The Equal Justice Coalition

MLAC's FY23 annual report is here!

We're beyond thrilled to share the incredible impact civil legal aid work had in the past year. From protecting families' housing to securing justice for survivors of domestic violence, our grantees have made a real difference in the lives of Massachusetts residents!

Check out our latest report on our website to dive into the stats and stories that showcase the power of civil legal aid: https://loom.ly/q2W90To

URGENT: Your voice is needed now!

The Massachusetts Legislature is finalizing its FY25 budget proposal, and we need your help to secure $53 million for civil legal aid. Without this increase, legal aid organizations will struggle to maintain operations at their current levels and serve more people in need.

Use our simple e-alert form below to contact your legislators and urge them to prioritize civil legal aid!

https://loom.ly/6h_i2Gk

ALERT:

The Massachusetts Senate will soon vote on a budget that will impact your community's access to justice.

Right now, we need YOUR voice to make sure legal aid receives the funding needed to continue serving vulnerable people: $55 million for FY25.

Take just 2 minutes to sign our EJC action alert with the link below and tell your senator that additional funding for legal aid is critical!

https://loom.ly/0hP_VmY

EJC E-Alert: May 2024 Contact your legislator today and advocate for MA civil legal aid funding! With the EJC's easy-to-use form, it only takes a few minutes—and it has a big impact.

We thank the Massachusetts House of Representatives for including $53 million for civil legal aid in its FY25 budget recommendation!

We also appreciate House Leader Ruth Balser and Chair State Representative Michael Day for sponsoring Amendment 375, which brought us to this result.

Sign up for the EJC's Action Alerts at the link below to stay updated as we move on to the Senate!
https://loom.ly/UXU2ixQ

Help us support more funding for civil legal aid!

House Amendment #375 proposes to increase MLAC's line item to $55 million in FY25, the full amount of our request.

Now is a crucial opportunity to help our state's civil legal aid organizations grow to meet demand for services.

Please take two minutes to fill out the e-alert below and urge your representatives to back Amendment #375!

https://loom.ly/H6uELWQ

Every voice does make a difference!

Thank you, UMass Law, for writing up our Walk to the Hill event on your website!

It was great to see so many students at this year's 25th anniversary event. We are so grateful for all of the support and enthusiasm!

Read the article here: https://loom.ly/b3D8qyo

UMass Law students champion funding for civil legal aid Students and faculty participate in

Thank you to everyone who came to Walk to the Hill yesterday - 600 at last count!

Your presence and support made this event fantastic. It was wonderful to see such support for civil legal aid, in the event's 25th year!

We want to extend a special thank you to our client speaker, Livia G, whose story of resilience and empowerment reminded us of our purpose. The need for civil legal aid remains acute for thousands of people across Massachusetts, and together we will continue our advocacy work to address that need.

Thank you all again - now let's keep the momentum going!



Pictured:

Attendees checking in at the State House; Livia (center) posing with her attorneys Michelin Cahill (L) and Marina Abraham (R); a huge crowd in the Hall of Flags listens to the speaking program

MBBB Attorneys Peter Ainsworth, Esq, - Meehan, Boyle, Sarah Crossen, Esq., Robert Foster, and Jennifer Denker join the Equal Justice Coalition of Massachusetts and other legal advocates across the state for for Civil Legal Aid.

TOMORROW!

Walk to the Hill 2024 is almost here, so we wanted to share some key reminders for this exciting day! Remember to bring the energy, bring the knowledge, and most importantly bring yourselves!

58 General Counsels and In-House Attorneys at Massachusetts-based corporations sent a letter to the Governor emphasizing the need for more civil legal aid funding.

Read the Boston Business Journal's coverage of their letter here: https://loom.ly/1qHb0Ik

Wondering what "Walk to the Hill" is all about?

See below for a quick primer on the event and learn how you can join the movement this Thursday!


More at: equaljusticecoalition.org/walk

Thank you, Rachel, and Prisoners' Legal Services!

PLS Attorney and Yale Law School Liman Fellow Rachel Talamo is participating in The Equal Justice Coalition's campaign for because no one is disposable!

Thrilled to share this letter to the editor written by former EJC chair John Carroll (currently Of Counsel for Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow P.C.) that delves into the history and significance of Walk to the Hill.

It's a must-read for anyone interested in this year's 25th Anniversary event!

Thank you, John, for helping to spread the word!

Read the letter here: https://loom.ly/k4w_9XE

We're less than two weeks away!

Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of the 25th anniversary of this year's Walk to the Hill!

Mark your calendars for January 25th and register now through the provided link below.

P.S. Don't forget to post your placards on social media telling us why you 'Walk to the Hill!'

https://loom.ly/FzkQcl0

Congratulations to all the teams that took home awards for their exceptional participation in the EJC's "Talk to the Hill" campaign last year!

We celebrated these outstanding efforts at our Captains' Breakfast event last week, hosted by our friends at WilmerHale.

Read a recap of the Captains' Breakfast here: https://loom.ly/e5ynurU

If you're part of a "Walk to the Hill" team in 2024, you could be a winner next year! Start taking action today by encouraging your peers and colleagues to join the Walk on January 25th, and remember to share your efforts on social media.

Goodwin
Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow P.C.
UMass Law

Join us as we celebrate the incredible 25-year milestone of our Walk to the Hill event!

