Our mission is to promote justice by funding and promoting innovation in the delivery of legal services; facilitating access to legal counsel in underserved communities and supporting the public service projects and pro bono work of the Boston Bar members.
Bringing Hope and Help to Those in Need
Access to justice is more than a noble aspiration – it means all of us working together to ensure that justice is available for low-income, underserved, and special-needs populations. Each year, the Boston Bar Foundation empowers local communities and helps ensure equity through direct grants to legal services organizations that serve tens of thousands of people in need.
The Boston Bar Foundation supports Boston Bar Association public service initiatives and community outreach programs that help expand opportunities for Boston youth, increase access to justice for those in need, and connect those in need with legal assistance. Through donations from corporations, law firms and individuals, and other sources, the BBF funds programs that engage lawyers in serving the community through effective pro bono work and volunteer opportunities.
The Boston Bar Foundation maintains a strong commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession. Each year, the BBF provides funding for a number of educational, outreach, mentoring, and networking programs including Summer Internship programs, bar exam coaching, and partnerships with seven local affinity bar associations.
The work that we do relies on a strong legal community. We believe that in order to advance our mission, we must invest in in leadership development, training programs, more to ensure that Boston lawyers have the skills and tools they need to succeed. The Boston Bar Foundation funds programs dedicated to advancing women leaders, promoting civic engagement and public service by young lawyers, and more.
Investing in Policy Work
The Boston Bar Foundation invests in policy related projects that focus on promoting justice, expanding access to the legal system, advancing the law and profession and engaging lawyers in innovative solutions for addressing systemic injustices that affect many people in our community. The BBF’s support has helped make possible influential reports such as “No Time to Wait: Recommendations for a Fair and Effective Criminal Justice System,” and “Investing in Justice: A Roadmap to Cost-Effective Funding of Civil Legal Aid in Massachusetts,” as well as helped pioneer a new model focused on the school-to-prison pipeline.
I am proud to have joined the Society of Fellows and support the Boston Bar Foundation, especially its important work with families, individuals and those in the underserved communities throughout our Commonwealth. I would encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting BBF and its work by becoming a Fellow.
Hear From Our Fellows
Participating in the Society of Fellows has given me a direct way to see our contributions at work. Lawyers in particular know how important legal services are to ensuring access to justice throughout our community. I’m proud to be part of funding the BBF, so that it can continue its long-term leadership role.
Hear From Our Fellows
The BBF’S work is vital to the Commonwealth and those in need of access to justice. For me, becoming a Fellow was an easy decision to make – I can’t think of a better way to support an organization that provides such essential services.
Hear From Our Fellows
The BBF’s mission to support pro bono work and access to justice for Boston’s needy is so critical to us as lawyers and citizens, and I am really grateful and excited for the opportunity to work with the BBF and the Society.
Hear From Our Fellows
I encourage anyone who doesn’t know about the BBF to attend a session where grantees speak of their work, the importance of the BBF’s support, and its impact on access to justice in our community. I doubt that anyone who attends can walk away without feeling inspired by and energized about the BBF’s mission.
Hear From Our Fellows
I joined the Society of Fellows because I wanted to support the Boston Bar Foundation in promoting access to justice, and in offering projects that support the community. Working as a sole practitioner, I’m glad to be able to offer pro bono services. Being a member of the Society of Fellows is a great complement, and is important to me, because of the work the BBF does to help even more people, and local students, with programs such as Law Day in the Schools and the Summer Jobs Program.
Hear From Our Fellows
I consider providing meaningful access to legal services to all to be one of my responsibilities as an attorney. As a Junior Fellow I have joined with others to fulfill that responsibility by supporting the Boston Bar Foundation in its commitment to fund and promote innovation in legal services and expand access to justice for the underserved.
