On December 13, Partner Louis Tompros—who became chair of the Equal Justice Coalition (EJC) in August—spoke at a Boston Bar Association (BBA) council meeting about upcoming efforts around civil legal aid. Tompros shared the EJC's 2017 objectives, which include increasing the organization's partnerships with in-house lawyers, conducting outreach to law schools, and working with non-lawyer companies such as the Medical-Legal Partnership Boston.
“The BBA and WilmerHale have both been important resources for the EJC,” says Tompros. “Our relationship has always been extraordinarily positive, and we look forward to another successful year of supporting the expansion of civil legal aid in the area.”
The firm has maintained a close relationship with the BBA and EJC over the years. Senior Counsel Jack Regan previously served as BBA president, and former Partner Stephen Oleskey served as chair of the EJC.
Tompros says he always looks forward to this time of year, when the local legal community comes together to bring attention to the shortage of legal aid available to low-income citizens. The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, which is the largest funding source for civil legal aid programs in Massachusetts, will seek a $5 million increase in the state appropriation of legal aid in 2017, building on the $3 million increase the legislature and governor have provided over the past two years.
Tompros' participation at the recent BBA meeting is timely, with the EJC's annual Walk to the Hill for Civil Legal Aid set to take place on January 26. During the event, local lawyers will converge on the Massachusetts State House to urge lawmakers to protect state funding for programs that provide legal aid to low-income residents.
Read the Boston Bar Association Blog for more information.