Sign-Up to Hire a Summer High School Intern

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Throughout the winter, many Boston area legal offices have been signing up for the Boston Bar Association’s Summer Jobs Program. We’re grateful to the organizations that have signed up so far and encourage your office to hire a student and make an impact!

Each summer, law firms, courts, and government agencies hire high school students from Boston Public Schools to work in their offices. Past student interns have worked across a variety of departments, from accounting to records and IT to litigation. Students are eager to learn and gain professional experience and can offer assistance on many projects during the course of the summer. We encourage you learn more about the program here and if you’d like to hire a student, please let us know by filling out this form.

Thank you to the below offices that have already committed to hire a student in 2017!

Boston Planning & Development Agency
Brown Rudnick LLP
Burns & Levinson LLP
Choate Hall & Stewart LLP
Collora LLP
Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford, LLP
Foley Hoag LLP
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP
Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
McCarter & English LLP
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo P.C.
Nixon Peabody LLP
Nutter, McClennen & Fish LLP
Ropes & Gray LLP
Shaevel and Krems, LLP
Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen, P.C.
Verrill Dana LLP
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

Students participating in Summer Jobs 2016 hear from Larry DiCara (Nixon Peabody) during their Enrichment Seminar field trip to Boston City Hall.

PILP Gets Primer on Domestic Violence Law

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Last week, the Public Interest Leadership Program (PILP) heard from Mithra Merryman (Greater Boston Legal Services) and Margo Lindauer (Northeastern University School of Law) on how the legal system works to help victims of domestic violence (DV) . After reviewing the legal definitions of violence and abuse, the presenters moved to cover more specific components faced when assisting a victim of domestic violence.

Victims may request a restraining order against their abuser, which can be applied either where the victim is living or where the majority of abuse occurred. Merryman and Lindauer shared the benefits and drawbacks of both jurisdictions and discussed instances when a restraining order may not benefit the victim. Additionally, PILP heard how domestic violence cases are impacted when the victim is an immigrant. The speakers described that many DV victims are less likely to come forward if they fear deportation and that abusers will use the threat of deportation against their victims. While the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 allows married Green Card holders to file immigrant visa petitions, unmarried immigrants are not covered by the act. The co-presenters also stressed throughout the meeting that the prevalence of domestic violence is the same across all demographics: race, age, socioeconomic status, sexual & gender orientation, etc.

If you’re interested in pro bono projects related to domestic violence, the presenters suggest looking into the below organizations*:

*All organizations listed are 2016 Grantees of the Boston Bar Foundation

Looking for an Internship This Summer? Apply now for The BBA’s Diversity & Inclusion Section’s Internship Program

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Are you – or do you know – a law student looking to spend their 1L or 2L summer gaining professional legal experience? The BBA’s Diversity & Inclusion Section’s Summer Judicial Internship Program is an unpaid, non-credit internship in which students work directly with a judge during their 1L or 2L summer. The program provides law students with the valuable mentoring and professional experience needed to succeed after graduation.  The program also has a long-term goal: to bolster efforts to retain a diverse and inclusive population of young lawyers here in Boston. Throughout the course of the summer, interns observe courtroom proceedings and enhance their legal research and writing skills. In addition to their work, they engage with BBA Members and one another at professional development seminars and career exploration programs held at the BBA.

The Diversity & Inclusion Section launched the Judicial Internship Program in 2010, and for six years has facilitated this unique opportunity for Boston area law students to gain access to internships in the Boston Municipal Courts, Massachusetts State District Courts, the Massachusetts Superior Court, the Probate and Family Court, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the First Circuit. More than 100 law students have participated in this program since 2010.

To apply, students must have completed the 1L or 2L year (or the equivalent) and must be able to work a minimum of 15 hours per week for a total of 8 weeks for most placements. There are specific guidelines and requirements for each placement. Students are encouraged to carefully read the application requirements and specifications for each position sought before submitting your application.

Details about the following internship placements for these internships are available on our program website along with instructions for how to apply. We also suggest visiting our internship FAQ page for more details and tips for your application.

Thank you to these courts for their ongoing participation: The Boston Municipal Courts, the Massachusetts State District Courts, the Massachusetts Superior Court, the Probate and Family Court, the Massachusetts Land Court, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the First Circuit.

Law students may contact the program administrator, Cassandra Shavney, [email protected] with questions or concerns.

Our 2016 Summer Interns worked over 3, 500 hours while sharpening their professional legal expertise.

