Tag Archive for: FY26

Through Snow and Storms, Advocates Rally for Civil Legal Aid at Walk to the Hill 2026

BOSTON, MA, January 28, 2026 – On Wednesday, January 28, approximately 600 attorneys, law students and justice advocates from across Massachusetts gathered at the State House for Walk to the Hill 2026: the 27th annual lobby day supporting increased funding for civil legal aid. Despite snow and difficult winter weather conditions that complicated travel throughout the Commonwealth, participants turned out in strong numbers, underscoring our legal community’s deep commitment to equal access to justice.

The halls of the State House buzzed with energy as people connected with colleagues and prepared to meet with their legislators.

Walk to the Hill is organized each year by the Equal Justice Coalition (EJC), a partnership of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Boston Bar Association, and the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC). The Coalition’s mission is to advocate for state funding for civil legal aid through MLAC’s budget line item—the largest source of funding for civil legal aid organizations in Massachusetts.

Civil legal aid organizations provide legal representation, advice, and resources to individuals and families facing critical legal challenges related to housing stability, family safety, access to healthcare, education, economic security, and more. Eligibility for MLAC-funded services is limited to households with incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty level: in real, 2026 dollars, that is $41,250 annually for a family of four or $19,950 for an individual.

Civil legal aid can be the difference between remaining housed or facing homelessness, achieving financial stability or falling deeper into debt, and living in safety or remaining trapped in dangerous situations.

Walk to the Hill 2026 began with a speaking program that underscored both the urgency of the need and the real-world impact of civil legal aid. EJC Chair Louis Tompros opened the program by emphasizing the unique position legal professionals have to speak on this issue. Next, Boston Bar Association President Suma Nair and Massachusetts Bar Association President Michael H. Hayden each shared their perspectives on the day’s resonance and the urgency of the moment.

The highlight of the speaking portion of the Walk, however, was a powerful testimonial from Jen Fowler, a legal aid client whose son had been denied special education services and spent two school years without the opportunity to learn in a classroom with peers. Jen says connecting with the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts felt like “winning the lottery.”

“My son is now in a special education school. He is thriving, and after two years of not being able to celebrate his birthday with peers, this October he celebrated his 13th birthday with his peers and his friends,” Jen said.

“My son has a bright future ahead of him again because of this help, a future he was and is entitled to.”

Jen’s remarks offered a compelling reminder of what is at stake when legal services are available—and when they are not.

Lynne M. Parker, Executive Director of MLAC, next spoke about the continued demand for civil legal aid services and the importance of sustained public investment to meet that need. Chair Tompros closed the program with a call to action, providing attendees with guidance and pointing them to materials for their legislative visits.

After the speaking program, the real work began: attendees met with their legislators to stress the importance of fully funding MLAC in the upcoming budget. They urged support for a $53 million funding request for FY27, following a $51 million appropriation in FY26. While everyone was in their meetings and navigating the labyrinthian State House halls, Governor Maura Healey’s budget proposal for FY27 was announced. It included $52 million for MLAC’s line item.

MLAC is grateful to the Governor, the legislature, and everyone who attended Walk to the Hill for supporting civil legal aid. This year’s event once again demonstrated the strength of our community’s collective voice—and its unwavering commitment to justice for all.

Originally published on equaljusticecoalition.org. 

MLAC Responds to Governor Healey’s FY27 Budget

BOSTON, January 29, 2026 – Yesterday, Governor Maura Healey issued her FY27 state budget recommendations, which included $52 million for civil legal aid through the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation’s (MLAC) line item 0321-1600. This represents a $1 million increase for civil legal aid services over the current funding level of $51 million. 

“We are grateful to Governor Healey for increasing the state’s investment in the MLAC line item in her FY27 budget recommendation,” said Lynne Parker, Executive Director of MLAC. “This funding will help civil legal aid organizations across Massachusetts, which serve as a lifeline for people with low incomes who are facing challenges related to housing, domestic safety, health care access, education equity, consumer protection, and more. MLAC is the single largest funder of these organizations, which provide critical representation and resources to Massachusetts residents in crisis.”   

To qualify for legal assistance, people and families must have incomes at or below 125% of the poverty level—$41,250 for a family of four or $19,950 for an individual in 2026.   

In addition to stabilizing individuals and families, the state’s annual investment in civil legal aid brings significant cost savings to the Commonwealth as a whole. In FY25, according to MLAC data, legal aid organizations secured an estimated $113.5 million in economic benefits for the Commonwealth and its residents, an increase of $4.5 million over FY24 ($109 million).  

MLAC-funded legal aid organizations handled more than 46,890 cases in FY25, impacting more than  98,900 people across the Commonwealth, with 94% of cities and towns having at least one person with a case handled by a legal aid organization.  

For more information on civil legal aid, MLAC, and the organizations it funds, visit www.mlac.org. 

Hundreds of lawyers, supporters “Walk to the Hill” advocating for increased funding for civil legal aid 

BOSTON – The Equal Justice Coalition will host its annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Massachusetts State House, marking more than a quarter-century of advocacy for equal access to justice. 

