Press Release: 2/11/2026

Paige Scott Reed: A Life in Service of Law and the Public Good

 



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When Paige Scott Reed stepped into the role of Chief Legal Counsel to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in December 2022, she made history as the first African American woman to lead the Governor’s legal office. But like all memorable leaders whose work reverberates long after they leave the spotlight, Paige’s story is not ultimately about being first. It is about harnessing the power of the law to build bridges between government and community, between institutions and innovation, and between principle and progress.  Her career reflects a guiding principle that law, at its best, must be a force for equity, fairness, and possibility.



Early Inspirations: From Legal Aid to Public Impact



Scott Reed’s path into the law was not born in an ivory tower but in community service. Early in her career, she worked at a Legal Aid office in Washington, D.C., helping individuals secure Social Security disability benefits. There, she saw firsthand “how transformative law can be,” and experienced a professional awakening. “I wanted to put myself in a position to have more influence over a problem that I could address.”



She pursued that calling with academic distinction, earning an A.B. from Harvard College and a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, where she served as an Executive Editor of the Harvard Law Review.



A Career of Service: Government, Infrastructure, and Community



After a period in private practice, Paige’s trajectory took a decisive turn toward public service. Loaned from her firm to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), she embraced the opportunity to apply legal skill to statewide infrastructure challenges, calling that chapter “one of the best things that ever happened to me.”



In government, she applied legal precision to large-scale public projects, from procuring a new commuter rail operator to forging the public-private partnership that shaped the Back Bay Station redevelopment and securing federal funding for the Green Line Extension.



She also served as Corporate Secretary and General Counsel to the Boston 2024 Partnership during the city’s Olympic bid, navigating complex legal, governance, and public-interest considerations on a global scale.



Chief Legal Counsel: Stewardship, Equity, and Judicial Legacy



In December 2022, Governor-elect Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor-elect Kim Driscoll named Scott Reed as Chief Legal Counsel to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This historic appointment underscored both her professional standing and shared values around equity and public service. “I’m deeply honored for the opportunity to join this historic administration and to serve the people of Massachusetts,” she said at the time, emphasizing a commitment to protecting rights and driving progress.



During her tenure, Paige’s leadership helped shape several consequential developments in state government. She:




  • Helped lead the drafting of legislation that created the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, aimed at addressing affordability challenges.

  • Was central to expanding the administration’s use of executive clemency, contributing to pardons and reforms that impacted individuals and communities across the Commonwealth.

  • Stewarded a dramatically diverse judicial nominating process that supported appointments of more than 60 judges, shaping the judiciary for years to come.



Reflecting on her time in the role, Scott Reed said: “It has been an incredible honor to work for Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and this entire administration… I’m proud of the work we have done together… to make a positive difference in the lives of so many people.”



Reflections from Peers and Partners



Reed’s colleagues, both within government and beyond, have articulated the respect she has earned:




  • Governor Maura Healey celebrated Reed’s service, saying she leaves “an enduring legacy — from the lives that have been transformed because of her work on clemency to the dozens of judges she helped nominate… whose decisions will shape our state for generations to come.”

  • Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer described Reed as “smart, creative, and practical… a seasoned and pragmatic lawyer who understands how government works.”

  • Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd remarked that “the people in the Commonwealth are fortunate that Paige was willing to devote her talents and skills to public service.”



These reflections echo a consistent theme: that Paige’s leadership is defined by hard work, strategic thinking, and a commitment to equitable outcomes.



Home Again: Prince Lobel Partner and Civic Engagement



In 2025, Paige  returned to Prince Lobel Tye LLP as a partner, resuming her role advising clients across sectors while bringing her vast public-sector experience back into private practice. “It was the honor of a lifetime to serve as Chief Legal Counsel… I have learned so much from my time in public service, but I’m now ready to return to the private practice I built and love,” she said on her return.



Beyond her professional practice, Scott Reed has been a visible force advancing equity in the legal profession, having served as President of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, vice-president of the Harvard Law School Association of Massachusetts, and on boards for Boston Harbor Now and the Boston Bar Foundation.



Legacy and the Road Ahead



Paige Scott Reed’s story — grounded in public service, enriched by deep legal expertise, and animated by a commitment to fairness — offers a powerful testament to the role lawyers can play in shaping communities and institutions. Her journey reminds us that law is not just a profession, but a vehicle for collective progress. That leadership, at its best, invites others to share in the work of building a more just society.