MBLA
Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association
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Copyright (c) 2007 Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association
Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association
c/o Damon Hart
10 St. James Ave, 11th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
Email: info@massblacklawyers.org
c/o Damon Hart
10 St. James Ave, 11th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
Email: info@massblacklawyers.org
All rights reserved.
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Join a Committee
MBLA activities are organized and managed by its standing Committees, which include the Community Service Committee, Law
Student Outreach Committee, Legislative Activity Committee, Endorsement Committee, Events Committee, Communication
Committee, and Membership Committee. For more information on how to join an MBLA Committee and participate in its activities,
contact us.
Student Outreach Committee, Legislative Activity Committee, Endorsement Committee, Events Committee, Communication
Committee, and Membership Committee. For more information on how to join an MBLA Committee and participate in its activities,
contact us.
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee manages and oversees the dissemination of
information regarding MBLA activities to the membership, the legal community, and
the general public. Among its activities are production and distribution of the MBLA
News, maintenance of the MBLA website, distribution of e-mails to MBLA members,
and oversight and editing of MBLA contributions to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
This committee is in charge of monitoring submissions of the MBLA Law Student
Scholarship, which will be presented to a local area law student at the MBLA Annual
Gala Dinner. The committee welcomes volunteers and any ideas or concerns our
members and law students may have relating to their professional development.
Community Service Committee
The Community Service Committee organizes events and programs that allow MBLA
members to provide law-related as well as non-law-related services to the black
community and the community at large. In particular, the Community Service
Committee has sponsored legal workshops to educate black communities about legal
issues that arise in everyday life, such as issues relating to criminal defense, knowing
your constitutional rights, immigration and naturalization law, employment law, and
small business law.
Job Opportunities Committee
The Job Opportunities Committee creates links to various organizations to search for
professional opportunities, particularly with employers reaching out to the black
community. We reach out to law firms, government agencies, corporations,
nonprofits, etc. to get job announcements from employers seeking a diverse work
force to place on MBLA website.
Professional Development Committee
This committee coordinates CLE programs of career presentations on various topics
that keep our members abreast of latest legal developments and different practice
areas. It provides networking and educational activities that may address the
professional concerns of our membership. The Committee welcomes volunteers and
any ideas or concerns members and law students may have relating to their
professional development.
Law Student Outreach Committee
The Law Student Outreach Committee conducts law student outreach to area law
students through The Black Law Students Association (BLSA). It consists of the Law
Student Mentoring Program in order for students to have an opportunity to have a
mentor who is a practicing lawyer. It provides law students with an opportunity to
learn about areas of legal practice that they might be interested in upon graduation
from law school as well as a resource link to the legal community as a whole. It
provides practicing lawyers with a chance to provide invaluable anchor service to our
future lawyers in the black legal community. Second, it keeps in regular contact with
area law schools regarding orientation events, and co-sponsor events with BLSA.
Legislative Activity Committee
The Legislative Advocacy Committee evaluates requests for MBLA support of
legislation and amicus briefs and works, often in coalition, to promote and advance
issues of interest to the black lawyers bar and the black community. Recent issues of
interest have included the need to have more diversity in the jury pool in criminal
cases and expand interpreter services for non-English speakers in the state courts.
Endorsement Committee
The Endorsements Committee evaluates requests for endorsements of judicial
candidates and recommends whether to provide such an endorsement. The
Committee also identifies and recommends MBLA members for service on bar
association committees, task forces, commissions, and other boards relating to the
legal profession.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is responsible for soliciting new members as well as
maintaining and updating membership information. The committee coordinates events
with the law student outreach committee to ensure that the MBLA has a booth at law
school and area events. It distributes brochures and other information to potential
members. This committee is responsible for creating the MBLA DIRECTORY of our
members and practicing areas. It produces and distributes the MBLA Legal
Directory.
Events Committee
The Events Committee plans Formal Social Events to bring MBLA members together
and recognize black lawyers doing outstanding things in the legal community. The
committee also co-sponsors events with other bar associations including the MBWA,
WBA, BBA and MBA. These events include the annual MBLA Annual Gala and the
midterm Annual Benefit Dinner, Kwanzaa, Black History Month Event, Women’s
History Month Event. The committee updates the communications committee on
potential events to co-sponsor with various bar associations and other organizations.