The event brings hundreds of Massachusetts attorneys, law students, and other justice advocates from across the Commonwealth to meet with state legislators and urge strong support for civil legal aid.  

Civil legal aid provides legal representation, guidance, and resources to individuals and families with low incomes who face legal challenges affecting basic needs—including housing stability, safety from abuse, access to benefits, and family security. In Massachusetts, households with incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty level qualify for civil legal aid services. That equates to $40,187 annually for a family of four and $19,562 for an individual. 

“Behind every number is a person in crisis: a veteran struggling to afford groceries; a mother making the difficult decision to leave her abusive spouse and protect her children; an aging senior afraid of losing her home as medical bills pile up,” says MLAC Director, Lynne Parker.  

“Civil legal aid is a lifeline for Massachusetts residents in crisis. As the economy weakens and changes to federal benefit programs leave fewer people eligible for aid, our neighbors with low incomes will face an increased need for legal help.” 

The event will feature remarks from state and local bar association leaders, as well as a client who will share her personal story of how civil legal aid changed her family’s life. Following the speaking program, participants will meet with their senators and representatives to discuss why increased public investment in civil legal aid is essential to ensuring justice for all. 

The Equal Justice Coalition is a partnership of the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC). The Coalition advocates for robust state funding for civil legal aid programs that serve tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents each year. 

Event Details
27th Annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133 

Speakers: 

  • Host: Louis Tompros, Chair, Equal Justice Coalition 
  • Lynne Parker, Executive Director, Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation 
  • Suma V. Nair, President, Boston Bar Association 
  • Michael H. Hayden, President, Massachusetts Bar Association 
  • A legal aid client who received help over the past year  

Walk to the Hill is free and open to the public and media. Registration information is available at equaljusticecoalition.org/walk. 

Equal Justice Coalition
Website: www.equaljusticecoalition.org
Social Media: @equaljusticema
Hashtag: #WalktotheHill26 

MLAC Welcomes Attorneys Carolyn Hely and Nina Sousa to Board of Directors

BOSTON, MA — The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC) is pleased to announce the appointments of attorneys Carolyn Hely and Nina Sousa to its Board of Directors. MLAC is the Commonwealth’s largest funding source for civil legal aid organizations, which provide critical representation and resources to people with low incomes facing barriers to basic needs. 

Carolyn Hely is an Assistant District Attorney at the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecutes homicides and other serious felonies including domestic violence and sexual assault cases. Her work reflects a deep commitment to public service and to addressing complex matters within the justice system. 

Hely is also an active leader within the legal community. She is a former president of the Bar Association of Norfolk County and continues to support the association’s free legal clinics and conciliation program, helping to expand access to justice for individuals and families across the region.  

Nina Sousa is the founder of Sousa Family Law, where she represents clients in a wide range of family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and guardianships. In addition to her private practice, Sousa serves in several specialized roles within the court system, including as an Attorney Representing Children, Guardian ad Litem, professional parenting time supervisor, and Committee for Public Counsel Services panel attorney. 

Throughout her career, Sousa has devoted herself to working directly with families, juveniles, courts, schools, law enforcement, and mental health professionals, developing a holistic understanding of the challenges facing children and families navigating the legal system. Prior to founding her firm, she served as Director of Fall River’s South Coast Youth Courts, where she focused on youth-centered justice and community-based solutions.  

“Carolyn and Nina each bring valuable perspectives to MLAC’s Board,” said Lynne Parker, Executive Director of MLAC. “Their combined experience strengthens our efforts to expand access to justice for people with low incomes throughout Massachusetts.” 

For more information about MLAC and its work, please visit mlac.org.  

MLAC Thanks Governor Healey, Massachusetts Legislature for Supporting Civil Legal Aid in FY26 Budget

BOSTON, July 7, 2025– On July 4, Governor Maura Healey signed the Massachusetts FY26 Budget. The budget includes $51 million for civil legal aid through the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation’s (MLAC) line item 0321-1600. It also includes $2.5 million for the Access to Counsel program, line item 0321-1800. 

 

“I am sincerely grateful to Governor Healey and the Massachusetts Legislature for sustaining strong investments in civil legal aid in the state’s FY26 Budget,” says Lynne Parker, Executive Director of MLAC. “Civil legal aid is needed now more than ever to protect the lives, health, safety, and stability of Massachusetts residents with low incomes struggling to meet their basic needs.”  

  

Households with incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty level ($40,187 per year for a family of four; $19,562 for an individual) qualify for civil legal aid. The latest census data show that more than 325,700 people in Massachusetts live in extreme poverty, defined as having incomes below 50% of the poverty line ($16,075 for a family of four; $7,825 for an individual). This group now represents 38% of the clients eligible for legal aid.  

 

The FY26 $2.5 million appropriation for Access to Counsel will enable legal aid organizations to continue to provide full representation in eviction cases. Access to Counsel serves low-income tenants and low-income owner-occupants facing eviction. “MLAC is excited to move forward with our partners to establish a permanent statewide Access to Counsel program in eviction cases,” says Parker. 

 

MLAC thanks the Massachusetts Legislature for its longstanding commitment to civil legal aid and appreciates the advocacy efforts of the Equal Justice Coalition and our allies in the private bar.