Grants Lists
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2009 / 2010 IOLTA Grant Awards
159 grants awarded to 107 organizations totaling $5,000,000.
Organization:
Barnstable County Bar Association
Program:
Barnstable County Pro Bono Conciliation Project
Description:
To develop and implement a pro bono conciliation project that will seek to remove as many cases as possible from the Barnstable County Probate & Family Court trial docket. Pro bono conciliators drawn from the BCBA will focus primarily on pro se litigants.
Organization:
Barnstable County Bar Association
Program:
Lawyer of the Day Program
Description:
To provide direct legal assistance to all pro se individuals, who are not otherwise represented, at the Barnstable Probate and Family Court. Services will be provided by approximately 35 volunteer attorneys.
Organization:
Cape Cod Dispute Resolution Center, Inc.
Program:
Orleans/Falmouth/Nantucket District Court Mediation Program
Description:
To provide no-fee mediation services in Barnstable and Nantucket Counties. Funds will be used to provide summary process mediation in Falmouth and Orleans District Courts, and small claims mediation in Falmouth and Nantucket District Courts.
Organization:
Independence House
Program:
Brazilian/Portuguese SAFEPLAN Advocate
Description:
To provide civil legal advocacy in the Portuguese language, particularly with regard to obtaining 209A advocacy, for immigrants and low-income persons in the Cape Cod area, who otherwise might not utilize the courts.
Program:
WE CAN Legal Clinics
Description:
To provide free legal consultations to low-income women of Cape Cod regarding primarily family law matters, including divorce, child support, and custody issues. Fourteen Cape lawyers have agreed to participate two hours for either one or two months per year, thus offering 8 free 30-minute sessions monthly.
Organization:
Berkshire Community Action Council, Inc.
Program:
Berkshire Immigrant Center
Description:
To assist all Berkshire County immigrants by providing advice, information, advocacy, referral and support on issues related to immigration, employment, citizenship, housing and social services. Funds will be used to conduct a monthly walk-in clinic offering clients consultation with an immigration attorney.
Organization:
Berkshire County Consumer Advocates, Inc.
Program:
Consumer Redress and Education Program
Description:
To provide consumers and tenants advice and support regarding their rights. Advocates will inform consumers on how to assert their rights when they have been violated, and will intervene and mediate with all parties involved in disputes with businesses and landlords.
Organization:
Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority
Program:
Housing Services & Mediation Program
Description:
To provide legal counseling, informal mediation/negotiation services, and in-court mediation services to resolve landlord/tenant, neighbor, and some small claims disputes to all Berkshire County Landlords, tenants, homeowners, and consumer disputants. Funds will also be used for community legal education programs.
Organization:
Berkshire Mediation Services, Inc.
Program:
Community Mediation: Court Program
Description:
To provide conflict resolution and mediation services and training to residents of Berkshire County. Funds will support court-based mediation services in the Berkshire County District, Probate and Family, and Juvenile Courts.
Organization:
Western Massachusetts Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Family Law Advocacy Project-Berkshire County
Description:
To provide advice, representation, and community legal education for individuals and their families who have experienced domestic violence or who have other complex family law problems inappropriate for referral to outside private bar programs. Funds support two attorneys and an experienced paralegal to provide support to the EFC.
Organization:
Bristol County Bar Association
Program:
BCBA Pro Bono Conciliation Project
Description:
To develop and implement a pro bono conciliation project that will seek to remove as many cases as possible from the Bristol County Probate & Family Court trial docket. Pro bono conciliators drawn from the BCBA will focus primarily on pro se litigants.
Organization:
Catholic Social Services of Fall River, Inc.
Program:
Immigrant Victims Representation Project
Description:
To increase access to legal services for immigrant victims of domestic violence and other crimes covered in the U and T visa programs. Funds will be used to represent more than 100 clients and their children in VAWA, T Visa, U Visa, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status applications and proceedings.
Organization:
Catholic Social Services of Fall River, Inc.
Program:
Immigration Law Education Advocacy Project (ILEAP)
Description:
To provide a comprehensive continuum of legal assistance for low-income refugees and immigrants in Southeastern MA, including direct representation in court proceedings and interviews, multi-lingual community education forums, and outreach to local detainees.
Organization:
Family Service Association of Greater Fall River
Program:
Guardianship Program
Description:
To provide a full range of guardianship services to indigent, incompetent elders not over the age of 65 and not living in nursing homes. This program is designed to serve those not currently covered by the existing law. Funds will also be used to target a more general population of those needing preventative legal services.
Organization:
New Center for Legal Advocacy, Inc.
Program:
Pro Bono Project
Description:
To provide pro bono representation, counsel and advice for low-income clients in diverse area of civil law, including family law with a priority for domestic violence issues, bankruptcy and consumer issues, housing, education, guardianship, and preparation of civil legal documents.
Organization:
New Center for Legal Advocacy, Inc.
Description:
To support the Private Attorney Debtor Relief Effort, which provides pro bono attorneys for clients who have extreme financial problems. Services will include direct representation by volunteer attorneys, advice and counsel through clinics of in-office appointments with volunteer attorneys, as well as continuing legal education programs and attorney recruitment efforts.
Organization:
South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Education Advocacy Project
Description:
To represent students in the development of Individual Education Development Plans and hearings before the Bureau of Special Education Appeals, including those instances in which school districts are not accommodating special education students' needs. The project also aims to affect school systems that push students into low-expectations education placements, because they are perceived as difficult to educate.
Organization:
South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Elder Law Project
Description:
To provide direct representation to elders on matters including housing, health or health insurance, Social Security, disability, pensions, abuse, consumer, guardianship, nursing home or other institutional problems, and powers of attorney.
Organization:
South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Homelessness Prevention Project
Description:
To provide direct representation to tenants and homeowners in Southeastern Mass. who are at risk of homelessness due to foreclosure. Funds will also be used for community legal education on foreclosure issues.