Together, we've made a difference, so let's continue that work. Please join us on January 25th and help us support an equitable future for all!

Be sure to register with this link: https://loom.ly/Cn8ZWAs

We all walk for different reasons, and we want to hear from you! Take part in The Equal Justice Coalition's placard campaign and help us celebrate the 25th anniversary of Walk to the Hill!

Special thanks to Tenzin Bayul, Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation's Executive Support and Organizational Development Manager, for sharing why she is joining the Walk on January 25.

Be sure to download your placard using the link below and post a picture of you holding your message on social media (please tag us and use !)

https://loom.ly/FzkQcl0

ICYMI: Check out this promo video for Walk to the Hill, the EJC's annual lobbying day, produced by Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation!

Join us on January 25 at the Massachusetts State House for the big event. We are excited to be back in person this year with our passionate supporters in the legal community to advocate for equal justice!

Watch the video here: https://loom.ly/5gDEs8M

Register at: equaljusticecoalition.org/walk

Walk to the Hill 2024 Promo Video Walk to the Hill is BACK in-person for 2024! Join MLAC and the Equal Justice Coalition at this annual lobby day for civil legal aid at the Massachusetts Stat...

Save the date!

"Walk to the Hill," our annual lobby day event at the Massachusetts State House, will be on January 25, 2024.

After three years of virtual advocacy, we are thrilled to be back in-person this time!

Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more information - we can't wait to see everyone again and make our voices heard to support more funding for civil legal aid.

www.equaljusticecoalition.org/walk

The Equal Justice Coalition thanks Governor Healey, the Massachusetts State Legislature, and justice advocates across the Commonwealth for supporting $49 million for civil legal aid in FY24!

This much-needed investment was allocated to Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation's (MLAC) line item in the final Massachusetts state budget, which Governor Healey signed last week.

If you joined Talk to the Hill, shared our posts on social media, spread the word about civil legal aid's impact, or emailed/called your legislators - you were an important part of this achievement!

Read MLAC's statement on our website: https://loom.ly/8NcdE7A

Massachusetts legal aid lawyers help families stabilize after crises by enforcing legal protections for survivors of domestic violence, securing spousal and child support, addressing denial of benefits, and solving many other issues.

Demand for family law services is high. During the COVID-19 pandemic (FY20-FY22), civil legal aid organizations in Massachusetts saw a 40% increase in domestic abuse cases, a 55% increase in support cases, and a 25% increase in custody/visitation cases.

Learn more about civil legal aid's impact and what attorneys can do with additional state funding: https://loom.ly/h3925bA

Pictured📷: Black and white image of a Gloucester lighthouse and American flag, with the text "Attorneys closed 2,888 family law cases in fiscal year 2022, including cases involving: divorce, separation, and annulment; custody and visitation; domestic abuse; child and spousal support; adult guardianship and conservatorship; and more"

ACTION ALERT: The MA House Ways & Means budget recommendations include $49 million for civil legal aid— and the Senate recommendations come out in May!

Please, take 5 minutes now to: (1) thank your state Rep. for supporting legal services and (2) urge your state Senator to do the same! We've made it easy: https://loom.ly/t8KH1FY

Thank you for your partnership in advocacy (and for sharing this post)!

ACTION ALERT: Ask your state Representative and Senator to make civil legal aid a budget priority: https://loom.ly/UjnTH4I.

Governor Healey included $49 million for civil legal aid in her FY24 recommendations; now, we need the MA Legislature to do the same!

Your advocacy DOES make a difference for people who need essential legal services. Thank you!

We thank Governor Healey for including $49 million for in her FY24 Budget Recommendations! Everyone deserves access to justice, and investing in our state's civil legal aid organizations is key to delivering on the promise of .

Simi, an immigrant from Nigeria, shared her legal aid story at Talk to the Hill on Jan. 26.

“Having access to organizations like the Children's Law Center of Massachusetts, and lawyers like Jay [McManus] … it’s like a ticket to hope,” she said.

Watch Simi's full video here: https://loom.ly/ZOrLZWo

Talk to the Hill Client Story: Simi shares how civil legal aid supported her journey Talk to the Hill is an annual event for attorneys, law students, and advocates to urge Massachusetts legislators to provide increased funding for civil legal...

"When I contacted legal aid and found out they were willing to work with me on this case, I was relieved tremendously."

Jim, a MetroWest Legal Services Services client, shared his legal aid story at Talk to the Hill on Jan. 26. Watch Jim's video: https://loom.ly/-MSdbWo

Talk to the Hill Client Story: Jim shares how civil legal aid has supported him Talk to the Hill is an annual event for attorneys, law students, and advocates to urge Massachusetts legislators to provide increased funding for civil legal...

Did you miss last week?

You can view the recorded speaking program at ejctalktothehill.org!

Equal Justice Coalition’s Talk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid Happening soon at 11am! 🔜 🕚 Join us online at Talk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid: https://t.co/To1zE8YLoH

Thank you for participating in Talk to the Hill! The legal community showed up today and told our legislators why civil legal aid is vital to Massachusetts residents and the Commonwealth as a whole.

We will continue to advocate for Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation's $49M budget request for FY24 & work toward making equal access to justice a reality for all in Massachusetts. Join us ➡️ https://equaljusticecoalition.org/action/