Press Release: 6/13/2025
BBA Honors Access to Justice Commission in Recognition of 20 Years of Advocacy
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The Boston Bar Association is proud to recognize the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commissionwith a Special Presidential Citation at this year’s Law Day Live event in honor of its two decades of visionary leadership and extraordinary impact on civil legal access in the Commonwealth.
Established by the Supreme Judicial Court in 2005, the Commission was created to provide coordination, leadership, and long-term vision to improve access to justice for individuals who cannot afford legal representation for their essential legal needs. Through its commitment to this vision, the Commission has become a cornerstone of the Commonwealth’s efforts to bridge the justice gap and ensure that all residents—regardless of income—can meaningfully engage with the legal system.
“The BBA is proud to recognize the work of the Access to Justice Commission at this year’s reimagined Law Day Live event,” said BBA President Matt McTygue. “From support for legal aid and pro bono services to advocacy for racial equity in the civil justice system, the A2J Commission has been an integral part of our legal community for two decades. The BBA appreciates and will continue to support its work to ensure that everyone in Massachusetts has access to the justice they deserve.”
Over the past 20 years, the Commission has worked hand-in-hand with the judiciary, legal aid organizations, bar associations, social service providers, and other stakeholders to address barriers to civil legal justice and to innovate solutions. Its initiatives span funding, pro bono service, support for self-represented litigants, racial equity, and emergency response.
“We are honored to accept this recognition from the BBA, which has been an unwavering partner to the Commission in its efforts to improve access to justice for all persons in the Commonwealth, regardless of their ability to afford counsel,” said Marijane Benner Brown and Hon. Valerie Yarashus, Co-Chairs of the Access to Justice Commission. “As we celebrate the accomplishments of the first 20 years, we recognize that much remains to be done, and we rededicate our efforts to furthering the Commission’s mission in collaboration with the BBA and the broad range of stakeholders in the access to justice community.”
As part of its efforts to expand pro bono attorney services, the Commission helped launch several court-based pro bono programs in the District, Land, and Superior Courts. It also launched—with the support of Boston legal leaders including former BBA and BBF President Richard Soden and 2024 Thurgood Marshall Award honoree Susan Finegan—the Access to Justice Fellows Program, which connects retired attorneys and judges with legal aid and nonprofit organizations in need of volunteer legal support. In addition, it played a central role in developing a statewide appellate pro bono program to support civil litigants on appeal.
The Commission, recognizing the growing number of people navigating the legal system without representation, has also taken significant steps to assist self-represented litigants. Its advocacy helped expand the Housing Court statewide and led to the creation of Court Service Centers, which offer hands-on support to those without counsel.
The Commission has also placed racial equity at the center of its mission. In 2020, it launched a Racial Equity and Justice Committee to explore how race and ethnicity data can guide efforts to improve fairness in the civil legal system.
Looking ahead, the Commission remains focused on expanding pro bono participation, advancing racial justice, simplifying court processes, and addressing urgent legal needs across all Trial Court departments. Its work continues to mobilize a broad coalition of advocates working toward a more accessible, equitable, and effective civil justice system.
For its unwavering dedication to closing the justice gap and its profound impact on civil legal access in Massachusetts, the Boston Bar Association is proud to present the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission with this Special Presidential Citation.