Social Networking Committee
The Social Networking Committee plans social events with informal networking
opportunities to bring MBLA members together. The committee also joins and co-
sponsors events with other minority professionals in Massachusetts. These events
include Scullers Jazz Club, museum of fine arts, cocktail parties, wine tastings,
barbecues, baseball games, tennis, holiday parties, plays, symphony and dining at
restaurants.
The Communications Committee manages and oversees the dissemination of
information regarding MBLA activities to the membership, the legal community, and
the general public. Among its activities are production and distribution of the MBLA
News, maintenance of the MBLA website, distribution of e-mails to MBLA members,
and oversight and editing of MBLA contributions to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
This committee is in charge of monitoring submissions of the MBLA Law Student
Scholarship, which will be presented to a local area law student at the MBLA Annual
Gala Dinner. The committee welcomes volunteers and any ideas or concerns our
members and law students may have relating to their professional development.
Community Service Committee
The Community Service Committee organizes events and programs that allow MBLA
members to provide law-related as well as non-law-related services to the black
community and the community at large. In particular, the Community Service
Committee has sponsored legal workshops to educate black communities about legal
issues that arise in everyday life, such as issues relating to criminal defense, knowing
your constitutional rights, immigration and naturalization law, employment law, and
small business law.
Job Opportunities Committee
The Job Opportunities Committee creates links to various organizations to search for
professional opportunities, particularly with employers reaching out to the black
community. We reach out to law firms, government agencies, corporations,
nonprofits, etc. to get job announcements from employers seeking a diverse work
force to place on MBLA website.
Professional Development Committee
This committee coordinates CLE programs of career presentations on various topics
that keep our members abreast of latest legal developments and different practice
areas. It provides networking and educational activities that may address the
professional concerns of our membership. The Committee welcomes volunteers and
any ideas or concerns members and law students may have relating to their
professional development.
Law Student Outreach Committee
The Law Student Outreach Committee conducts law student outreach to area law
students through The Black Law Students Association (BLSA). It consists of the Law
Student Mentoring Program in order for students to have an opportunity to have a
mentor who is a practicing lawyer. It provides law students with an opportunity to
learn about areas of legal practice that they might be interested in upon graduation
from law school as well as a resource link to the legal community as a whole. It
provides practicing lawyers with a chance to provide invaluable anchor service to our
future lawyers in the black legal community. Second, it keeps in regular contact with
area law schools regarding orientation events, and co-sponsor events with BLSA.
Legislative Activity Committee
The Legislative Advocacy Committee evaluates requests for MBLA support of
legislation and amicus briefs and works, often in coalition, to promote and advance
issues of interest to the black lawyers bar and the black community. Recent issues of
interest have included the need to have more diversity in the jury pool in criminal
cases and expand interpreter services for non-English speakers in the state courts.
Endorsement Committee
The Endorsements Committee evaluates requests for endorsements of judicial
candidates and recommends whether to provide such an endorsement. The
Committee also identifies and recommends MBLA members for service on bar
association committees, task forces, commissions, and other boards relating to the
legal profession.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is responsible for soliciting new members as well as
maintaining and updating membership information. The committee coordinates events
with the law student outreach committee to ensure that the MBLA has a booth at law
school and area events. It distributes brochures and other information to potential
members. This committee is responsible for creating the MBLA DIRECTORY of our
members and practicing areas. It produces and distributes the MBLA Legal
Directory.
Events Committee
The Events Committee plans Formal Social Events to bring MBLA members together
and recognize black lawyers doing outstanding things in the legal community. The
committee also co-sponsors events with other bar associations including the MBWA,
WBA, BBA and MBA. These events include the annual MBLA Annual Gala and the
midterm Annual Benefit Dinner, Kwanzaa, Black History Month Event, Women’s
History Month Event. The committee updates the communications committee on
potential events to co-sponsor with various bar associations and other organizations.
Social Networking Committee
The Social Networking Committee plans social events with informal networking
opportunities to bring MBLA members together. The committee also joins and co-
sponsors events with other minority professionals in Massachusetts. These events
include Scullers Jazz Club, museum of fine arts, cocktail parties, wine tastings,
barbecues, baseball games, tennis, holiday parties, plays, symphony and dining at
restaurants.
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