Lawyers Clearinghouse

Free CORI Sealing Clinic (Virtual)
2025-09-24 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-10-09 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-10-23 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-11-06 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-11-20 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-12-04 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Video Conferencing
Do you need your CORI (criminal record) sealed or expunged? You may be eligible for free assistance from a volunteer attorney, conducted via Zoom video conferencing. Please note, this service is only intended for people with Massachusetts-based criminal records.
How it Works:

To get started, sign up for the waitlist.
When you get to the top of the waitlist, Lawyers Clearinghouse will call you to schedule your clinic date and get your consent to pull a copy of your CORI. Note: It may take some time to receive a date depending on the length of the waitlist.
On your scheduled clinic date, you will meet with volunteer attorneys for 30-60 minutes over video conferencing or by phone. They will share your CORI with you and discuss the eligibility of your record for sealing and/or expungement.
If you are eligible, the attorneys will work with you on filing a petition to request sealing and/or expungement and discuss next steps. If you are not currently eligible, they will discuss your timeline for eligibility. Note: It will take a few months to receive a final sealing and/or expungement decision from Probation or the court.

View the full 2025-2026 Clinic Schedule
Questions? Contact Sean by email or at 617-544-3434 ext. 110.

37th Annual Meeting
2025-09-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Nixon Peabody, 53 State Street, Boston, MA, 02109, United States
Join us at Nixon Peabody on September 25 to celebrate 37 years of pro bono service! Learn more about tickets, sponsorships, and this year’s honorees.
Honoring
Michelle Volpe, President of The Property & Casualty Initiative
Recipient of the Stephen M. Nolan Leadership Award
Recognizing
Dain Torpy, Phillips & Angley, and Pierce Atwood, Founding Firms, Tax Lien Foreclosure Clinic
Recipients of the Pro Bono Excellence Award
Women’s Money Matters
Recipient of the Josephine A. McNeil Community Impact Award

Free Legal Clinic (Virtual)
2025-09-26 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-24 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-21 09:00 - 11:00 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Do you need assistance with a civil legal matter? Does your household make under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level? We may be able to connect you with free assistance from volunteer attorneys.

Common case types: Eviction; housing discrimination; housing conditions; Social Security Income and Social Security Disability Income (SSI/SSDI) denials and appeals; Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC); credit and tax issues; unemployment; and wills/trusts/estates.
Appointments are required for virtual clinics. To sign up, please contact our Clinic Manager, Sean Thekkeparayil, to discuss your legal concerns in more detail:
sthekkeparayil@lawyersclearinghouse.org or 617-544-3434 ext. 110.
Or check out the full schedule below for a list of in-person clinics, which allow walk-ins:
View the full 2024-2025 Clinic Schedule

Affordable Housing Basics for MA Nonprofits (Virtual)
2025-09-30 13:30 - 15:00 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Registration: Click here. You will receive a Zoom link upon sign up.
Payment: Click here. The event fee is $25 per organization, however if it’s difficult to pay you may still register and attend the workshop without it.
Community-based nonprofit organizations (NPOs) play an important role in creating more affordable housing in Massachusetts. This 101-level workshop provides fundamental information for NPOs exploring affordable housing activities. Topics include joint ventures between NPOs and for-profit entities, and funding available to NPOs (often on favorable terms), such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity and HOME funding.

Agenda:

Overview of Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofits’ Roles in Affordable Housing
Funding Sources Available Only to NPOs
Joint Ventures

Presenters: Teresa Santalucia, Klein Hornig; Alex Rosso, Nixon Peabody

Document Retention Policy (Virtual)
2025-10-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Registration: Click here. You will receive a Zoom link upon sign up.
Payment: Click here. The event fee is $25 per organization, however if it’s difficult to pay you
may still register and attend the workshop without it.
A nonprofit document retention and destruction policy is a core component of both legal compliance and good nonprofit governance. It is one of the governance and operations policies specifically highlighted by the IRS on Form 990, which asks whether the organization has adopted such a policy. A well-drafted policy informs staff, volunteers, and board members how long nonprofit records should be kept, when certain types of records may or should be destroyed, and how organizational records must be managed to comply with state and federal law.
This workshop on Document Retention and Destruction Policies for Nonprofits will cover:

Components of a well-drafted and legally compliant policy
Documents required or recommended to be retained and for how long
Recommended practices for Massachusetts nonprofits to support legal compliance and good governance
Practices to avoid
Guidelines for how to tailor a policy to fit the nonprofit’s activities and priorities

Presenter: Sat Nam S. Khalsa, Robinson+Cole

Free Legal Clinic (Barbara McInnis House)
2025-10-10 08:30 - 11:00 | Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP), 780 Albany St., Boston, MA, 02118, United States
Do you need assistance with a civil legal matter? Does your household make under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level? We may be able to connect you with free assistance from volunteer attorneys.

