding fellows to seek permanent positions as research attorneys for the Superior Court.
Among other duties, fellows will assist the justices of the Superior Court by performing legal research and writing assignments, which may include legal research memoranda, bench memoranda and draft decisions. Duties of the position encompass every aspect of court procedure and all the legal issues within the Superior Court’s civil and criminal jurisdiction.
The Superior Court invites fellowship applications from graduating law students and recent graduates generally with less than two years of post-law-school experience. The application deadline is Wednesday, May 31, but interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Click here for more information and to apply.
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Law Day programs to take place at Moakley
U.S. Courthouse
On Wednesday, May 3, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Discovering Justice and the Federal Bar Association will present a multi-faceted program of Law Day activities at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston. Law Day is dedicated to the principles of government under law. It is meant to promote understanding of how the law and the legal process protect our liberty, strive to achieve justice and contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share.
Law Day programs will be held in the First Circuit Court of Appeals and in each of the district courts within the Circuit during the week of May 1. At the Moakley Courthouse, fifth-grade students will learn about the role of the judicial branch from judges and court staff; high school students will participate in a mock jury empanelment; college and law school students will observe First Circuit oral arguments and meet with the judges and attorneys following the sitting; and, with judges and court staff, the Federal Bar Association, Massachusetts Chapter will announce the winners of its Bill of
Rights Essay Contest.
For additional information, contact Ed Wallace at edwardwallace@ca1.uscourts.gov.
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Applications open for First Circuit Criminal Justice
Act Panel
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is accepting applications to serve on the court's Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel, including applications from attorneys not currently on the panel and reapplications from panel members whose terms
expire on Sept. 30.
Instructions and application forms may be downloaded from the court's website at www.ca1.uscourts.gov under the "CJA Materials" tab. They may also be obtained from the Clerk of Court, John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse, One Courthouse Way, Suite 2500, Boston, MA 02210. Three paper copies of the completed form and attachments should be mailed to the clerk and must be received no later than June 9 at 5 p.m.
For additional information, contact Zuleen Nova at (617) 748-9380 or
CJA Coordinator Kaitlin Copson at (617) 748-9066.