The 2016 Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid

Aerial shot — Lisa Arrowood, President of the Boston Bar Association, addresses attendees at the 17th Annual Walk to the Hill.

Nearly two-thirds of eligible people seeking civil legal aid in Massachusetts are turned away due to a lack of resources. Without representation, many of them lose their homes, are unable to receive benefits, struggle through child custody or domestic violence cases, or face other life-altering repercussions.

On January 28, Clearinghouse staff joined hundreds of attorneys, legal aid advocates, and other nonprofit organizations for the 17th annual Walk to the Hill. Organized by the Equal Justice Coalition and co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association, Walk to the Hill brings people together to meet with their representatives and ask them to advocate for increased civil legal aid funding for the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (MLAC), which funds legal aid organizations throughout the state. This year, legislators were asked to support $27 million in funding for 2017, which would increase the amount currently allotted to MLAC by $10 million.

Attendees also heard from a number of speakers, including Attorney General Maura Healey, Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants, Massachusetts Bar Association President Robert Harnais, Boston Bar Association President Lisa Arrowood, and a legal aid client named Lisa, who says attorneys from Greater Boston Legal Services saved her son’s life when they helped him keep his MassHealth coverage. The message was clear: Justice should be a right for all, not a privilege granted only to those who can afford it.

Take a look at some of our event photos below.

Doug Henry, a member of the Clearinghouse Board of Directors and Managing Partner at Sherin and Lodgen.

Georgia and Cindy — Georgia Katsoulomitis, Executive Director of Massachusetts Law Reform Institute; Cindy Rowe, a member of the Clearinghouse Board of Directors and Principal at Rowe Resources; and Rahsaan Hall, Director of the Racial Justice Program for ACLU Massachusetts.

John Bowman and Robert Sable — John Bowman, a current Access to Justice Fellow who volunteers with the Jobs Not Jails Coalition, and Robert Sable, a former Fellow who once directed Greater Boston Legal Services and later volunteered with GBLS for his Fellowship project.

Kathleen Phelps and Maribeth — Maribeth Perry, Executive Director of Lawyers Clearinghouse, and Kathleen Phelps, a member of the Clearinghouse Board of Directors and Of Counsel at Morgan Lewis.

Liberty group — Kathy McGrath (front center in black coat), a member of the Clearinghouse Board of Directors and Senior Corporate Counsel at Liberty Mutual, with a group of Liberty attorneys.

Liz Lintz, a member of the Clearinghouse Board of Directors and an attorney at Goulston & Storrs.

Fact sheet — A civil legal aid fact sheet, courtesy of the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation.