Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission – Justice is Everyone's Business

Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission Creates COVID-19 Task Force | Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission Releases Annual Report for 2018-2019

What is A2J?

What is A2J?

We are all entitled to justice.

But poverty, physical disability and language barriers are just some of the obstacles that prevent people from gaining full access to all the remedies and relief – in a word, Justice – that our Courts and Government Agencies can provide. The Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission is working to ensure that everyone in Massachusetts has access to the Justice they deserve.

More about A2J Problems and Solutions

A2J In The Real World

Like many Commissions, we hold meetings, have committees and issue reports. And while all of that can sound just a bit stuffy and distant our work affects - and improves - the lives of real people. It's not always easy to put a face on those people, but read on and we'll tell some stories to try to bring a bit of life to our work.

Access to Lawyers for Crime Victims

Massachusetts has assembled a state-wide Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime (CLAVC) team providing free assistance on civil legal issues arising out of violence.

Read about how CLAVC is changing victims' lives

Access to Justice Fellows

Retired attorney "Bats" Wheeler, while working as an Access to Justice Fellow, has made hundreds of “Wills On Wheels" house calls to elderly, disabled and/or low income clients in 41 cities and towns.
Read the rest of Bats' story

Innovative Legal Aid Funding

The voluntary "add-on opt-out" fee to a lawyer's yearly attorney registration has already generated $7.5 million for civil legal aid for low income people.
Read how this fee has helped thousands of families

Civil Appellate Pro Bono Program

The weekly program assists low income, self-represented litigants who are looking for both professional advice and an attorney to take on their appeal pro bono.
Read about the Civil Appellate Pro Bono Program

Who We Are

The Commissioners and Team

Sue Finegan

Sue Finegan

Co-Chair

Justice Ralph Gants

Justice Ralph Gants

Co-Chair

The Full Team

The Full Team

See who else is involved

Latest news

May, 15

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – May 15, 2020

May 15, 2020 by Mass A2J Commission

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE May 15, 2020 Letter from Judiciary Leaders on Path Forward During the Pandemic On May 14, 2020, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants, Appeals Court Chief Justice Mark Green, and Trial Court Chief Justice Paula Carey sent a letter to the members of the Bar to update them, […]
Read more MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – May 15, 2020

May, 11

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – May 11, 2020

May 11, 2020 by Mass A2J Commission

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE May 11, 2020 The Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission COVID-19 Task Force continues to meet weekly and has been working on a number of projects relating to statewide pro bono, access to the courts, and promoting the development and distribution to non-lawyers of information about changes in the law […]
Read more MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – May 11, 2020
May, 6

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – May 6, 2020

May 6, 2020 by Mass A2J Commission

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE May 6, 2020 Greetings: We hope you are well and safe during these times. The May 14th Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission meeting is cancelled; instead, we are focusing our efforts on the Commission’s very active COVID-19 Task Force. The Task Force continues its work to collaborate and marshal […]
Read more MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – May 6, 2020

Apr, 30

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – April 30, 2020

April 30, 2020 by Mass A2J Commission

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE April 30, 2020 Supreme Judicial Court Issues Updated Order On April 27, 2020 the Supreme Judicial Court issued an updated order regarding the operation of Massachusetts state courts and courthouses during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The order is effective May 4, 2020. Under the new order, Courthouses will continue […]
Read more MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – April 30, 2020
Apr, 9

MASSACHUSETTS ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – April 9, 2020

April 9, 2020 by Mass A2J Commission

MASSACHUSETTS ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION April 9, 2020 UPDATE Greetings: We hope you are well and safe during these times. Over the past month, the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission has created a COVID-19 Task Force with the goal to effectively collaborate and marshal resources to assist people with their legal needs statewide. The […]
Read more MASSACHUSETTS ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – April 9, 2020

Mar, 16

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – March 16, 2020

March 16, 2020 by Mass A2J Commission

MASSACHUSETTS ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION March 16, 2020 UPDATE Greetings: We want to make sure you are aware that the Massachusetts Trial Court has announced a range of measures to reduce the number of people coming into state courts to take effect on Wednesday, March 18. Please also note that the Trial Courts […]
Read more MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – March 16, 2020
Mar, 12

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – March 12, 2020

March 12, 2020 by Mass A2J Commission

We hope you are all well. We are closely monitoring the news regarding COVID-19 as it impacts the Commissioners and access to justice issues generally. We will also continue to share general information and news on access to justice matters. MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE March 12, 2020 The Commission’s Activities Highlighted Commissioner Joel […]
Read more MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – March 12, 2020

Mar, 5

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – March 5, 2020

March 5, 2020 by Mass A2J Commission

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE March 5, 2020 Upcoming ATJ Commission Meeting Thursday, March 12 from 3-5 pm in the Social Law Library at the Adams Courthouse in Boston Agenda items include: MassLegalAnswersOnline Update MA Legal Resource Finder – Report and Discussion on Updates and Enhancements Technology Tools that Assist in Closing the Justice […]
Read more MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – March 5, 2020
Feb, 13

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – February 13, 2020

February 13, 2020 by Mass A2J Commission

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE February 13, 2020 Highlights from the January 30th Meeting of the ATJ Commission Thank you to the Commissioners and guests who joined us for the most recent meeting of the MA ATJ Commission on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at the Adams Courthouse. Highlights and key takeaways from the […]
Read more MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – February 13, 2020

Jan, 28

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – January 28, 2020

January 28, 2020 by Mass A2J Commission

MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE January 28, 2020 Upcoming ATJ Commission Meeting Thursday, January 30 from 3-5 pm in the Social Law Library at the Adams Courthouse in Boston Agenda items include: Online Dispute Resolution Background and Discussion Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission Housing Committee Update and Plans Self-Represented Litigants in Land Court Presentation […]
Read more MA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION UPDATE – January 28, 2020

Library

Reports and Other Documents

Recent Commission Reports

Recent Commission Reports

2015-2020

Consumer Debt Pilot Summary Report – published October 31, 2019

Annual Report for 2018-2019

Report of the Cell Phone Working Group on Possession and Use of Cell Phones and Similar Devices in the Courts of Massachusetts – May 2019

Annual Report for 2017-2018

Annual Report for 2016-2017

Access to Attorneys Final Report – published May 19, 2017

Annual Report for 2015-2016

Go to the full Library

Justice is Everyone's Business