A group of new BC Law 1Ls was recently treated to a tour of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) at the John Adams Courthouse in Pemberton Square, followed by a welcome reception and panel as they got a close look at what pro bono work is like and what impact it has in a first-of-its-kind opportunity for law students in the Boston area.
The trip was organized as part of the Pro Bono 101 program, and co-hosted by the SJC Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services and the Massachusetts Law School Consortium (MLSC). The BC Law students, who attended among some 120 students from local law schools such as Boston University, Harvard, New England School of Law, Northeastern, Suffolk, UMass, and Western New England, heard remarks from SJC Associate Justice Elizabeth Dewar and SJC Standing Committee Chair Ilana Gelfman of Greater Boston Legal Services, followed by a panel discussion on law student pro bono service.
“As I begin my law school journey, the event inspired me to think ahead about engaging in law-related pro bono service over the next three years,” said 1L Wayne Yeh, a Public Service Scholar at BC Law. “Touring the John Adams Courthouse and hearing remarks from Justice Dewar underscored how volunteer legal work advances the public good by increasing access to justice for all. Through pro bono work, I hope to build a law school experience where I can make a difference in someone’s life while developing practical skills beyond the classroom and exploring new areas of legal practice.”
The BC Law delegation was led by Clinical Associate Professor Carlos Teuscher and Michelle Grossfield, Public Interest and Pro Bono Program director at BC Law.
“We are so grateful to the Standing Committee, Justice Dewar, and the incredible attorneys and staff at the John Adams Courthouse for hosting our new law students,” said Grossfield. “Pro Bono 101 introduced students to the critical need for pro bono legal work in Massachusetts, the extraordinary impact law students can make in increasing access to justice, and the breadth of opportunities to get involved in pro bono work during their time in law school.”
Teuscher, a member of the SJC Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services, which co-organized the event, added, “We were thrilled to hold this event for 1Ls and LLMs across Massachusetts. Justice Dewar and the panelists were truly inspiring, and I hope the students who attended will build on this experience to engage in a wide range of pro bono initiatives throughout their law school careers. Pro bono work offers students a meaningful way to explore different practice areas, gain valuable legal experience, and help close the access to justice gap.”
BC Law will celebrate Pro Bono Week this year from October 20-24 on campus with a number of related events of interest.