Financial Literacy Volunteers Make Program a Success

The M. Ellen Carpenter Financial Literacy Program served a record-breaking 1,000 students this spring thanks in large part to our dedicated volunteers. Beyond the Billable would like to acknowledge the 141 attorneys, legal staff, and law students who volunteer their time to teach students how to make sound financial decisions.

Volunteers Susan Curtin (U.S. SEC) and Jose Gonzalez (City of Boston, Office of the Corporation Counsel) teach students about using credit and credit cards.

John Affuso, Massachusetts Port Authority
Warren Agin, Swiggart & Agin, LLC
Melissa Armstrong, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Mary Artesani, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Hon. Frank Bailey, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Gina Barbieri, Mirick O’Connell – Westborough Office
Mark Berman, Nixon Peabody LLP
Susan Bernstein, Susan Bernstein Law Offices
James Bonfanti, Eastern Bank
Arthur Bookstein, Bookstein Law
Janet Bostwick, Janet E. Bostwick, PC
Ann Brennan, Ann Brennan Law Offices
Regina Brooks, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Steven Brujic, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Lindsey Burton, Litle & Co.
Andrew Cahill, Massachusetts Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Alexandra Capachietti, Burns & Levinson LLP
Brian Carroll, Foley Hoag LLP
Michelle Chisholm, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Stephanie Cocce, Greater Boston Legal Services
Tara Colby, Liberty Mutual Group
Michele Collins, MetLife
Kathleen Conlon, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP
Meaghan Connolly, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Mary Corrado, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Jared Crittenden, Suffolk Law School
Susan Curtin, Securities & Exchange Commission
Jaime D’Almeida, Duff & Phelps
Jeanne Darcey, Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Joel DeFelice, Marder & Defelice Law Offices
Peggy DeFren, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Smita Deshmukh, Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Christine Devine, Mirick O’Connell – Westborough Office
Gregory Devlin, Flowers and Manning LLP
Mark DiOrio, Bulfinch Companies, Inc.
Andrew Doherty, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Randall Dorf, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP
Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC
Meghan Driscoll, Suffolk Law School
Elizabeth Duffy, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP
Andrew Fagenholz, Liberty Mutual Group
Anne Farina, Sun Life Financial
Hon. Joan Feeney, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Allyson Fiorello, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Mary Flaherty, Suffolk Law School
Alexander Flig, Flig Law Office
Susan Frigoletto, Frigoletto Law Offices
Brendan Furey, American Student Assistance
David Gabor, Wagner Law Group, PC
Sean Gilligan, Gesmer Updegrove LLP
Barbara Gilmore, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Barry Gold, Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford, LLP
Lane Goldberg, Goldberg Law
Jose Gonzalez, Office of the Corporation Counsel City of Boston
Kelly Goss, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Nancy Gregory, Blum Shapiro
Maria Grinko, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Kelli Gunagan, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Richard Harper, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission
Katrina Harrington, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
William Harrington, Office of the U.S. Trustee
Pamela Harvey, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Kristi Heiman, Massachusetts School of Law
Zachary Heller, New England Law Boston
Rachel Hershfang, Securities & Exchange Commission
Stewart Hirsch, Strategic Relationships
Hon. Melvin Hoffman, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Alexander Hughes, Suffolk Law School
John Kacoyannakis, Law Offices of John Kacoyannakis
Anne Kaczmarek, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
James Kalec
Kevin Kam, Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP
Brittany Kaminski, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Noah Kaufman, Foley Hoag LLP
Deirdre Keady, Harmon Law Offices, PC
Ryan Kelley, Boston College
Alexander Klibaner, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Keith Kollmeyer, Jones Day
Sebastian Korth, Korth Law Office
Kimberly Kroha, Commerce Group Inc.
Anelise Lago, Wells Fargo
Dmitry Lev, Law Offices of D. Lev, PC
Deborah Levine
Richard Levine, Nelson Kinder + Mosseau, PC
Michael Licker, Foley Hoag LLP
Andrew Lizotte, Murphy & King, P.C.
Catherine Lizotte, Office of the Corporation Counsel City of Boston
John Loughnane, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC
Halina Magerowski, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Martha Masinton, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Stacie McHale, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Daniel McLoughlin, EMC
Lisa Menelly, Raytheon Company
Sara Meyers, Ropes & Gray LLP
Rose Miller, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Jacqueline Modiste, The Law Offices of Jacqueline L. Modiste
Darren Mooney, Suffolk University
John Morrier, Casner & Edwards, LLP
Maura Murphy, Sun Life Financial
Rebecca Neale, Klein Kavanagh Costello LLP
Maura Nugent Martinelli, Goodwin Procter LLP
Melissa O’Berg, Rocket Software, Inc.
Beth Oldmixon, Pierce Davis
Laura Olton, LSO Energy Advisors LLC
Helen O’Rourke, Liberty Mutual Group
Gregory Pakhladzhyan, American Student Assistance
Daniel Pierce, Duane Morris LLP
Mark Powers, Bowditch & Dewey, LLP – Worcester Office
Rosa Previdi, Legal Advocacy and Resource Center
Kathleen Rahbany, Craig and Macauley, PC
Kiernan Reed, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Erika Reis, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office
Sarah Richards, Nixon Peabody LLP
Meghan Roche, Law Office of Meghan Roche
Terence Rodgers, Berkeley Research Group LLC
Ian Roffman, Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
Joel Rosenthal
Douglas Rosner, Goulston & Storrs – A Professional Corporation
David Rozenson, Boston Compliance Associates
Domenic Russo, EMC
Adam Ruttenberg, Looney & Grossman LLP
Natalie Sawyer, Murphy & King, PC
Bernie Schilling, Liberty Mutual Group
Mary Sharon, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Mackenzie Shea, K&L Gates LLP
Christopher Somma, Goodwin Procter LLP
DeBorah Sonnenschein
Danielle Spang, Law Office of Danielle Spang
Morgan Springer, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Jamie Sroczynski, Liberty Mutual Group
Leslie Su, Minerva Law PC
Ilene Sunshine, Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Anthony Taylor, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Scott Waldman
Adrienne Walker, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo P.C.
Risa Webb, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Steven Weil, Doherty Ciechanowski Dugan & Cannon PC
Patricia Weisgerber, Suffolk Law School
Susika Wylie, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Jessica Youngberg, Suffolk Law School