Organization:
South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Immigration Law Project
Description:
To provide legal assistance and representation to low-income immigrants in Southeastern Mass. The Project's cases include citizenship applications, adjustment of immigrant status, spouse and fiancé visas, political asylum, work authorizations, and representation of domestic violence victims married to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Organization:
South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Mass. Legal Assistance for Self Sufficiency Project
Description:
To provide supplemental support to year 5 of a major grant from the Corporation for National and Community Services that aims to bring 28 AmeriCorps volunteers into legal aid programs throughout the state. MBF funds will provide support for host organizations a minimum of four volunteers.
Organization:
The Women's Center
Program:
Legal Advocacy Project
Description:
To assist women to actively seek protection from abusive relationships by advising them of their options in regard to filing restraining orders and/or criminal charges, and offering victims the information and resources needed to make informed choices. Funds will also be used for the Pro Bono Legal Project which aims to provide information to the legal community and community at-large on the need for quality representation for battered women.
Organization:
Martha's Vineyard Community Services, Inc.
Program:
CONNECT to end violence program
Description:
To strengthen the accessibility and continuity of legal services to women who are victims of domestic violence by addressing the immediate safety needs with the longer-term stabilization supports necessary for successful independence.
Organization:
Children's Law Center of Massachusetts, Inc.
Program:
Child & Adolescent Legal Services
Description:
To provide a comprehensive approach to child advocacy, implementing a wide range of legal and related services to children in MA, including direct representation, information and referral, technical assistance and training to attorneys, parents, and youth-serving professionals; community outreach and education; and systemic advocacy.
Organization:
Children's Law Center of Massachusetts, Inc.
Program:
Pro Bono Program
Description:
To recruit, train, and mentor private bar attorneys to provide free individual case advocacy services to children, ages 3-22, in special education and related matters, including children out of school due to suspension, expulsion, or homelessness.
Organization:
Children's Law Center of Massachusetts, Inc.
Program:
The EdLaw Project
Description:
To provide Boston's highest risk children with access to educational advocacy services. Funds will also be used to provide technical assistance and training to attorneys, bar advocates, youth workers, and parents. This is a collaborative project with the Youth Advocacy Project of Roxbury.
Organization:
Essex County Bar Association
Program:
Children's Law Project
Description:
To provide direct representation to children involved in contested custody and visitation cases. The project will appoint the attorneys to represent these children in all aspects of litigation for these cases. Funds will be used to provide ECBA attorneys reduced fees of up to $1,000 per case.
Organization:
Essex County Bar Association
Program:
Pro Bono Conciliation Program
Description:
To remove as many cases as possible from the Essex County trial docket using an average of 131 pro bono conciliators from the ECBA to resolve conflict, at no cost to the parties or courts, prior to trial at six courthouses in Essex County.
Organization:
Essex County Bar Association
Program:
Probate & Family Court Lawyer of the Day Program
Description:
To provide legal assistance to indigent and marginally indigent pro se litigants seeking help with Probate and Family Court matters, such as divorce, custody, child support, visitation, guardianship, abuse prevention, and restraining orders. Attorneys volunteer their time at the Salem and Lawrence Probate Courts two and four days a week, respectively.
Organization:
Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center
Program:
Domestic Violence Family Law Program
Description:
To provide legal advocacy, direct representation, and support to low-income victims of domestic violence within Northeast Essex County and within the area of family law. Services are provided both by staff attorneys and a pro bono attorney panel.
Organization:
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Consumer Debt Response System
Description:
To conduct debtor relief/bankruptcy clinics to help clients with significant outstanding debt problems. Pro Bono attorneys will assist with clinic instruction and provide direct representation in bankruptcy matters, as well as to victims of unfair debt collection practices.
Organization:
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Eviction Legal Services and Elder Home Preservation Project
Description:
To prevent homelessness by addressing the increasing displacement of homeowners and tenants facing loss of homes through foreclosure. This year, additional staff resources will be used to work exclusively with tenants facing displacement due to foreclosure.
Organization:
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Family Law Support Project
Description:
To provide limited assistance legal services in the family law area to serve more clients and to extend services beyond the typical legal services sole priority of domestic violence. Funds will also be used to provide immigration legal services to immigrant victims, as well as to assist clients identified by local High Risk Assessment/Lethality Teams .
Organization:
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Immigrant Rights Project
Description:
To provide direct representation to immigrants facing possible deportation in bond hearings and cancellation of removal hearings; legal advice and assistance completing paperwork for family-based visa petitions and adjustment of status applications; and various monthly Know Your Rights trainings to other service providers, immigrants, and detainees in ICE custody at Plymouth County House of Corrections.
Organization:
North Shore Community Action Programs, Inc.
Program:
Homelessness Prevention Law Project
Description:
To provide direct representation to low-income residents of Essex County who are faced with eviction, housing discrimination, and termination or denial of subsidized housing. The project attorney also participates in the multi-agency effort led by Neighborhood Legal Services to provide a lawyer for the day at the NE Housing Court.
Organization:
North Shore Community Mediation, Inc.
Program:
Court Mediation Program
Description:
To provide pre-screening and mediation coordination at the small claims sessions in the Salem and Peabody District Courts. Funds will also be used to provide mediation services for juvenile/CHINS cases from the Essex County Juvenile Court.
Organization:
North Shore Community Mediation, Inc.
Program:
Divorce and Family Court Mediation Program
Description:
To provide no cost, on-site mediation to the Salem Division of the Essex Probate and Family Court to assist litigants in resolving divorce, post-divorce, and paternity disputes.
Organization:
Community Action!
Program:
TMTC Divorce & Family Mediation Program
Description:
To offer low or no-cost divorce, post-divorce, custody, and relationship mediation services to low-income couples. Funds will also support the Northampton On-site Introductory Mediation Programs and to explore establishing one in Greenfield.
Organization:
Franklin County Bar Advocates, Inc.