VLP Holds Training for New Debt Collection Clinic

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In small claims court, there is a tremendous unmet need for counsel to help vulnerable clients argue their cases against collection agencies. With the launch of the Lawyer for the Day Fair Debt Collection Clinic in Small Claims Court, the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP) and its volunteer partners are hoping to change all that.

Hsindy Chen, a staff attorney at VLP, gave us some details on an upcoming training that will ready attorneys for participation in the clinic.

Pro Bono Training: Representing Debtors in Small Claims Court
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Boston Bar Association – 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA

“This training is for the lawyer for the day clinic in small claims court which aims to level the playing field between debt collectors and pro se debtors.  The debt collection industry has notoriously targeted the most vulnerable consumers, often without providing adequate proof that they own the debt.  Approximately 75% of all small claims cases in Massachusetts are brought by debt collectors seeking to enforce debts against consumers. Nearly all of these consumers appear for trial without counsel. However these cases often have significant defenses, of which these consumers are unaware or unable to effectively argue.  Attorneys will learn the substantive law for debt collection, as well as practical skills for client interview, negotiations, and making arguments before a clerk magistrate.  After the training, attorneys will be ready to take their own pro bono cases at the lawyer for the day clinic in small claims court.  The lawyer for the day clinic is a great opportunity to volunteer on a limited basis as the cases are typically resolved that same day through trial or settlement.  Attorneys will get hands-on experience in court and develop litigation skills in a fast-paced but manageable environment.”

CEASE Network Combats Human Trafficking in Boston

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Last week, representatives from Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) – Boston spoke to attorneys on the prevalence of human trafficking in Boston. As a topic not widely discussed, it’s easy to assume human trafficking does not happen in our city. However, 14 is the average age of young women in Boston entering the sex trade and over 20,000 ads for paid sex are posted monthly in Boston alone. Lieutenant Donna Gavin (Boston Police Department) and Dhakir Warren (Demand Abolition) belong to the CEASE Network and presented these statistics along with their approach to combat demand. Through “buyer beware” campaigns, they hope to dissuade buyers, primarily older, married men with expendable income, from searching for and purchasing sex online.  Warren noted that when one sex trafficker is arrested, four more will pop up to take over the lucrative business. By curbing demand, CEASE hopes to halt the business altogether.

A recent Boston Globe article quotes Lieutenant Gavin and features a young woman whose story is like so many of those who are swept into the sex trade. For a glimpse of what’s happening in Boston, read the article here.

If you were unable to attend the program at the BBA and would like to view a video recording, please email Cassandra Shavney at [email protected].

PILP Meets with Juvenile Probation Officer Michael Gilraine

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Rounding out the Public Interest Leadership Program’s month discussing juvenile justice, the class heard from Michael Gilraine, a juvenile probation officer at Suffolk Juvenile Court. Gilraine opened by describing the basic difference between child delinquency cases, when a juvenile is charged with a crime, and Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) cases, ones in which a child’s guardian or school files with the court on behalf of a child requiring assistance. A child may be referred to the court for a number of reasons (stubbornness, truancy, etc.) which are outlined in the Suffolk Juvenile Court’s Handbook. The Handbook also describes the various courses of action a juvenile may take after their initial meeting with a probation officer. The severity of a child’s situation generally determines the child’s plan.

Gilraine’s work is rewarding, he says. Friday is his favorite day of the week, when he visits area schools to check in with students and their teachers. He said it’s great to see when students are in school and are proud of the work they’re accomplishing.

If you’d like to work on family law issues, the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association* hosts both a Family Law Clinic and Guardianship Clinics. You can find more information on their website.

*The Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association is a 2016 grantee of the Boston Bar Foundation.

Host a High School Student During Job Shadow Day

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Don’t miss the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC)’s annual Job Shadow Day. As you may know, the PIC is one of our partners for the BBA Summer Jobs Program. With nearly 1,000 Boston public high school students participating each year, Job Shadow Day is a great place for employers to meet high school students who are eager to explore legal careers. This event, which serves as a precursor to Mayor Walsh’s citywide Summer Jobs Program, allows students to shadow professionals for a morning to give them a firsthand look into the skills and education needed to pursue a career in the legal field.

In the past, many of our Summer Jobs employers have identified eager students through this program to work in their offices through the BBA Summer Jobs Program.

Interested in getting involved? This half day program will take place on Friday, March 10th. If you’d like to host a student, please email Cassandra Shavney at [email protected].

