About MLAC
The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) was established by the Commonwealth in 1983 to ensure that low-income people with critical non-criminal legal problems would have access to legal information, advice and representation.
MLAC is the largest funding source for civil legal aid programs in Massachusetts.
At the Forefront of Social Justice
/in Blog, Diversity, Program News - Archives, Program News - Current /by mlacCurrent and former Bart Gordon Fellows reflect on how the program shaped their careers and helped deliver civil legal aid to marginalized Massachusetts communities. In 1991, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation created a fellowship program to increase legal assistance in communities where linguistic and cultural backgrounds have been barriers to the delivery of legal aid. […]
AmeriCorps Legal Advocates aid in housing and veterans’ cases
/in Blog, Program News - Archives, Program News - Current /by mlacBy Leah Grannum Photo credit: Sheridan Kahmann AmeriCorps Legal Advocates of Massachusetts honored 36 graduates of its legal services program with an end-of-year celebration at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in July. Each year AmeriCorps Legal Advocates of Massachusetts places college and law school graduates in legal services organizations throughout Massachusetts. ALA members have […]
Gov. Baker Approves $24M for Civil Legal Aid Funding
/in Blog, Press Release - Archives, Press Release - Current /by mlac$3M increase boosts aid for people with housing, employment, family and immigration disputes BOSTON, July 31, 2019— Governor Charlie Baker has signed the FY20 Budget of the Commonwealth, which includes $24 million for civil legal aid through the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation—a $3 million increase over FY19. Lynne Parker, executive director of MLAC, praised the […]
Center for Public Representation Launches Supported Decision-Making Website
/in Blog, Program News - Archives, Program News - Current /by mlacThe Center for Public Representation has launched a new website on Supported Decision-Making (SDM). SDM is an alternative to guardianship for people with disabilities to give people more independence, dignity, and freedom. It creates a process for people to make decisions about their own lives with a team of supporters. The new website walks people […]
Happy Lamb Hot Pot workers welcome wage complaint settlement
/in Blog, Program News - Archives, Program News - Current /by mlacIn what advocates say is a happy resolution to a problem that workers are often too fearful to report, 14 former employees of Happy Lamb Hot Pot, which has locations in Central Square and Chinatown, recently reached a settlement of wage theft claims with the restaurant. The employees alleged in October 2018 that management, among […]
Deborah Harris to receive Leila J. Robinson Award from Women’s Bar Association
/in Blog, Program News - Archives, Program News - Current /by mlacThe Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts will present the 2019 Leila J. Robinson Award to Deborah Harris of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Carmen Ortiz of Anderson & Kreiger. The Lelia J. Robinson Award honors women attorneys who have captured the spirit of Lelia J. Robinson, the first woman admitted to practice in Massachusetts. […]
Want the Robocalls to Stop? Congress Does, Too
/in Blog, Program News - Archives, Program News - Current /by mlacA bipartisan bill introduced by House members would require phone carriers to offer screening technology to customers at no additional cost. “A lot of calls are scams, and those need to be stopped,” said Margot Saunders, senior counsel for the National Consumer Law Center. “The Republicans and Democrats have recognized they need to be aggressive […]
Students are being shamed and punished over lunch debt, and it may take legislation to stop it
/in Blog, Program News - Archives, Program News - Current /by mlacIn some school districts, if a student does not have enough money in their account to cover the cost of lunch, cafeteria staff will prevent them from eating a hot lunch and either give them a cold sandwich or, in some cases, let them go hungry. This practice punishes and humiliates students for their parents’ […]