Common case types: Eviction; housing discrimination; housing conditions; Social Security Income and Social Security Disability Income (SSI/SSDI) denials and appeals; Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC); credit and tax issues; unemployment; and wills/trusts/estates.
Walk-ins are welcome at in-person clinics. If you would like to sign up in advance or discuss your legal concern in more detail, please contact our Clinic Manager, Sean Thekkeparayil: sthekkeparayil@lawyersclearinghouse.org or 617-544-3434 ext. 110.
View the full 2025-2026 Clinic Schedule

Nonprofit Advocacy, Lobbying and Political Activity: What’s OK and What’s Not? (Virtual)
2025-10-15 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Registration: Click here. You will receive a Zoom link upon sign up.
Payment: Click here. The event fee is $25 per organization, however if it’s difficult to pay you may still register and attend the workshop without it.
Join us for a 90-minute virtual workshop and Q&A covering the basics of nonprofit lobbying, advocacy, and political activities for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. Organizations focused on social, economic, and political issues may find it especially helpful.
Attendees will learn:

What constitutes advocacy, lobbying, or political activity
What rules apply, and what can happen if you break them
How these rules apply to social media
Sample language for voter education and “get out the vote”

Presenter: Teresa Santalucia, Klein Hornig

CORI: What Nonprofits Need to Know to Help Their Clients (Virtual)
2025-10-16 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-12-12 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom Video Conferencing
*Note: This training is not designed to help advise nonprofits on their hiring practices. It is solely focused on assisting clients with criminal records.*
Registration: Sign up here. You will receive a Zoom link upon registration.
This criminal records training is intended for nonprofits whose staff are involved with counseling or offering services in the community to individuals who may have criminal records. It will address the following:

What exactly is a criminal record in Massachusetts? Who has the data? Who gets access to the data?
How can a nonprofit help a client reduce the barriers posed by criminal records?
What is the process to seal a CORI? Can I refer my client to free legal resources for sealing?
What rights do individuals with a sealed CORI have when they are applying for a job? Housing?
What is the process to expunge a charge on a CORI? Are there free legal resources?
What are the concerns for an individual with a CORI who has an immigration issue?

Presenter: Crispin Birnbaum, Access to Justice Fellow

Free Legal Clinic (Women's Lunch Place)
2025-10-17 08:30 - 11:00 | Women’s Lunch Place (Women Only), 67 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116, United States
Please note: Women’s Lunch Place is a women-only shelter. If you are not eligible to attend, you may view the full Clinic Schedule for other dates.
Do you need assistance with a civil legal matter? Does your household make under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level? We may be able to connect you with free assistance from volunteer attorneys.

Common case types: Eviction; housing discrimination; housing conditions; Social Security Income and Social Security Disability Income (SSI/SSDI) denials and appeals; Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC); credit and tax issues; unemployment; and wills/trusts/estates.
Walk-ins are welcome at in-person clinics. If you would like to sign up in advance or discuss your legal concern in more detail, please contact our Clinic Manager, Sean Thekkeparayil: sthekkeparayil@lawyersclearinghouse.org or 617-544-3434 ext. 110.
View the full 2025-2026 Clinic Schedule

A2J Fellows Lunch Meeting
2025-10-21 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-12-16 12:00 - 13:30 | Mintz, One Financial Center, Boston, MA, 02110, United States
For A2J Fellows, Fellows’ Partner Organizations, and Clearinghouse board members only.
Please join us for our monthly lunch meeting. As a reminder, a photo ID is required to enter the building. If you would like to attend but do not have event details, please reach out to Talya at tpecullan@lawyersclearinghouse.org.

Pro Bono Opportunities: Nonprofits, Arts Organizations, and Small Businesses
2025-10-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Hosted by the Boston Bar Association

October is Pro Bono Month! The Boston Bar Association encourages all of its members to get involved with its legal services partners and support their communities.

Interested in pro bono opportunities with nonprofits, arts organizations, and small businesses? Join the Boston Bar Association for an engaging panel and Q&A to learn how the pro bono referral process works and how you can get involved. Panelists will share insights on the types of legal matters available, the clients you’ll work with, how to get started, and what the experience is like for volunteers!

Panelists include Shifrah Halevi, Lawyers Clearinghouse Nonprofit Programs Manager and Imran Malek, Lawyers Clearinghouse Board Member and Associate at Kirkland & Ellis.

Registration here.

Free Legal Clinic (Rosie's Place)
2025-11-07 08:30 - 11:00 | Rosie’s Place (Women-Only), 889 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA, 02118, United States
Please note: Rosie’s Place is a women-only shelter. If you are not eligible to attend, you may view the full Clinic Schedule for other dates.
Do you need assistance with a civil legal matter? Does your household make under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level? We may be able to connect you with free assistance from volunteer attorneys.