Program:
Bar Advocates for Children
Description:
To support reduced-fee attorneys to address the legal needs of low-income children who are at risk of abuse, homelessness, and continued poverty.
Organization:
Franklin County Bar Advocates, Inc.
Program:
Bar Advocates for Elders
Description:
To support reduced-fee attorneys to provide legal services to low-income elders who are at risk of exploitation, abuse, homelessness, and continued poverty.
Organization:
Franklin County Bar Advocates, Inc.
Program:
Bar Advocates for Women
Description:
To support reduced-fee attorneys to provide legal services to low-income victims of domestic violence who are at risk of physical and emotional abuse, homelessness, and continued poverty. Both women and men with civil legal needs that otherwise would not be met receive direct representation or consultation from FCBA members.
Organization:
Quabbin Mediation
Program:
Central Region Court Mediation Program
Description:
To provide mediation services for court-referred cases from the District Courts of Orange, Winchendon, Eastern Hampshire, and Palmer, as well as to the Franklin/Hampshire Juvenile Court and the Hampshire and Franklin Probate and Family Courts.
Organization:
Center for Human Development
Program:
HIV/AIDS Law Consortium of Western MA
Description:
To provide legal services to low-income individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. Funds will be used to provide legal representation through staff and pro bono referrals, as well as to conduct community-based law clinics.
Organization:
Dispute Resolution Services, Inc.
Program:
Pro Bono Attorney Mediation Training & Services Program.
Description:
To provide court-compliant mediation training and mentoring for attorneys, who will then provide Mediator of the Day services to the Small Claims Divisions of the Springfield and Chicopee District Courts.
Organization:
Hampden County Bar Association
Program:
Children's Law Project
Description:
To provide legal representation for children involved in cases in the Probate and Family Court. Funds will also be used to recruit and train lawyers to serve as advocates at a reduced fee for children involved in family law cases.
Organization:
Hampden County Bar Association
Program:
Juvenile Mediation & Advocacy Project
Description:
To recruit qualified mediation attorneys to act as mediators in care and custody cases in the Hampden County Juvenile Courts, or to provide representation if mediation fails, all at a reduced-fee. Participating attorneys will accept one pro bono advocacy assignment per grant year.
Organization:
Housing Discrimination Project
Program:
Fair Housing Legal Coordination Program
Description:
To provide legal services to victims of illegal housing discrimination with a focus on assisting clients with state law claims. Project activities will include discrimination testing services, pro bono attorney recruitment, training, and outreach.
Organization:
Housing Discrimination Project
Program:
Foreclosure Relief Project
Description:
To provide legal assistance to victims of predatory lending. Project activities include case intake, assessment and referral, recruitment of pro bono lawyers, mentoring and support to attorneys assisting the project, media outreach about predatory lending, and community education.
Organization:
Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts, Inc.
Program:
Legal Services for Elders
Description:
To provide legal assistance to indigent elders by partnering with pro bono probate attorneys in an effort to ensure timely and equal access to appropriate legal and medical services, including securing permanent guardianship of twenty-one elders.
Organization:
Western Massachusetts Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Housing Court Intervention Project-Hampden County
Description:
To assist unrepresented tenants who appear in Hampden County Housing Court in response to summary process eviction summonses. Funds will be used to provide crisis legal assistance onsite at the court on summary process day and will provide additional casework beyond the day as needed.
Organization:
Western Massachusetts Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
North End Outreach Project
Description:
To support a half-time advocate position dedicated to providing on-site civil legal services and outreach to the predominantly low-income population of Springfield's North End neighborhoods. The paralegal is part of the North End Outreach Network collaborative and conducts regularly scheduled office hours at the Spanish American Union and other locations in the region.
Organization:
YWCA of Western Massachusetts
Program:
YWCA Legal Advocacy Program
Description:
To provide SAFEPLAN court advocacy services in the Palmer District Court.
Organization:
Center for Public Representation
Program:
Brain Injury Community Integration Project
Description:
To provide representation to individuals with brain injuries in nursing facilities to facilitate their discharge, as appropriate, and Medicaid-funded integrated community services. Funds will also be used to work on a systemic reform initiative that will create a new system of Medicaid-funded community options for persons with brain injuries.
Organization:
Center for Public Representation
Program:
Rosie D. Implementation Project
Description:
To continue systemic advocacy on the design and implementation of the Rosie D. Remedial Plan, which will create a system of home-based services for all Medicaid-eligible children with serious emotional disturbance.
Organization:
Hampshire County Bar Association
Program:
Domestic Relations for Children Program
Description:
To provide advocacy and direct representation for children involved in cases in the Hampshire Probate and Family Court. Nineteen experienced attorneys are paid on a reduced fee basis to represent children referred to the program.
Organization:
Hampshire County Bar Association
Program:
Hampshire Elder Law Program
Description:
To address the unmet civil legal needs of low-income elders in Hampshire County through the volunteer support of the bar. Funds will be used to provide reduced fees to attorneys who accept cases of elders, aged 60+, for direct representation.
Organization:
Safe Passage
Program:
Legal Referral Panel
Description:
To support a panel of reduced fee attorneys who provide legal consultation, advice, and representation to battered women.
Organization:
Western Massachusetts Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Housing Court Intervention Project-Hampshire & Franklin Counties
Description:
To provide an experienced WMLS housing attorney, each week on summary process day, to assist tenants who appear pro se at the Hampshire and Franklin County sittings of the Western Mass. Housing Court in response to summary process eviction summonses.
Organization:
Western Massachusetts Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Family Law Advocacy Project-Hampshire & Franklin Counties
Description:
To provide direct family law representation for families in crisis and to serve as a resource to other legal programs and professionals, as well as community residents, for legal information and consultation services.
Organization:
Advocates, Inc.
Program:
Advocacy, Benefits, and Legal Services Program
Description:
To expand the ABLS Program to include a part-time paralegal who will assist clients with mental illness to resolve legal issues that may lead to homelessness.
Organization:
Centro Presente, Inc.