Please watch for opportunities to volunteer for the Financial Literacy Program this summer as part of the enrichment seminars for the BBA’s Summer Jobs students.

For more information on the M. Ellen Carpenter Financial Literacy Program, please contact Katie D’Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator, at kdangelo@bostonbar.org.

Law Day in the Schools Volunteers Gear Up for Upcoming Sessions

A number of Law Day in the Schools volunteers gathered in the Adam’s room at the BBA on Wednesday, April 24th to learn more about the program curriculum and to gain helpful tips during the training. Thirty-nine BBA volunteers are already scheduled to teach Boston Public High School students in seven schools about gender equality in the workplace.

Dara Kesselheim (Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office) discussed ways to engage elementary school students during the activity to help them learn about equality.

Matt Welnicki (Melick & Porter LLP), Dara Kesselheim( Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office), and Emily Hodge (Choate Hall & Stewart LLP) led the Law Day in the Schools Training at the BBA on Wednesday.

To learn more about how to get involved in the program, please contact Katie D’Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator, at kdangelo@bostonbar.org.

BBA Volunteer Honored by Boston Debate League

The Boston Debate League named BBA Volunteer Tarae Howell (Nixon Peabody) a Volunteer of the Year at its annual award ceremony. BDL recognized Howell for his commitment to the program and students as a judge at local debate tournaments throughout the year.

Here’s what the BDL had to say about Howell at the award ceremony:

“The final winner is a lawyer by week and a favored judge by weekend. Always volunteering to judge where our need is greatest and always a student favorite, this judge represents the best of what it means to be an alumni of an Urban Debate League – pulling our debaters up as he climbs.”

Tarae Howell received a Volunteer of the Year Award at the Boston Debate League award Ceremony.

Howell is one of the 42 BBA volunteers who served as a judge or mentor and helped students develop valuable skills such as critical thinking, persuasive writing, and effective communication through competitive debate.

For more information on the Boston Debate League, please contact Katie D’Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator, at kdangelo@bostonbar.org.

Helping Out(side) of 16 Beacon

Are you looking for a fun, one-time volunteer opportunity on the weekend? Sign up for one of the BBA’s upcoming community service outings.

Volunteer Christina Miller (Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office) joined other BBA volunteers for last year’s Charles River Clean Up.

(1) Join the New Lawyers Section and the Environmental Law Section for the annual Charles River Clean Up this Saturday, April 20th from 9 am-12 pm. Last year, an estimated 15-20 tons of rubbish was collected from along the river and its surrounding area. Click here to register.

(2) Do you want to help alleviate hunger in Boston? Volunteer at the Greater Boston Food Bank on May 11th from 9:30 am-12 pm. Volunteers will work together as a team to inspect, sort and pack food and grocery products. Click here for more information.

