eJournal

2023-24 MBA President Damian J. Turco

Attorney Damian J. Turco has been elected president of the Massachusetts Bar Association for the 2023-24 membership year, which begins Sept. 1. During his year leading the statewide bar association, Turco will pursue more equitable justice for civil litigants and individuals served by the state’s innocence programs, and work to support lawyers throughout Massachusetts.

“I look forward to working with court leaders and others to explore how new technologies and other resources can help close the justice gap that continues to make it difficult for many low-income residents to access affordable legal services,” said Turco. “Mindful of the challenges facing our profession, I also plan to prioritize and continue the MBA’s efforts to strengthen lawyer well-being and improve the diversity of bar.”

Turco is the founder and managing partner at Turco Legal PC, a 12-attorney divorce and family law firm with offices in Andover, Boston, Newburyport and Newton. Since 2008, he and his practice have represented clients through complex divorces, child custody cases, adoptions and other family law matters. He’s been lead counsel in hundreds of matters, both in Florida and Massachusetts, and today his role is that of a senior strategist in both the litigation and business interests of the firm and its client matters. 

Turco is also the co-founder and president of JusticeApp, Inc., a legal technology company with the mission of eliminating injustice nationwide. JusticeApp is a mobile app that aggregates free legal resources and offers low-cost legal form generation and secure data storage designed to simplify the legal system for unrepresented parties. He established JusticeApp to serve as a reliable resource for those litigants in the justice gap, those in need of legal help without the resources to secure it.

Since 2013, Turco has been an active and contributing leader and volunteer at the MBA, working meaningfully and intentionally to improve the organization, its membership and the legal community at large through service. A former chair of the MBA’s Law Practice Management Section, Turco developed and launched an MBA Mock Interview Program, which has benefited hundreds of graduating law school students by providing them with job interview skills through mock interviews with MBA lawyer volunteers.

In addition, he previously chaired the Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. Scholarship Committee, the MBA’s Digital Marketing Committee, and the Annual Gala Committee, and served on the MBA’s Civility and Professionalism Committee. Turco has also volunteered as a judge and a coach with the MBA’s High School Mock Trial program, and volunteered with the MBA’s Law Day program, taking the initiative to collaborate with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to expand the program’s reach. 

Since 2016, Turco has served on the MBA’s Budget & Finance Committee and the Executive Management Board. He’s lobbied both the state and federal legislatures for increased funding for legal aid on behalf of the MBA and its membership. He’s also built effective working relationships with leaders in the Trial Court, law schools, and affinity and county bar associations across the commonwealth.

Outside of his MBA involvement, Turco has served in leadership on the New England Bar Association, including as president for the 2023-24 term, collaborating with bar leaders at the other New England state bar associations on best practices and emerging challenges. He was also one of three attorneys to reestablish the Greater Newburyport Bar Association to a thriving, local legal community and served as the organization’s treasurer and on its board for several years. He has also served in leadership roles at Lawyers for Affordable Justice, a Boston-based legal incubator founded by Boston College, Boston University and Northeastern University law schools, and he served on the board of the Legal Advocacy and Resource Center (LARC), a phone-based legal access resource. Turco’s performed extensive volunteer work in the community, including at the Greater Boston Food Bank, St. Francis House Day Shelter, and other homeless and day shelters across the commonwealth.

Turco graduated from Bryant College in 1999, and from New England Law | Boston in 2008. He grew up in Andover and lives in Newburyport with his wife, Melina, and three daughters. 

The MBA’s leadership team for the 2023-24 year includes President Damian J. Turco, President-elect Victoria M. Santoro, Vice President Michael H. Hayden, Treasurer Samuel A. Segal and Secretary Shayla Mombeleur. Martin W. Healy is the MBA’s chief legal counsel and chief operating officer. Full officer bios are available at www.massbar.org/officers.