Program:
Legal Immigration Services Program
Description:
To provide legal services to low-income Latino immigrants in MA. Funds will be used to provide assistance with ABC and TPS work permit renewals, case maintenance services, family petitions, citizenship, workers' rights issues, and NACARA cancellation of removal cases. Funds will also be used to provide outreach and education to the Latino immigrant community.
Organization:
Community Dispute Settlement Center
Program:
Divorce/Paternity and District Court Mediation Program
Description:
To provide mediation services to litigants in the Probate & Family and District Courts, both on-site at the courts and off-site at CDSC. Funds will be used to provide mediation to address issues related to married and nonmarried separating couples, as well as small claims and other complex civil issues.
Organization:
Community Legal Services and Counseling Center
Program:
Domestic Violence and Child Support Project
Description:
To assist victims of domestic violence and their children to secure long-term protection from abuse, safe custody and visitation arrangements, child and spousal support, and access to health care. Funds will also be used to recruit, train and supervise pro bono attorneys to handle domestic violence cases, as well as for various outreach activities.
Organization:
Community Legal Services and Counseling Center
Program:
Homelessness Prevention Project
Description:
To prevent homelessness by providing legal assistance to low-income families and individuals, people with disabilities, senior citizens, and victims of domestic violence in order to obtain or retain access to safe, affordable housing. Funds will also be used to recruit and train pro bono attorneys.
Organization:
Community Legal Services and Counseling Center
Program:
Immigration Law Project
Description:
To provide free immigration legal services to immigrants seeking political asylum, battered immigrants, and unaccompanied immigrant minors. Funds will also be used to conduct comprehensive asylum intake and referral to pro bono resources, to recruit and train volunteer attorneys, and to conduct systemic advocacy.
Organization:
Community Service Network, Inc.
Program:
CSN Heart Project
Description:
To provide in-person foreclosure prevention counseling to fifty households, as well as to provide direct legal services to five households and pro bono legal referral to another fifteen. The project will also run four first-time home buyer classes and other home/mortgage related workshops.
Organization:
Employment Options, Inc.
Program:
Clubhouse Family Legal Support Project
Description:
To provide legal representation to low-income parents with mental illness who are at risk of losing custody and all contact with their children. This project is a collaboration between Employment Options and the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee.
Organization:
Framingham Court Mediation Services, Inc.
Program:
Framingham Court Mediation Services
Description:
To provide mediation services to individuals referred by the Framingham, Natick, Concord, Marlborough District Courts, as well as the Middlesex County Juvenile and Probate and Family Courts.
Organization:
Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project
Program:
GLBT Domestic Violence Attorney Program
Description:
To provide legal assistance to GLBT victims of domestic violence. Funds will be used to increase the paralegal position to full-time, as well as to increase outreach.
Organization:
Greater Lowell Bar Association
Program:
Lowell Superior Court Conciliation and Early Intervention Program
Description:
To resolve cases before trial. Over 20 volunteer trial attorneys conciliate and/or conduct early intervention for 4-6 cases each day. The project works on over 1,000 cases per year.
Organization:
International Institute of Lowell
Program:
Legal Services for Immigrants Program
Description:
To provide legal services to help immigrants achieve US citizenship. Consultations will be provided on immigration matters, forms assistance, and full representation in complicated matters.
Organization:
Just A Start
Program:
Mediation for Results
Description:
To prevent homelessness through resolving landlord/tenant eviction disputes while helping to stabilize long-term housing for tenants. This program offers mediation (also on-site at Malden and Woburn District Courts), access to affordable legal representation, stabilization assistance, and training on conflict resolution to landlords, tenants and professional staff.
Organization:
Merrimack Valley Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Cambodian Outreach Project
Description:
To provide linguistically and culturally appropriate legal services to the Cambodian immigrant and refugee community in Greater Lowell by bridging the gap between existing legal services and this community.
Organization:
Merrimack Valley Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Consumer law Project
Description:
To expand the MVLS consumer practice and provide specialized legal assistance to the growing number of low-income consumers struggling with debt. Funds will be used to provide direct representation on consumer issues, including bankruptcy, screening and referral, and community outreach.
Organization:
Merrimack Valley Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Domestic Violence Advocacy Project
Description:
To provide individual service and representation to all low-income individuals seeking abuse prevention orders in the Lowell District Court, and to provide post-209A and other legal advocacy services through MVLS and its pro bono panel.
Organization:
MetroWest Legal Services
Program:
Children's Education Advocacy Project
Description:
To support an attorney who will provide advice, brief services, and representation to parents whose children are not receiving the services they need to progress academically. Project services include appearing at TEAM meetings, Bureau of Special Education Appeals hearings, and appeals to federal or state court.
Organization:
MetroWest Legal Services
Program:
Domestic Violence Project
Description:
To provide free legal services to low-income victims of domestic abuse in their contested family law cases. Staff will continue participating in a coordinated community response team, aimed at focusing services on certain cases with a high risk of lethality.
Organization:
MetroWest Legal Services
Program:
Eviction Defense Project
Description:
To support a staff attorney who will provide advice, brief services, and full representation to low-income tenants in their summary process cases. The attorney will also hold pro se legal clinics explaining the court process to tenants facing eviction. Court forms and pleadings will be distributed and referrals provided to local charitable and government agencies.
Organization:
MetroWest Legal Services
Program:
Homeless Advocacy Project
Description:
To support a full-time staff attorney to assist homeless families and individuals with the goal of helping them to secure permanent, stable housing. Direct services range from advice and brief service to full representation in court or administrative hearings.
Organization:
Middlesex County Bar Association
Program:
MCBA Pro Bono Conciliation Program
Description:
To reduce the backlog of pending cases in the Middlesex Probate and Family Court using pro bono conciliators. The conciliators will meet with the parties and counsel to provide guidance and insight into what a Judge may do on a certain issue or to provide a reasonable solution to an existing logjam in the negotiations.
