MLAC Initiatives

The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation supports several programs and coalitions which address issues of poverty, justice and cultural competency. These initiatives draw actively upon the legal community, state government and our clients in order to help legal aid programs expand funding, develop best practices and effectively serve low-income people in need of legal aid.

The Equal Justice Coalition advocates for increased public support for legal aid.

The Massachusetts Legal Services Diversity Coalition improves services to low-income clients by building cultural competence among legal services staff and addressing other diversity issues within Massachusetts legal services programs.

The Gordon Fellowship helps legal services programs overcome barriers to service by funding programs to hire recent law school graduates equipped to reach out to underserved communities.

The Racial Justice Fellowship was created to address pervasive problems of racial injustice through systemic advocacy and other strategies.

The Client Council empowers client board members of legal services programs  and serves as a valuable resource to the MLAC board and staff as well as local programs and their boards of directors.

The Publications Clearinghouse supports the development and translation of community legal education materials and promotes access to these materials through the Web.