Legal Services Organizations Detail Upcoming Pro Bono Trainings

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Over the next few weeks, we have a busy schedule of pro bono trainings available to attorneys who are looking for ways to help those in need. Besides the clients who benefit from pro bono services, there’s no one better to explain why these trainings are so important than the attorneys who lead them!

We asked Emily Jarrell (Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association) and Seth Purcell (Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project) to talk about two panels coming up at the BBA.

How to Prepare a Pro Bono Bankruptcy Case
Tuesday, January 31, 2017 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Boston Bar Association – 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA

“At this training, attorneys will learn the basics of filing Chapter 7. It will have a particular emphasis on helping low-income clients. The Volunteer Lawyer’s Project works with low-income clients with a simple Chapter 7 case, but having an attorney makes a big difference for the client, because it stops the debt collection calls and stops the court proceedings that may be taking them out of work and causing extra stress. The training is tailored to attorneys looking to take their first bankruptcy case,” Jarrell said.

She also noted that attendees will get an overview of the resources available to them through VLP, such as mentoring for new attorneys and a bankruptcy filing system.

Pro Bono Training: Representing Asylum Seekers
Monday, February 6, 2017 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Boston Bar Association – 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA

“We are one of many organizations watching closely, and we anticipate a lot of rapid policy changes under the new administration. This training will give attorneys the opportunity to become familiar with the basics of asylum law, including the differences between filing an affirmative application and a defensive application. Asylum law is something that many attorneys may not be familiar with from their regular practice, so we always appreciate the opportunity to hold these trainings at the BBA,” Purcell said.

Purcell also said the training will cover important issue associated with asylum cases, such as strategies for helping clients that have been through extreme physical and/or emotional trauma. The training will also cover the importance of testimony from medical experts in asylum cases.

Reentry Education Program Addresses Family Law with Probationers

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Reentry Education Program Committee member Raquel Webster (National Grid, far right), introduces speaker Brian McLaughlin (McLaughlin Law, center).

The Reentry Education Program engages those reentering the community post-incarceration by providing workshops on a range of relevant topics.  In the first presentation of 2017 at the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, Attorney Brian McLaughlin, McLaughlin Law, presented on a variety of family law issues. While the presentation was a broad overview, the content was extremely useful to those who’ve never navigated family law issues before or who may have questions on ongoing matters. From paternity and child support to child custody and parenting time, McLaughlin defined many of the common terms associated with family law matters and explained the Probate and Family Court’s role in these affairs. The attendees were also provided with a comprehensive list of resources to further research how to navigate the court and find legal counsel if needed.

The Reentry Education Program continues next month with a workshop on Driver’s License Reinstatement. Future topics will include CORI management, employment law, public benefits, and more, please email Cassandra Shavney at [email protected] if you’re interested in becoming a presenter.

PILP Kicks Off the New Year Discussing Juvenile Justice

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Earlier this month, the Public Interest Leadership Program (PILP) met with Professor Francine Sherman of Boston College Law School who has been teaching Juvenile Justice and Children’s Rights & Public Policy for two decades. Professor Sherman founded and directs the Juvenile Rights Advocacy Program at BC Law and is certainly an expert on the subject, and she provided a comprehensive overview of the topic for PILP. She discussed the two approaches to juvenile justice, social welfare and social control, and the historical practices behind both concepts.

Over the past century, juvenile justice has varied from being an institutionalized system linked to criminal justice to a support system for children whose parents are unable to care for the child. More recently, from the 1990s to mid-2000s, juvenile justice took on the “do the crime, do the time” mantra and resulted in more youth entering the adult criminal justice system.  Then, Professor Sherman described the switch that’s been taking place from 2005 for juvenile justice to move back to the social welfare concept. Supreme Court cases including Roper v Simmons (2005), Graham v. Florida (2010), and Miller v. Alabama (2012), which extended Graham v. Florida all moved juvenile justice away from mirroring the adult system. Juvenile justice continues to evolve as many of laws are state/county based and after Miller v. Alabama, many states’ laws were unconstitutional. Professor Sherman also noted the movement toward “fairness” in the system and acknowledging childhood development.

Concluding, Professor Sherman noted the 3 “R’s” of supporting juveniles who’ve found themselves in the justice system: rights, remedies, and resources. From her perspective, the resources component is the most lacking. However, if you would like to support youth in need of legal aid, there are a number of organizations in the Boston area in need of volunteers and support. Two organizations Professor Sherman suggests looking into are the EdLaw Project* and Citizens for Juvenile Justice.

*The EdLaw Project’s parent organization, the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts is a 2016 grantee of the Boston Bar Foundation.