MBF Elects New Officers, Honors SJC Justice Ireland at Annual Meeting

At the Massachusetts Bar Foundation’s recent Annual Meeting, 2007 President Carol A. Witt passed the gavel to 2008 President Laurence M. Johnson, and Supreme Judicial Court Justice Roderick L. Ireland was honored with the Great Friend of Justice Award. Over 150 attended the meeting and reception, which was held Jan. 24 at the Social Law Library in Boston.

In his keynote address, Ireland, who was being honored for his work with the state’s youth, thanked the MBF for helping fund this year’s Judicial Youth Corps with a $21,750 Fellows Fund Grant. The grant helped to bring legal education and courthouse internships back to Worcester after budget limitations in recent years forced the program to scale back to just Boston. .

Ireland explained the ways the program has made a difference in the lives of urban teenagers since it was established by the SJC’s Public Information Office in 1991. Ireland has been an advocate of the Judicial Youth Corps since its beginning, serving as chair of the planning committee, advisor, program director, mentor and teacher.

Ireland shared credit for the award with all of the court staff who volunteer their time to make the program work. “They do it for just one reason – because it’s a chance to give back and work with young people,” he said.

While all of the students participating in the program gain an understanding and appreciation for the law, he said, some alumni even end up working in the legal profession.  Four graduates of the program, now practicing attorneys in Boston, were present for the event.

This year’s grantee speaker was David LeBoeuf, a 2007 Judicial Youth Corps member from Worcester. In his speech, LeBoeuf thanked the MBF for giving 10 students in Worcester the opportunity to work with judges, attorneys, probation officers and defendants and gain a deeper understanding of the law.

“All of this happened because of individuals like you, members of the Mass. Bar Foundation, invested in hope, not stereotypes. So tonight I want to formally thank you all for your commitment to giving my community the chance to prove to the cynics that they are wrong about today’s youth.”

The MBF inducted its officers for 2008:

· President Laurence M. Johnson, Davis, Malm & D’Agostine, PC

· Vice President Joseph P.J. Vrabel, Endurance Asset Management, Inc.

· Treasurer Jerry Cohen, Burns & Levinson, LLP

· Secretary Robert V. Ward Jr., Southern New England School of Law

A new class of trustees, whose terms run through January 2012, was also inducted:

· Richard P. Campbell, Campbell, Campbell, Edwards & Conroy

· Hon. Thomas A. Connors, Massachusetts Superior Court

· Daniel J. Gleason, Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP 

· Edward W. McIntyre, Law Office of Edward W. McIntyre 

For 2008, Johnson pledged that the MBF would continue working on serving the state’s unmet legal needs through IOLTA grants and other projects.  “We’re going to broaden and expand our efforts to fulfill our mission,” Johnson said. “While it is not the only one, it is surely one of the very best organizations for lawyers to give back to their communities and the profession.”

This event was generously sponsored by US Trust, tha Massachusetts Bar Association, and JM Perrone Company.  Please visit our photo gallery to view more photos.