Pro Bono Work
All of our lawyers at Collora LLP are committed to providing legal representation to individuals of limited means and to organizations that serve under-represented groups.
That is why our firm sets an annual goal of providing twice the number of pro bono hours that are recommended by the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct.
We also believe that serving less fortunate clients pro bono or as appointed counsel helps to make us better trial lawyers. There are no greater stakes than a defendant’s life or freedom, and there are no summary judgments or depositions when we handle criminal cases for defendants. Our pro bono cases often go to trial and they force each lawyer to sharpen his or her intuition, and to develop a stand-up ability to communicate with judge or jury in the heat of a moment.
Because we are trained as trial advocates, our pro bono work focuses on providing legal services to those of limited means in need of a courtroom remedy or defense. What follows is a sample of some of the pro bono work that has been done by our lawyers.
Fair Housing
In a pro bono matter on behalf of low-income tenants, one of our lawyers obtained a preliminary order placing a slumlord under “house arrest” in one of his own unheated, rat-infested units. That case resulted in properties being transferred to a more reputable low-income housing operator, who refurbished the buildings and provided new leases to tenants.
Fighting Discrimination
For roughly 20 years now, our firm has contributed annual pro bono service and financial support to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, which combats discrimination based on race and national origin.
Improving Access to Justice
We are steadfastly among the ranks of Boston’s largest law firms in terms of our pro bono and financial support of organizations that provide equal access to justice, including Greater Boston Legal Services, the Boston Bar Foundation, the Women’s Bar Foundation and the Anti-Defamation League.
Serving Indigent Women
Collora LLP has worked with the Women’s Bar Foundation to provide legal services to indigent women who are clients of the Framingham Project for Incarcerated Women.
All of our firm associates are assigned to cases in this project on a rotating basis. Our lawyers have appeared in state courts and worked with prosecutors to help indigent women become eligible for social services by successfully challenging or clearing their outstanding criminal warrants.
The warrants are sometimes incorrectly or inaccurately issued, sometimes have technical defects, and in other instances can be cleared simply by the payment of past due fines or penalties.
The firm is proud of this commitment and the awards it has received from the Women’s Bar Foundation and the Women’s Bar Association for our work on the Framingham Project.
Death Penalty Representation
Since 2004, Collora LLP has been a participant in the American Bar Association’s Death Penalty Representation Project, which provides representation to those on death rows throughout the country.
Criminal Justice System Service
Our associates have served for up to six months in various pro bono externships, serving as assistants to district attorneys, the Office of the Federal Defender for Massachusetts, and to public interest and non-profit advocacy groups.
For more information about these activities, or to learn more about how you can partner in our pro bono efforts, contact Donna Longo-Kumes, Director of Business Development, by phone or email: (617) 371-1000, dlongokumes@collorallp.com.
For more information about our community service work, click on any subject below: