In the Community > Public Service

Public Service

The BBA recognizes the importance of serving the larger community and providing legal services to those in need. We offer a number of service opportunities to allow our members to give back to the community while developing their skills in different areas of law.

Our programming offers:

  • Pro bono opportunities
  • Working with youth
  • One time community volunteer activities

View our available public service opportunities below: 

Our Projects

  • Law Day in the Schools Law Day in the Schools

    Teach a class and help educate Boston Public School students about the legal process.

  • Housing Court Lawyer for the Day Housing Court Lawyer for the Day

    Assist unrepresented tenants and landlords on summary process (i.e. eviction) day at Boston Housing Court.

  • Summer Jobs Summer Jobs

    "Mentor a high school student through this program, which places students in local firms and legal agencies in partnership with the Boston Private Industry Council” to: Introduce a Boston high school student to the legal profession though this program.

  • Veterans Initiative Veterans' Initiative

    Give legal advice to military personnel, veterans and their families.

  • M. Ellen Carpenter Financial Literacy Program M. Ellen Carpenter Financial Literacy

    This program, in partnership with the United States Bankruptcy Court, teaches high school students about the importance of making informed decisions regarding their finances.

  • Summer Jobs BMC ADR

    Use your alternative dispute resolution skills to help litigants with both Pre-trial Case Conferencing and Mediation at the Boston Municipal Court ("BMC").

  • Boston Debate League Boston Debate League

    Be a Judge or Mentor for the Boston Debate League, an urban debate league in the Boston Public Schools.

  • Veterans Initiative VITA

    Help low and moderate-income taxpayers fill out tax returns, and offer consultations on special credits.

  • Practice Area Pro Bono Projects Practice Area Pro Bono Projects

    Find an opportunity that interests you. The BBA has pro bono projects for attorneys at all levels of experience and expertise.


Lawyer Referral Service

The Boston Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service has been helping people find the right lawyer for over 50 years. The LRS Program connects callers in need of legal assistance with qualified help from private attorneys, legal services agencies, government offices, and community programs. The BBA Lawyer Referral Service is service the only lawyer referral service in the greater Boston area that is approved by the American Bar Association. For more, click here.

Volunteer

Looking to participate? Click here to fill out the BBA’s Public Service Volunteer form. After completion, a member of the BBA Staff will contact you directly to discuss which of our opportunities will best suit your interests and background.

Beyond the Billable

Beyond the Billable, the BBA’s public service blog, keeps you in the know about the most recent developments in the BBA’s pro bono opportunities, public service initiatives, and training programs. If you are a lawyer interested in giving back, Beyond the Billable is your one stop shop for everything public service.

Public Service Report

The BBA's Public Service Report provides a yearly snapshot of the BBA’s involvement in the community and our efforts to promote public service within the legal field, as well as a way to acknowledge our dedicated volunteers and committee members who make the programs possible. To read the report, click here.


News

20 Years Later, Summer Jobs Program Still Giving Urban Youth a Chance to Succeed

Come June the BBA Summer Jobs Program will celebrate its 20th anniversary. After a record setting year of providing paid internships to 57 Boston Public High School students, the program will have reached more than 440 diverse Boston youth.

As the 2013 program nears kickoff, the BBA and the Private Industry Council are busy reviewing applications, conducting interviews, and matching the students to firms and law offices. During this process, we came across the application of Destynie Jean-Baptiste, a junior at Urban Science Academy. Her reference came from her Humanities teacher, Isabel Perez -- who herself participated in the BBA Summer Jobs Program 12 years ago as a student at English High. We touched base with Isabel to see what about this program has stayed with her after all these years.

+ Read Entire Article

Last Call for 2013 Summer Jobs Employers - 5 Reasons Your Firm Needs to Sign On

Summer JobsMay 31st marks the deadline to sign up to join the growing lists of firms and legal departments who have committed to hiring a Summer Jobs student. If your firm hasn’t already signed on to the program, here are a few reasons why it should:
+ Read Entire Article

Public Service Oversight Committee

The BBA Public Service Oversight Committee implements the BBA Public Service Policy by: 
  1. Vetting prospective BBA public service projects
  2. Reviewing ongoing projects
  3. Providing advice and consultation to BBA leadership
  4. Supporting the BBA’s mission. To see the 2012-2013 members, click here.