Organization:
Middlesex County Bar Association
Program:
Middlesex Probate and Family Court Family Law Information Center
Description:
To support a pro bono legal assistance effort for indigent pro se litigants at the Middlesex Probate and Family Court. Funds will be used to purchase a computer and resources for an on-site information center.
Organization:
North Shore Assembly of God
Program:
Compassion Immigration Ministry Legal Assistance Project
Description:
To provide low-income immigrants with low cost legal assistance. Funds will be used to conduct a monthly walk-in clinic, case screening and referral, pro se application assistance, and full representation for complicated cases.
Organization:
Shelter Legal Services Foundation, Inc.
Program:
Veterans Legal Services, Shelter Legal Services, Project Outreach/CLASP
Description:
To match law students from the Boston-area law schools with attorneys in order to provide pro bono representation and to educate future attorneys in pro bono service. Project activities include weekly legal clinics at various agencies, shelters, and churches, as well as direct legal assistance and representation, on issues including landlord/tenant/summary process, child support, custody, visitation, divorce, employment, and consumer disputes.
Organization:
Somerville Community Corporation
Program:
Somerville Mediation Program Court/Community Project
Description:
To provide alternative dispute resolution to low-income residents of Somerville and Medford, Arlington, Belmont, Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Melrose, Nahant, Saugus, Swampscott, and Wakefield. Services are offered free of charge and tailored to linguistic minorities, senior citizens, and low-income residents.
Organization:
Tri-City Community Action Program
Program:
Pro Bono Legal Project
Description:
To help low-income families from Malden, Medford, Everett, Melrose, and Wakefield secure their basic civil rights under law. The program provides legal information, advice, advocacy, referral, and representation to low-income individuals who would not otherwise have access to legal representation.
Organization:
Bar Association of Norfolk County
Program:
Evening Legal Clinics
Description:
To conduct monthly legal clinics offering legal services directly to low-income persons in Norfolk County courthouses.
Organization:
Brookline Community Mental Health Center
Program:
Metropolitan Mediation Services
Description:
To provide a comprehensive range of supervised mediation services to individuals with matters at area courts, Housing Authorities, EEOC, community agencies, and DSS.
Program:
Legal Advocacy Program
Description:
To provide legal information, support and advocacy, and legal referrals to clients in DOVE's emergency shelter, outreach program, and hotline. An advocate will provide court accompaniments for 209A and other civil hearings.
Organization:
Homeowner Options for MA Elders
Program:
Senior Homeowner Displacement Prevention Project
Description:
To provide intervention services for elders facing displacement due to property taxes (tax & title and foreclosure), mortgage foreclosure, loan scams & predatory loans, overwhelming healthcare expenses, debts, and home repair costs. Advocacy and representation from attorneys is provided in addition to financial counseling and financial options by HOME.
Organization:
Pilgrim Advocates, Inc.
Program:
Housing Court Project
Description:
To recruit, train, and schedule a Lawyer of the Day program in the Brockton Housing Court that will cover one day each week with two volunteer attorneys.
Organization:
Pilgrim Advocates, Inc.
Program:
Probate Court Project
Description:
To support a Lawyer of the Day in the Plymouth and Brockton Probate and Family Courts nearly every court day of the year. The volunteer lawyers see pro se litigants in private consultation who are referred to them by the Register's office as needing help with forms, advice, and instruction in the law and/or procedure.
Organization:
Aid to Incarcerated Mothers
Program:
Legal Advocacy Project
Description:
To provide coordinated legal advocacy to meet the needs of incarcerated mothers and their families around custody, other family issues, and discrimination. Funds will be used for a staff attorney, legal education workshops, and the revitalization of AIM's pro bono panel.
Organization:
AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Inc.
Program:
The Atticus Project
Description:
To provide legal assistance to people living with HIV. Funds will be used to help clients access benefits and services, particularly with regard to housing. Since the advent of more effective treatment for HIV/AIDS, the greatest need for legal services has been to reduce the impact of poverty upon the course of the illness.
Organization:
Alternatives for Community & Environment
Program:
Legal Services Program
Description:
To provide free legal and technical assistance on environmental justice issues to qualified groups in low-income communities and communities of color throughout MA. Services will be provided through a combined effort of ACE staff attorneys and the Mass. Environmental Justice Assistance Network.
Organization:
Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence
Program:
Legal Advocacy Services Program
Description:
To hire an in-house, on-site attorney to provide legal advice to clients and trainings to advocates in ATASK's Boston and Lowell offices. Funds will also be used to develop a pro bono panel.
Organization:
Bay Cove Human Services, Inc.
Program:
Legal Case Management Program
Description:
To support a full-time Legal Case Manager position that will be a resource for Bay Cove Human Services clients, who have been diagnosed with mental illness, facing discrimination and other barriers to employment, housing, and/or education as a result of their CORI.
Organization:
Boston Medical Center-Medical Legal Partnership
Program:
Community Health Center Legal Clinic Project
Description:
To provide legal assistance to low-income families in the clinical setting in several community health centers. Funds will also be used to provide training to health center staff about legal issues that affect low-income families.
Organization:
Casa Myrna Vazquez, Inc.
Program:
Legal Advocacy Program
Description:
To provide legal representation, information and referral, legal counseling, court accompaniment, outreach, and education to shelter guests, community clients, and hotline callers.
Organization:
Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc.
Program:
Immigration Clinic
Description:
To support immigration clinic services that will provide appointment-based consultation and immediate legal assistance for routine immigration applications for clients that have immigration issues that do not require direct representation.
Organization:
Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc.
Program:
VAWA/TVPA Project
Description:
To provide legal services to clients eligible for immigration relief under the federal Violence Against Women Act or eligible for a T or U visa under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
Organization:
Disability Law Center, Inc.
Program:
Special Education Outreach Project
Description:
To provide outreach trainings to parents that will give them information and support necessary to effectively advocate on behalf of their children with special education needs, particularly with respect to Transition services. Individual consultation and direct representation will be available to participants in need.
