The Boston Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association have been honored with the prestigious American Bar Association 2007 Harrison Tweed Award.  Both the BBA and MBA have championed civil legal aid for many years, committing significant time, energy and resources to this cause. These efforts have dramatically helped to ensure civil legal representation for many families and individuals living in poverty.

Because the legal process is often the only way for health, safety and housing problems to be resolved, both bar associations have rallied for adequate funding for the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation. These efforts have helped emphasize the need for the legal services programs MLAC funds, which provide free, non-criminal legal aid assistance for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents.

The Harrison Tweed Award was created in 1956 to recognize the extraordinary achievements of state and local bar associations that develop or significantly expand projects or programs to increase access to legal aid.