Lawyers and advocates call for civil legal aid increases

WWLP covered the Equal Justice Coalition’s 26th annual Walk to the Hill event, which took place on January 23, 2025 at the Massachusetts State House. The text of the article is copied below in full.

Read the original story and watch a video of the event at wwlp.com

—

By Olivia Ray

BOSTON (WWLP) – Hundreds of lawyers, advocates, and the Massachusetts residents they represent walked to the State House today to advocate for funding for civil legal aid.

Civil legal aid organizations provide free legal services for the Bay State’s most fiscally vulnerable residents to help with employment issues, housing, domestic violence cases, and more.

Individuals and families living at or below 125% of the poverty level may be eligible, and over 105,000 people received these services in Massachusetts last year.

“Civil legal aid truly is the backbone of access to justice in our state… it’s really just to make sure that they have a place that’s safe to live, to protect victims of domestic violence,” said Lynne Parker, the Executive Director of Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation.

Lizbeth Valerio-Green is a domestic abuse survivor who used civil legal aid services in her divorce and while finding a home for herself and her children. She says the legal help changed her life.

“The process has been extremely difficult to do these legal battles on your own. It has taught me the immense value of having an attorney on your side,” said Valerio-Green.

Valerio-Green now works with civil legal aid providers as a Spanish interpreter to help expand the reach of the state’s free legal services for mothers like her.

After the speaking program, lawyers and advocates visited their state representatives and senators to call for funding in person.

Read more coverage of the event in State House News