Volunteers from the 2012 Charles River Clean Up helped remove rubbish and debris located in the river and on its banks.

(3) Clean up the Gladeside Urban Wild, one of the largest undeveloped areas in Mattapan, on Saturday, May 4th from 9 am-12 pm. Attendees will help to maintain this open space by removing invasive plant species and preparing the land for future plantings. Please email Jenny Rushlow at jrushlow@clf.org for additional information.

(4) Get your hands dirty on Saturday, June 1st from 9:15 am-12:30 pm at the Food Project. Plant, harvest, and tend fresh vegetables for support hunger relief organization and local distribution. Click here to register.

 

For more information about these opportunities, please contact Katie D’Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator, at kdangelo@bostonbar.org.

BBA Trust & Estates Public Service Committee, Job Well Done!

Cameron Casey

Peter Shapland

The BBA Trust & Estates Public Service Committee led by Cameron Casey (Ropes & Gray) and Peter Shapland (Day Pitney) made a significant impact by helping to create and run the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code (MUPC) resource desk. Working with the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Probate and Family Court, the MUPC resource desk helped more than 150 people.

 

 

 

Kerry Spindler

Co-chair Kerry Spindler (Goulston & Storrs) will continue to work on follow up efforts to facilitate the transition to the MUPC and alleviate the burden on the courts. Click here to check out an article about this successful public service program.

Volunteers Are Heart and Soul of Lawyer for the Day in the Boston Housing Court Program

Every Wednesday and Thursday, volunteer lawyers offer legal advice to landlords and tenants at a busy table through the Lawyer for the Day at the Boston Housing Court Program. The BBA has teamed up with the Volunteer Lawyers Project (whose longstanding relationship with the BBA goes back to 1977, to provide assistance to more than 14,732 landlords and tenants in the program’s history).

For more about the recent volunteers for the program, please click here.

Yugo Nakai (Volunteer Lawyers Project), Heather Ward (Law Office of Heather M. Ward), and Isabel Burney (Volunteer Lawyers Project) provide legal advice to tenants and landlords at the Boston Housing Court.

The Boston Housing Court is crowded on Wednesdays and Thursdays when landlords and tenants can receive legal advice and full representation from volunteer lawyers.

For more information on the Lawyer for the Day in the Boston Housing Court Program, please contact Katie D’Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator, at kdangelo@bostonbar.org.

This program is supported by the Boston Bar Foundation’s Herbert W. Vaughan Fund, which is dedicated to supporting real estate-related pro bono, public service, and civic programs of the Boston Bar Association.

Volunteer for the Law Day in the Schools Program

Are you interested in teaching Boston public school students about equality? Volunteer for the 2013 Law Day in the Schools Program on May 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. Lawyers can visit classrooms throughout city, teaching elementary, middle school and high school students about the 2013 ABA theme, “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All.” The BBA provides volunteers with all the written materials for the Program and you can volunteer in pairs.

Volunteer Emily Hodge (Choate Hall & Stewart LLP) leads students through a mock trial at Josiah Quincy Elementary School during the 2012 Law Day in the Schools Program.

A second grade student thanks a volunteer for teaching her about the constitution and helping create classroom rules.

If you are interested in volunteering, please review the available volunteer sessions on our website here. To learn more about curriculum and how to effectively teach the meetings, attend the Law Day in the Schools training April 24th from 8:30-9:30 am. You can sign up for the training here.

For more information on the program, please contact Katie D’Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator, at kdangelo@bostonbar.org. 

This program is funded by the Francis S. Moran Fund of the Boston Bar Foundation.

Final 2013 Financial Literacy Module Teaches Students “Consequences” Of Poor Financial Decision Making

When people think of April, springtime, birds chirping and flowers blooming may come to mind. According to the U.S Government, however, April is officially National Financial Literacy Month, which is dedicated to highlighting the importance of financial literacy education and healthy financial decision making. April also marks the conclusion of the M. Ellen Carpenter Financial Literacy Program, which hosted its final “Consequences” module today. During the five consequences sessions, students witnessed a mock hearing presided over by Judges Frank Bailey, Joan Feeney and Melvin Hoffman at the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in Boston and Worcester. Beyond the Billable stopped by the court to bring you a firsthand look at the sessions:

Boston Latin High School students watch a mock meeting of creditors and hearing with the debtor, “Sally Spender.”

Students from Another Course to College, Milton High School, and Peabody High School asked questions to learn about the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

For more information about the M. Ellen Carpenter Financial Literacy Program, please contact Katie D’Angelo, Public Service Programs Coordinator, at kdangelo@bostonbar.org.