Organization:
East Boston Ecumenical Community Council
Program:
Community Legal Assistance Program
Description:
To assist limited English-speaking newcomers to the US who live in East Boston. The program will educate clients about the American legal system and their rights; assist in the achievement of optimal immigration status for non-US citizens; promote access to legal representation; and support to attorneys and legal assistance agencies assisting with immigration legal issues.
Organization:
Ecumenical Social Action Committee, Inc.
Program:
Sustainable Homeownership Center
Description:
To counsel disadvantaged homeowners toward effectively managing housing issues and providing access to legal and economic resources that will enable them to maintain their homes. Counselors provide financial and budget counseling to homeowners in order to prevent foreclosure while working directly with attorneys to address predatory lending violations.
Organization:
Fair Employment Project, Inc.
Program:
Fair Employment Project
Description:
To reduce violations of employment civil rights, including the right to be free from discrimination and retaliation and the right to reasonable accommodations based on disability or religion. Funds will be used to provide legal information, advice, web-based information resources, and referrals to workers.
Organization:
Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston
Program:
Fair Housing Enforcement Program
Description:
To provide advocacy to victims of housing discrimination and to increase enforcement of fair housing laws, as well as to increase the cost of discrimination by obtaining relief from and negative publicity for discriminatory cases. Funds will be used for discrimination testing, advocacy, and consolidation of legal resources available to resolve housing discrimination complaints.
Organization:
Finex House, Inc.
Program:
Legal Advocacy Project
Description:
To provide in-house, comprehensive legal services to difficult to serve battered women. The staff attorney will assist clients with family law issues, such as divorces, spousal support, child custody and support, benefits, housing advocacy, and immigration issues.
Organization:
Gerontology Institute, University of Massachusetts-Boston
Program:
New England Pension Assistance Project
Description:
To provide counseling, investigation, information, and referral to individuals with questions or problems with their pensions. Funds are also used to provide public education on pension issues.
Program:
AIDS Law Project
Description:
To support representation, legal education, and policy work for people with HIV, including anti-discrimination and privacy law. Funds will be used to provide a comprehensive range of legal assistance to people with HIV, including work on nationally precedent-setting cases.
Organization:
Greater Boston Legal Services
Program:
Affordable Housing Preservation and Foreclosure Prevention Project
Description:
To preserve affordable housing for low-income individuals and families by conducting legal advocacy to preserve affordable units that are at risk of being lost to market rates due to the expiring use crisis. The project will also assist low-income families impacted by the foreclosure crisis.
Organization:
Greater Boston Legal Services
Program:
Family Work and Welfare Project
Description:
To protect families from economic destitution and increase opportunities for economic stability through enforcement of rights and protections in the welfare laws. Funds will be used primarily to support individual representation, GBLS will continue to pursue administrative advocacy and litigation to address harmful agency policies and practices.
Organization:
Greater Boston Legal Services
Program:
Low-Income Taxpayer Assistance Project
Description:
To provide legal assistance and tax help to low-income taxpayers, many of whom speak little or no English. Together, legal services staff, pro bono attorneys, pro bono accountants, and community agencies will help clients understand their rights to important tax credits, including EITC.
Organization:
Greater Boston Legal Services
Program:
Pro Bono Employment and Healthcare Advocacy Project
Description:
To leverage the resources of the private bar to ensure a high quantity of legal representation to low-income residents in employment-related cases. The project provides pro bono attorneys and trained law students to secure unemployment compensation, training, and health insurance benefits for qualified individuals and their families.
Organization:
Greater Boston Legal Services
Program:
Refugees and Immigrants Protection Project
Description:
To address emerging and ongoing asylum and immigration needs of low-income refugee and immigrant communities in MA. Funds will be used to provide individual case representation, community legal education programs, and training and systemic advocacy at local and national levels.
Organization:
Health Law Advocates, Inc.
Program:
Children's Mental Health Advocacy Project-Suffolk Juvenile Court
Description:
To improve access to mental health services for children appearing before Suffolk Juvenile Court on civil matters. HLA staff attorneys will regularly attend court sessions in order to be available to the Court for GAL appointments. Funds will also be used for training for court personnel on children's mental health issues.
Organization:
International Institute of Boston
Program:
Asylum Representation Project
Description:
To provide legal representation for indigent asylum seekers who have fled their homelands in fear for their lives. Additional services include: mental health counseling, ESL classes, vocational counseling, and assistance specific to torture and violence.
Organization:
International Institute of Boston
Program:
Immigration Clinic
Description:
To support the Immigration Clinic at which legal staff and attorney volunteers provide immigrant clients legal assistance, including case screening, forms assistance, referrals for full representation, and verbal and written guidance for appearing before the DHS pro se.
Organization:
Irish Immigration Center
Program:
Immigration Services and Citizenship Program
Description:
To assist low-income immigrants by providing various services, including immigration advice and counseling, representation at USCIS interviews, visa application assistance, free legal clinics, Diversity Visa workshops, a citizenship program, and advocacy and information about immigrant rights.
Organization:
JRI Health Law Institute
Program:
Serving the Underserved: Closer to Home
Description:
To provide legal services to indigent people living with HIV at the AIDS Service Organization near their homes. Collaborating ASOs are located in Danvers, Lynn, Fall River, Lowell, New Bedford, Worcester, and Plymouth. This year, the project hopes to expand the program to Brockton and Fitchburg.
Organization:
Lawyers Clearinghouse on Affordable Housing & Homelessness, Inc.
Program:
Community Legal Referral Program
Description:
To match volunteer lawyers with nonprofit organizations that develop or sponsor affordable housing, promote economic development, or operate as homeless shelters, tenant organizations, and housing and homeless advocacy groups.
Organization:
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Boston Bar Association
Program:
Health Disparities Project
Description:
To expand the LINK Project to two additional MGH community health care centers. This program provides pediatric patient families access to a lawyer at no charge to assist them in obtaining public benefits to which they are entitled in an effort to improve health outcomes for children.
