Boston Bar Association

We recently caught up with Matthew Kane, Partner at Laredo, Smith & Kane, LLP, to learn more about his new role, his advice to new lawyers in Boston, and more. Check out the full interview below: https://lnkd.in/exCyK9QG

On December 4th, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti, challenging the constitutionality of Tennessee’s law banning the provision of gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. Since 2021, 24 states have passed laws banning medical providers from prescribing hormone replacement therapy or performing gender-affirming surgeries on minors, while 14 states, including Massachusetts, have enacted shield laws protecting access to transgender health care. Join us on Tuesday, November 12 for a panel providing an overview of the landscape of state laws governing gender-affirming care, a discussion of the impact of the upcoming SCOTUS review of Tennessee’s ban, and a deep dive into Massachusetts’ work to protect access to care. Speakers include Cassie Paolillo (Mintz), Joshua Abrams (Mass General Brigham), and Sapna Khatri (Massachusetts Attorney General's Office). Please join us after the program for the Health Law Section Social. Drinks and appetizers will be provided! Register now! https://lnkd.in/eaN_nn6F

Thank you to all the students from Boston College Law School, Boston University School of Law, New England Law | Boston, Northeastern University School of Law, Suffolk University Law School and UMass Law who came out to Aloft Hotel last night for out 3rd Annual Career Fair, and to the firms who participated to highlight the many career opportunities available throughout Boston: Anderson & Kreiger LLP Casner & Edwards, LLP Conn Kavanaugh Foley Hoag LLP Hartley Michon Robb Hannon LLP Hinckley Allen Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP Holland & Knight LLP McLane Middleton Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Nolan Sheehan Patten LLP Nutter Pierce Atwood LLP Robinson+Cole Todd & Weld LLP Verrill Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Enjoy some photo highlights from the event below!

On Tuesday, 10/29, please join us for a virtual overview on the Keeping Families Together Program, including: - Best practices on filing the Form I-131F (Application for Parole in Place for Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens) on my.uscis.gov. - Navigating my.uscis.gov - How to address applicants’ criminal history - How to address applicants’ removal proceedings - Next steps after filing The webinar, featuring speakers Carmen Bello (Immigration Law Office of Carmen Bello), Allison Ahern Fillo (Davis Malm), and Sarah Allar (POLITICAL ASYLUM IMMIGRATION REPRESENTATION PROJECT INC) will also provide the latest information on the administrative stay from Texas v. Department of Homeland Security. Register now! https://lnkd.in/d285ssWB

Yesterday, we welcomed a delegation of judges, prosecutors, court officers, and other attorneys from around the world to 16 Beacon Street for a free-flowing discussion on “Rule of Law and the U.S. Judicial System.” The group of 35—which is on a three-week U.S. tour under the auspices of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)—sat down with BBA leaders, including Treasurer Christopher Escobedo Hart, Council member Payal Salsburg, Criminal Law Section Co-Chair Alyssa Hackett, and representatives from legal-services providers, to share thoughts on issues such as access to counsel, using technology to improve court services, and caseload management and trends. The event was part of a series arranged locally by WorldBoston that included meetings with Massachusetts legislative and judicial officials. You can view more photos from the event here: https://lnkd.in/d_JtPbgw

On Tuesday, 10/29, we invite you to attend the Pro Bono Recruitment Fair & Open House for attorneys and law students with Suffolk University Law School. This event provides attorneys and law students with a range of pro bono opportunities. Attorneys are strongly encouraged to attend. Register below! After attending the fair, join us for a BBA Happy Hour across the street at Scholars Bistro! https://lnkd.in/dNzir7Yc

Attending the Boston Bar Association Annual Career Fair on October 24th? Stop by Hinckley Allen's table to learn more about our 1L Summer Program and the Malcolm Farmer DE&I Scholarship.

We look forward to our third annual Career Fair next week, on October 24, which aims to bridge the gap between aspiring law professionals and dynamic small to medium law firms. This inclusive event is designed to empower all students, particularly those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, by providing them with unparalleled access to a wide array of legal career possibilities. Students from our partner law schools -- Boston College Law School, Boston University School of Law, New England Law | Boston, Northeastern University School of Law, Suffolk University Law School, and UMass Law -- will be connected with small to medium law firms and in-house legal departments to allow them to explore a variety of career paths. Thank you to all of our participating firms: Anderson & Kreiger LLP Casner & Edwards, LLP Conn Kavanaugh Foley Hoag LLP Hartley Michon Robb Hannon LLP Hinckley Allen Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP McLane Middleton Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Nolan Sheehan Patten LLP Nutter Pierce Atwood LLP Robinson+Cole Todd & Weld LLP Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Yesterday's SJC ruling in Gelin—that a motion judge properly rejected suppression of evidence, at a probation-revocation hearing, where the probationer argued it had been obtained through racial profiling, in violation of the Equal Protection Clause—is a disappointment. The BBA, and other amici, had urged that such claims be allowed, in spite of precedent that limits the applicability of the exclusionary rule to such proceedings, except in “egregious” cases or those that “shock the conscience.” Nevertheless, Chief Justice Budd authored a concurrence focusing directly on this question, in which she stated the Court should have ruled on narrower grounds, and left the door open for a proper case to address probationer’s equal-protection argument. BBA President Matt McTygue: "Racial profiling holds no place in a constitutional justice system. Even if one person is incarcerated due to information gained from racial profiling, it is one too many. We hope the SJC will have another opportunity to consider these issues." Read our full statement below: https://lnkd.in/eG8AqJ8W

Last week, BBA Council members, along with Section, Network, and Standing Committee Co-Chairs, BBF Trustees, and the 2024-25 PILP class, gathered at the University of Massachusetts Club to discuss strategies to better engage our members and address issues of the day. You can look back at the best moments—not to mention the incredible views—with our photo album from the event here: https://lnkd.in/dc5t52FC