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2024 Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event
In mid-September VLP staff, volunteers, interns, interpreters, and community partners gathered at MCLE New England to celebrate our 47th Annual Volunteer Appreciation event. The event highlighted our volunteer's dedication to supporting our client community. We presented two Denis Maguire awards and one Judge Edward M. Ginsburg Gideon’s Trumpet award to three volunteers who have continually stepped up for our low-income clients. Patrick J. Daly, Esq. Of Adams and Blinn, who drafted wills for more than 80 clients, received the Judge Edward M. Ginsburg Gideon’s Trumpet Award. Our first Denis Maguire Award honoree, Maegan Hurley, Esq. of MDRF (Massachusetts Debt Relief Foundation), has been an active member of our Bankruptcy panel since 2018. Since then, Maegan has helped over 95 clients discharge more than $2,636,511 of debt. Our second Denis Maguire Awardee Julius Halstead, Esq. of Goulston & Storrs, has taken multiple pro bono cases for VLP since 2020, including, most recently, a complex eviction case in which he successfully represented a tenant in a jury trial. It was a wonderful night celebrating our awardees and all our volunteers while making connections within our community.
2024 Annual Event Photos
2024 Annual Event Program Book
| Pro Bono Win: Protecting Consumer Client |
 |  | Congratulations to Pro Bono Attorney Ernie Sarason, a retired judge, on his recent win in the District Court Appellate Division! The case began a decade ago, when a contractor claimed our client owed him more than $20,000 for a $7500 deck job that he never finished. The contractor sued for payment and, despite presenting no evidence of damages, the judge awarded him more than $20,000 in damages against the client. The case went back and forth with the judge many times without a favorable resolution, until Attorney Sarason picked up the case in October 2022. Over the past two years, Ernie dedicated 80 hours to this case, advocating for his client and going above and beyond to make sure her voice was heard. With the invaluable assistance of Attorney Dick Bauer, Attorney Sarason argued that the hearings should have included evidence of the contractor's actual damages done by the contractor, which had not been presented in any of the hearings. On September 30, 2024, the District Court Appellate Division reversed the amount of the judgment and ordered that no damages be awarded to the contractor and Ernie’s client didn’t owe a dime. This case is a testament to Attorney Sarason's skill and hard work; Congratulations, Ernie!
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Join Us for an Upcoming Clinic | |
Year-to-Date Community Impact | |
October: Filled with Pro Bono Month Celebrations | |
This Pro Bono Month, volunteers from Skadden, Kirkland, and Bank of America joined us at our Housing Lawyer for a Day and Family Law and Guardianship clinics. We are so thankful for the support of these firms and the time and effort they dedicate to help make such a difference in the lives of our clients! | |
A Warm Welcome to our Newest VLPies
Introducing five new VLP staff members: Merit Brent, Darla Castaño, Lisa Marshall, Ellaina Sivo, and Theodore Tierney. We are excited to have all of our new VLPies on board! To read more about our new staff click here.
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VLP Staff Update
Join us in congratulating Abbie McCourt on her promotion to Family Law and Guardianship Senior Staff Attorney! Thank you, Abbie, for your dedication to VLP, we are so excited to see what you will accomplish in this next chapter!
If you, or someone you know, are interested in joining the VLP team, you can check out our open positions here.
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Spring 2025 Internship Opportunity at VLP
Our Spring 2025 Internship Application is still open! If you know or are a student looking to make a difference in your community while gaining hands-on legal experience, this position is for you. The deadline to apply is November 25th!
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Discounted MCLE Vouchers for our Volunteers
We offer discounted training vouchers to those who volunteer with us, reducing the cost of MCLE trainings to $35. Contact Pro Bono Manager, Emelia Andres to request your voucher today.
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Remembering the Honorable Paul A. Chernoff
The Honorable Paul A. Chernoff (Ret.) passed peacefully on July 15, 2024, at the age of 85. An active member of Senior Partners for Justice, Judge Chernoff was a dedicated and passionate legal professional who contributed greatly to the lives of his clients, colleagues and loved ones. He was also a close friend and daily walk companion of SPJ founder the late Hon. Edward Ginsburg. Judge Chernoff's lifetime achievements are nothing short of incredible. After college at Tufts University, he served as a naval officer with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, where he served on ships in Seattle, Pearl Harbor and Anchorage. He went on to receive his LLM degree from George Washington University and worked as a staff Attorney with the District of Columbia Public Defender Service. His career went on to include Chair of the Massachusetts Parole Board, 8 years as a Newton District Court judge, Chair of the Governor’s Alternative Sentencing Commission, long-time trial practice teacher at Boston College Law School and MCLE, and 28 years as a Massachusetts Superior Court judge where he chaired the Judicial Education Committee. After he retired, Judge Chernoff was recalled to the Superior Court as a judge and later as a special magistrate to resolve drug laboratory cases. We celebrate the life of Paul Chernoff and honor his legacy.
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Join our expansive network of dedicated professionals today!
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