Organization:
Legal Advocacy and Resource Center, Inc.
Description:
To support LARC's legal hotline program, which provides referrals, brief advice, client educational materials, and legal intake for the Greater Boston area and across the state. The hotline can handle approximately 14,000 legal matters each year.
Organization:
Massachusetts Advocates for Children
Program:
Children's Law Support and Education Justice Project
Description:
To address the legal needs of Massachusetts children from low-income families who face barriers to equal educational opportunities. Funds will be used to provide in-house and pro bono legal advice and representation through the Education Referral Network. Funds will also be used to conduct systemic advocacy, training and support to private attorneys and advocates.
Organization:
Massachusetts Bar Institute/Association
Program:
Veteran's Pro Bono Initiative
Description:
To give veterans access to legal representation, legal information, and advice through a three-tiered program. Tiers are: pro bono representation on state and federal benefit appeals, Dial-A-Lawyer programs exclusively for veterans, and onsite visits to local Veteran Service Offices.
Organization:
Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Chronic and Infectious Disease Project
Description:
To ensure that prisons and jails identify prisoners with chronic illness, including Hepatitis C, HIV, MRSA, MS, and many others. The project will seek to ensure that prisoners are educated about their illnesses and to advocate for appropriate treatment.
Organization:
Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services, Inc.
Program:
Prison Brutality and Human Rights Project
Description:
To provide advocacy to prisoners who have been assaulted by correctional staff. The project creates documentation of all instances where force or other acts of staff misconduct are used in a manner that violates prison regulations and other significant prisoners' rights. MCLS is also advocating for treatment and specialized housing for mentally ill prisoners housed in segregation units--where most reported brutality incidents have occurred.
Organization:
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition
Program:
Immigration Law Training and Technical Assistance Project
Description:
To provide attorneys, paralegals, and other legal professionals training and assistance with immigration law. The project aims to increase the number of individuals within those organizations who can represent their immigrant clients at CIS proceedings.
Organization:
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Program:
Housing Preservation Project
Description:
To provide representation and coordinated legal assistance to low-income individuals and families across the Commonwealth threatened with the loss of their public housing. Funds will support the implementation and monitoring of a second move fair housing relocation program for the families illegally displaced following the destruction of the Julian D. Steele Housing Development in Lowell, as well as to prevent the deterioration and destruction of Watuppa Heights in Fall River.
Organization:
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Program:
Immigrants Protection Project
Description:
To advocate for systemic policy and procedural changes in government agencies and institutions to improve the administration of justice for low-income immigrants. This project seeks to protect the rights of immigrants, reduce discrimination, and eliminate institutional barriers that limit and prevent immigrants from reaching their full potential.
Organization:
Mediation Works Incorporated
Program:
Eviction Mediation Program
Description:
To prevent homelessness by providing mediation services for summary process cases at the Plymouth, Hingham, Quincy, South Boston, East Boston, Dorchester, Wrentham, Newton, Dedham, and Roxbury Court Departments. Funds will also be used to recruit and train volunteer mediators.
Organization:
National Consumer Law Center
Program:
Debt Collection Justice Project
Description:
To reform the treatment of individual consumers in debt collection cases. Together with the Wilmer Hale Legal Services Center, the project will represent low-income and elderly consumers who are defendants in debt collection cases filed against them in small claims and district courts. Funds will also be used to update and refine practice materials on debt collection defenses and to advocate to reform the debt collection process in Massachusetts.
Organization:
National Lawyers Guild, Mass. Chapter
Program:
Street Law Clinic Project
Description:
To provide low-income people, immigrants, and people of color information about their legal rights in the areas of work, housing, immigration, and the criminal justice system through a series of free workshops conducted by law students and attorney volunteers. Clinics are provided in cooperation with community organizations.
Organization:
Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project
Program:
AILA PAIR Immigration Court Program
Description:
To increase pro bono resources for detained immigrants whose cases are heard in the Boston Immigration Court. Working with AILA and the BIC, PAIR will provide Know Your Rights presentations, conduct case consultations, provide representation and referral, and conduct legal education programs.
Organization:
Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project
Program:
Detention Center Initiative
Description:
To advise and represent asylum-seekers, torture survivors, and other immigrants in immigration detentions. Funds will also be used to recruit pro bono attorneys and to broaden the legal education of law students at PAIR through work with immigration detainees.
Organization:
Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project
Program:
Pro Bono Asylum Program (IOLTA)
Description:
To represent immigrants seeking political asylum by combining the resources of the private bar, law schools and nonprofit agencies. PAIR also compiles an extensive training manual and conducts numerous training sessions for its pro bono attorney panel. (1 of 2 grants for project).
Organization:
Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project
Program:
Pro Bono Asylum Program (MBF Immigration Projects Fund)
Description:
One of two grants awarded to support this program. Balance of request was provided by an IOLTA grant of $9,206.
Organization:
Rosie's Place, Inc.
Program:
Advocacy-Legal Services Specialist
Description:
To support a part-time staff attorney. This position will allow shelter guests to develop an ongoing relationship with a single attorney for the duration of their needs.
Organization:
Victim Rights Law Center
Program:
Rape Survivors Law Project
Description:
To provide civil legal assistance to sexual assault victims, helping to safeguard their rights related to privacy, safety, housing, education, employment, immigration status, and financial stability. Funds will support a staff attorney, as well as training and recruitment for pro bono attorneys to assist the project.
Organization:
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts
Program:
VLA Legal Referral Program
Description:
To provide free and reduced-fee legal referrals, advice, and education programming to MA artists and art organizations. Funds will also be used to conduct the LVA Educational Seminars Program.
Organization:
Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association
Program:
Senior Partners for Justice-West
Description:
To support the recruitment and coordination of pro bono attorneys who will represent low-income clients on family law cases. Funds will also be used to maintain the Limited Assistance Representation Project, the Express Divorce Clinic, and GAL panel in Hampden County.
