Press Release: 8/27/2025
Looking Back, Looking Ahead: My Year as BBA President
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By Matt McTygue, President, Boston Bar Association
As my year as President of the Boston Bar Association draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on all that we have accomplished together and all that lies ahead for our legal community. It has been an honor to serve in this role, to represent an organization whose mission and members inspire me every single day, and to champion the values that make our profession indispensable to a just society.
This past year has reminded me that the work of the Boston Bar Association is as urgent as ever. At a time when access to justice remains uneven, the rule of law faces mounting pressures, and our democracy feels increasingly fragile, the legal community cannot be silent. We must lead—with integrity, courage, and a steadfast commitment to the public good.
Expanding Access to Justice
The principle that no one should be denied justice because of their financial circumstances is fundamental. Over the past year, I have seen BBA members live out that value through pro bono representation, policy advocacy, and the strengthening of programs that connect low-income individuals to legal assistance.
This commitment has been visible in so many ways: from the hundreds of attorneys who stepped forward during our ICE Detention Training Series, to those who participated in Pro Bono Month programs on eviction defense, family law, and immigrant rights, to our work alongside the Boston Bar Foundation, which distributed $2 million in grants to 53 organizations serving the region’s most vulnerable populations. Together, these efforts ensured that justice is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all.
Defending the Rule of Law & Holding Power Accountable
One of the hallmarks of our profession is the role we play in holding power to account. This year, the BBA convened vital conversations about judicial independence, governmental transparency, and the constitutional protections that safeguard our freedoms. We stood with colleagues nationwide through amicus briefs defending the independence of the legal profession, and we advocated at the State House for fair compensation for bar advocates, stronger civil legal aid funding, and reforms to civil forfeiture laws.
Our events and gatherings reflected this same commitment: from honoring Chief Justice Kimberly Budd with the Haskell Cohn Award for Distinguished Judicial Service, to celebrating voices of leadership at our Annual Meeting and Beacon Awards, to welcoming more than 2,200 attorneys from 315 organizations at BBA programs this year.
Protecting Our Democracy
Lawyers have always played an essential role in protecting democratic institutions. From ensuring the integrity of elections to defending voting rights, our members have stepped forward to meet the moment. The BBA’s work—through public education, policy engagement, and collaboration with partner organizations—has reinforced a truth I hold dear: a healthy democracy depends on a strong, independent, and principled legal profession.
Throughout this year, I have often returned to the words we all spoke when we first entered this calling: the lawyers’ oath. That promise—to uphold the law, to serve with fidelity, and to defend the rights of all—reminds us that our responsibilities extend far beyond any single client or case. As I said at our Law Day celebration,
Each case we argue, each client we counsel, and each legal precedent we help shape reinforces the structure that preserves democracy and the dignity of all. When rights are disregarded, it is our duty to act.
That oath is not ceremonial; it is a charge. It binds us to safeguard the rule of law, to protect the most vulnerable, and to strengthen the democratic institutions upon which justice depends.
A Future Full of Promise
While I am proud of what we have achieved this year, I know that our work is far from over. The challenges we face—social inequity, threats to civil rights, and attacks on the legitimacy of our institutions—require vigilance, creativity, and resolve.
At the same time, our momentum is undeniable. We launched new career fairs and industry programs that connected hundreds of students and new lawyers to mentors and employers; we expanded our Law Student Network to more than 5,000 students across six law schools; and we piloted initiatives like the Public Interest & Legal Services Career Fair and Game Changers panel that brought fresh voices into our community. Membership remains strong, attendance is growing, and our commitment to innovation ensures that the BBA will continue to be Boston’s hub for legal education, connection, and advocacy.
That is why I am so confident about the future of the BBA under the leadership of our incoming President, Suma Nair. Suma brings not only a deep dedication to the values we share, but also a fresh vision for how the BBA can continue to lead in this complex and changing world. Her commitment to equity, her passion for the law, and her ability to inspire collaboration make her the ideal person to guide our Association into the next chapter.
As I pass the torch, I do so with profound gratitude—for the privilege of serving as your President, for the countless colleagues and friends who have made this year so rewarding, and for the unwavering belief that together, we can strengthen the legal profession’s role as a guardian of justice and democracy.
The work continues, and I look forward to standing alongside all of you—and under Suma’s capable leadership—as we meet the challenges ahead with the same spirit of service and resolve that defines the Boston Bar Association.