Willard Ogburn

Willard (Will) Ogburn retired as executive director of the National Consumer Law Center at the beginning of 2016. The Center, sometimes called “the nation’s consumer law experts,” is a low income advocacy organization, publisher of the major treatises on consumer law, support center for legal aid programs, and sponsor of the annual National Consumer Rights Litigation Conference. During his 28 years as executive director, the Center experienced substantial growth in size, impact, and financial well-being. Currently, Will is a member of the Board of Directors of Consumer Reports, the Consumer Federation of America, and the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. He is also a member of Senator Elizabeth Warren’s judicial screening committee.

Will has presented, testified, and written widely about consumer law, particularly as it relates to low-income consumers. Prior to serving as executive director of the National Consumer Law Center, Will worked in the Office of the President, Congress’ Legislative Reference Service, as Deputy Commissioner of Banks in Massachusetts, and in legal aid. He chaired the statutory Consumer Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve System, served on other boards, and has been the recipient of several awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

As an Access to Justice Fellow, Will is excited to work with the Volunteer Lawyers Project’s (VLP’s) management as an active advisor and consultant during a period of substantial growth in size, impact, and financial well-being. The mission of VLP is to increase access to justice by delivering high quality pro bono civil legal services to eligible clients in the Greater Boston area. VLP is quickly gaining a stellar national reputation for excellence and creativity, but such rapid change brings with it real organizational challenges and opportunities. Will expects to assist with internal organizational process analysis to determine personnel and other needs including program design and evaluation; assist with communication planning; design and implement rebranding; and complete other management level tasks as requested by VLP senior staff.