Organization:
Women's Bar Foundation of MA, Inc.
Program:
Family Law Project for Battered Women
Description:
To provide referrals for pro bono legal assistance to low-income battered women and their children in contested family law litigation. The project recruits and provides ongoing training and mentoring for volunteer attorneys in the areas of domestic violence, divorce, child support, custody, and visitation.
Organization:
Women's Lunch Place
Program:
Advocacy and Legal Assistance Program
Description:
To provide access to free legal advice and representation to homeless and poor women. Services are provided by an onsite advocate and area pro bono attorneys.
Organization:
CASA Project, Inc.
Program:
CHINS Child Protection Program
Description:
To provide a CASA volunteer to any CHINS child in the Worcester County Juvenile Court who is identified by a judge as needing such an advocate. Funds will be used to monitor each case assigned and volunteers serving in the program.
Organization:
Dismas House of Central Massachusetts
Program:
Resident Attorney Advocate Program
Description:
To provide legal assistance to recently released ex-prisoners on any outstanding civil legal issues. The staff attorney will provide support from the first day of residency in one of the three Dismas shelters.
Organization:
Friendly House, Inc.
Program:
Immigration Aid Initiative
Description:
To provide legal advice and immigration aid to any family or individual who cannot afford an attorney or other fees associated with legal consultation. Funds will be used to obtain BIA accreditation for the agency and staff, enlist volunteer attorneys and a part-time contract attorney to provide representation, and to establish a method to study immigration aid trends within the agency.
Organization:
Jewish Family Service of Worcester, Inc.
Program:
Elder Guardianship Program
Description:
To provide guardianship services for frail elders in Worcester County. Funds will be used to defray the legal costs associated with JFS becoming the legal guardian for these clients who have no one else to assist them.
Organization:
Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts
Program:
Family Advocates of Central Mass.
Description:
To work collaboratively with pediatricians and family doctors to address social problems that exacerbate the health of indigent children. Practitioners are trained to screen for legal issues affecting patient health and to make referrals to LACCM for direct legal services.
Organization:
Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts
Program:
Northern Worcester County Immigrant Project
Description:
To provide legal advice and representation to immigrant victims of domestic violence seeking to secure legal status through petitions under the Violence Against Women Act, applications for U visas for crime victims, and Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions for abused neglected, or abandoned minors.
Organization:
Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts
Program:
Pro Se Litigants in Family Court
Description:
To limit the assistance needed from the court by pro se litigants by providing lawyers to advise clients (Lawyer for the Day Program), and representing clients in uncontested divorces (Uncontested Divorce Project).
Organization:
Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts
Program:
Worcester Fair Housing Project
Description:
To address housing discrimination in Worcester County by providing legal representation to families unlawfully denied housing, and by conducting community education and outreach.
Organization:
Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts
Program:
Worcester Foreclosure Defense Project
Description:
To provide legal advice and representation for homeowners threatened with foreclosure. Funds will also be used for community education programs, the development of a pro bono panel, and the formulation of strategies for foreclosure prevention work.
Organization:
Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts
Program:
Zarrow Homeless Advocacy Project
Description:
To support a staff attorney who will provide legal counsel and advice to clients and residents of homeless shelters and other imminently homeless individuals and families in order to reduce or prevent the incidences of homelessness. Full representation will be provided in cases where pro se advice is inadequate to resolve a client's problem.
Organization:
Lutheran Community Services of Massachusetts
Program:
Services for New Americans Program
Description:
To provide free legal services, including direct representation, managed referrals, and pro se assistance, to low-income political asylum seekers and victims of trafficking, violent crime, and domestic violence.
Organization:
Massachusetts Justice Project, Inc.
Program:
Holyoke Medical Legal Partnership
Description:
To provide 150 low-income families in Holyoke and the surrounding communities with advice, intake, brief services, and representation to insure that children and families have access to sufficient income, housing, utilities, safety, and other basic necessities that have an impact on their health. Legal clinics will be conducted at the Holyoke Health Center.
Organization:
Massachusetts Justice Project, Inc.
Program:
Volunteer Lawyers Service
Description:
To provide free civil legal assistance to low-income clients through referrals to volunteer private attorneys who provide pro bono representation. Funds will also be used to recruit and train new volunteer lawyers.
Organization:
Massachusetts Justice Project, Inc.
Program:
Volunteers for Justice
Description:
To support an eviction advocacy and referral program that utilizes trained volunteers to screen, educate, and advocate for unrepresented litigants in the Western MA Housing Court. The project refers cases that cannot be resolved with volunteer assistance to the WMLS Housing Court Intervention Project and the MJP's own Volunteer Lawyers Service.
Organization:
Mediation Services of North Central MA, Inc.
Program:
Court and Community Mediation Program
Description:
To provide free mediation services conducted by trained volunteer mediators for the people of North Central Mass. and specifically for Fitchburg, Leominster, and Gardner District Courts.
Organization:
Worcester Community Action Council, Inc.
Program:
CMC Small Claims Mediation-Worcester District Court
Description:
To provide mediation for small claims cases at the Worcester District Court. CMC will provide voluntary and confidential mediation services that include: trained volunteer mediators, assistance of attorney mediators, convenient meeting times, written agreements, and follow-up appointments.
Organization:
Worcester County Bar Association
Program:
Reduced Fee Program
Description:
To provide civil legal representation to individuals whose income is just above the nation's poverty line, and thus not eligible for free services, yet not sufficient to hire a private attorney at their regular rate of compensation.
Organization:
YWCA of Central Massachusetts
Program:
Daybreak and BWR Court Advocacy Program
Description:
To provide specially trained and certified advocates onsite in the district and probate courts to provide advocacy and support services to victims of domestic violence seeking intervention and protection through the courts. The program services Worcester Probate and Family Court, as well as the District Courts in Ayer, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, Winchendon, and Worcester.