Nonprofit Incorporation Workshop (Virtual)
2024-11-18 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | 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; Alyssa Fitzgerald, Goodwin

Free CORI Sealing Clinic (Virtual)
2024-11-21 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-12-05 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-12-19 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-01-09 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-01-23 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-02-06 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-02-20 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-03-06 16:00 - 18:00 and 3 more dates | 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 2024-2025 Clinic Schedule
Questions? Contact Sean by email or at 617-544-3434 ext. 110.

Free Legal Clinic (Virtual)
2024-11-22 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.
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.
View the full 2024-2025 Clinic Schedule

Free Legal Clinic (St. Francis House)
2024-12-06 08:30 - 11:00, 2025-03-07 08:30 - 23:00 | St. Francis House, 39 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02111, 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 2024-2025 Clinic Schedule

Massachusetts Nonprofit Governance & Operations Check-In (Virtual)
2024-12-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Good governance and operations are the foundation for a strong and effective organization! Join us at this Nonprofit Check-In 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:
1-2 PM: One-hour good governance workshop (open to all Massachusetts nonprofits)
2-4 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.
Registration: Apply or register here. Any Massachusetts nonprofit may register to attend the workshop only, while 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.

Fee: $25 per organization upon acceptance. This fee supports Lawyers Clearinghouse, but you may still attend even if you are unable to pay.

Nonprofit Incorporation Workshop (Virtual)
2025-01-09 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

Free Legal Clinic (BHCHP)
2025-01-10 08:30 - 23:00, 2025-04-04 08:30 - 11:00 | Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP), 780 Albany St., Boston, MA, 02118, United States

Free Legal Clinic (Virtual)
2025-01-24 09:00 - 23:00, 2025-02-21 09:00 - 23:00, 2025-03-21 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.
View the full 2024-2025 Clinic Schedule

CORI: What Nonprofits Need to Know to Help Their Clients (Virtual)
2025-02-05 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-04-09 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 (Rosie's Place)
2025-02-07 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, please view the calendar or the full 2024-2025 Clinic Schedule for additional clinics 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 2024-2025 Clinic Schedule

Access to Justice Fellows Program Information Session (Virtual)
2025-03-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Video Conferencing
Are you seeking meaningful pro bono opportunities as you enter retirement or wind down your legal practice? Do you want to help nonprofits, legal services organizations, and the courts enhance their operations and increase access to justice? Consider becoming an Access to Justice Fellow!
Join us for a virtual Information Session on Tuesday, March 4 to learn more about this innovative pro bono program for senior attorneys and retired judges.
Registration: Click here. You will receive a follow-up email with the Zoom information.
Session Panelists:
Crispin Birnbaum, 2018-19 Fellow, Lawyers Clearinghouse
Hon. Cynthia Cohen (Ret.), 2017-18 Fellow, MA Access to Justice Commission
Hon. Wilbur Edwards Jr. (Ret.), 2019-20 Fellow, Justice Bridge Legal Center
Susan Gedrick, Executive Director, Lawyers Clearinghouse
Martha Koster, Co-founder, 2012-13 Fellow, PAIR Project
Stuart Rossman, 2024-25 Fellow, Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School
Hon. Ernest Sarason (Ret.), 2019-20 Fellow, Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association
This event is sponsored by the Delivery of Legal Services Section of the Boston Bar Association.

Nonprofit Incorporation Workshop (Virtual)
2025-03-06 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: Sue Abbott, Goodwin; Luke Blackadar, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston

Nonprofit Lobbying, Advocacy, and Political Activities: What’s OK and What’s Not? (Virtual)
2025-03-13 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” efforts; and
Tips to prevent potential issues.

Presenter: Teresa Santalucia, Klein Hornig

Nonprofit Conflicts of Interest: How to Identify Conflicts and Protect Your Nonprofit (Virtual)
2025-03-18 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom Video Conferencing
*Please note: This event was originally scheduled for February 27, but has been rescheduled to March 18.*
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.
Conflicts of interest, if not managed appropriately, could violate a nonprofit director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty, raise questions for donors, trigger IRS penalties against the nonprofit and individuals, or even cause an investigation by the MA Attorney General’s Office.
Join us for this helpful workshop, presented by Michael (Mike) McGrath, a partner at the law firm of Ropes & Gray, who represents nonprofit organizations on a variety of transactional, corporate governance, compliance and regulatory matters. Topics include:

What are conflicts of interest?
Should your nonprofit have a written conflict of interest policy?
How can you protect your nonprofit from conflicts of interest that could compromise its integrity and result in sanctions or an investigation?

This workshop will begin with a 1-hour presentation on conflicts of interest from 12-1 PM, followed by Q&A from 1-1:30 PM.
Presenter: Michael (Mike) McGrath, Ropes & Gray

Clinic in a Box®: Nonprofit Insurance & Risk Management (In Person)
2025-03-28 10:00 - 12:30 | Mintz, One Financial Center, Boston, MA, 02110, United States
Application: Click here. Applications due by March 7.
Apply to join us for this year’s in-person Clinic in a Box®: Nonprofit Insurance & Risk Management.
If your organization is selected for participation, volunteer attorneys will review your current insurance and risk mitigation policies with you or provide guidance for creating new ones. They will also address new developments in these areas, which nonprofits may find extremely valuable.
Please note: If your organization is selected to participate in the clinic, your executive director, board chair, or other senior staff or board member responsible for governing or managing your organization must be able to attend.
This event is co-sponsored by Corporate Pro Bono, Northeast ACC Chapter, Lawyers Clearinghouse, and Mintz.