Common case types: Eviction; housing discrimination; housing conditions; Social Security Income and Social Security Disability Income (SSI/SSDI) denials and appeals; Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC); credit and tax issues; unemployment; and wills/trusts/estates.
Walk-ins are welcome at in-person clinics. If you would like to sign up in advance or discuss your legal concern in more detail, please contact our Clinic Manager, Sean Thekkeparayil: sthekkeparayil@lawyersclearinghouse.org or 617-544-3434 ext. 110.
View the full 2025-2026 Clinic Schedule

Nonprofit Incorporation Workshop (Virtual)
2025-11-13 16:00 - 18:00 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Registration: Click here. You will receive a Zoom link upon sign up.
Payment: Click here. The event fee is $25 per organization, however if it’s difficult to pay you may still register and attend the workshop without it.
An essential overview of how to establish a nonprofit in Massachusetts and obtain a 501(c)(3) tax-exemption, with key points for maintaining tax-exempt status. Strongly recommended for anyone starting a nonprofit. Workshop participants will receive a copy of the presentation slides and additional reference materials. Topics include:

For-profit or nonprofit?
What is a nonprofit?
Incorporating & structuring a nonprofit
Fiscal sponsorship
State reporting & regulation
Federal tax exemption
Ongoing IRS reporting & regulation

Presenters: Luke Blackadar, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston; Natalie Chaudhury, Goodwin

People Management in Youth Programs: Screening, Training, and Addressing Misconduct
2025-11-17 10:30 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Click here to register. You will receive a Zoom link upon sign up.
Click here for payment. The event fee is $25 per organization, however if it’s difficult to pay you may still register and attend the workshop without it.
This webinar will cover legal and policy tools that nonprofits providing youth services should consider to protect the organization, its mentors and staff, and the young people they serve. Our speakers will review how to structure programs, documents, and practices that reduce exposure while supporting safe, effective youth services.
Specific topics will include:

Liability waivers and consents
Policies for employees and volunteers
Background checks
Managing problems with volunteers or staff

Click here to sign up for our email lists.

Welcome Event: Access to Justice Commission Symposium and Reception
2025-11-17 13:00 - 17:00 | Adams Courthouse, 1 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA, 02108, United States
Join the MA Access to Justice Commission and Lawyers Clearinghouse in welcoming this year’s Access to Justice Fellows at the 20th Anniversary Symposium, celebrating two decades of the Commission’s unwavering commitment to ensuring fairness and equity in the civil justice system.
Symposium 1-4 PM | Reception 4-5 PM
Register for the Symposium Here!

MassAGO Webinar Session IV: Advice for Smaller Volunteer Led Organizations
2025-11-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Please Join the Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division of the Office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell on Tuesday, November 18 at 11:00 AM, for a special webinar created specifically for non-profit and charitable organizations across Massachusetts. This is the fourth in a series of webinars hosted by the AGO’s Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division specifically designed to address the needs of non-profit organizations that now face a changed funding and policy landscape as a result of the new federal administration. In this session, we will address best practices for small volunteer led charitable organizations, including a discussion of fiduciary duties, compliance obligations, how to register/file with the AGO, and what to consider if your organization is struggling financially.
Click here to register.
Click here to read more about the Mass AGO’s webinar series.

Board Meeting
2025-11-20 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom Video Conferencing
For board members, committee members and invited guests only.
Please contact Susan to be forwarded the meeting invitation.

Free Legal Clinic (St. Francis House)
2025-12-05 08:30 - 11:00 | St. Francis House, 39 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02111, United States

Nonprofit Check: Governance and Operations in Challenging Times
2025-12-09 13:00 - 15:30 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Workshop: 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Consultation: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Click here to register.
Click here for payment. The event fee is $25 per organization, however if it’s difficult to pay you may still register and attend the workshop without it.
Good governance and operations are the foundation for a strong and effective organization!
Join us at this Nonprofit Check for a one-hour workshop, followed by a private consultation with volunteer attorneys.
Topics will include:

State and Federal registration and reporting obligations
Corporate structure, organizational documents and policies
Board operations
Operational best practices
Finances and fiscal management

This is a two-part program:
1:00 – 2:00 PM: One-hour good governance workshop (open to all Massachusetts nonprofits)
2:00 – 3:30 PM: Private consultation with volunteer attorneys (501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits only)
During the consultation, volunteer attorneys from Goodwin will review key aspects of the organization’s current governance and operational practices. Eligible organizations may request a referral through Lawyers Clearinghouse to follow up on legal issues. Any Massachusetts nonprofit may register to attend the workshop. Officers, board members, executive directors, and senior managers of Massachusetts nonprofit corporations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) are welcome to register for the workshop and private consultation.
Stay in touch: Click here to sign up for our email lists.
Need accommodations such as ASL interpretation? Please contact nonprofit@lawyersclearinghouse.org

New Board Member Orientation
2025-12-10 16:00 - 17:15
Contact Susan for details.

Clearinghouse Holiday Social
2025-12-10 17:30 - 19:00
For board and committee members, staff, and invited guests only.
Contact Susan for details.
