Recently, the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission and the Lawyers Clearinghouse announced Retired Partner Jack Regan’s fellowship with the WilmerHale Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School (LSC).
The announcement was made at a kickoff event at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court for the 2019–2020 Access to Justice Fellows Program, which matches lawyers and judges who are retired or transitioning toward retirement with a legal services agency, nonprofit organization, court or other public service entity focused on access to justice. Former firm Partners Rob Tuchmann, Michael Diener, Mark Polebaum and Mary Rose Scozzafava have also served as Access to Justice Fellows. The 24 fellows in this year’s cohort—the eighth since the program’s creation—meet monthly for lunch to discuss their engagements.
“The fellows program provides opportunities for experienced lawyers and judges to work with disadvantaged populations, through either direct representations or on policy initiatives, in areas such as immigration and asylum, domestic violence, housing, the environment, healthcare, homelessness, and education, at a legal services agency or nonprofit of the fellow’s choice,” says Regan. “I have the privilege of working with remarkable and talented public interest lawyers and energetic, very capable Harvard students, at LSC generally and in its Veterans Legal Clinic, to serve the needs of low-income veterans, who, as clients, present a variety of challenging social justice issues.”
“Jack’s pro bono leadership during his time at the firm was extraordinary, so it is no surprise that he is continuing this work in retirement,” notes Partner Felicia Ellsworth, co-chair of the firm’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee. “Through his mentorship at the LSC, Jack is shepherding the next generation of lawyers toward a deeper understanding of access to justice and a commitment to serving our most disenfranchised community members.”
WilmerHale has had a longstanding partnership with the LSC. Earlier this year, firm lawyers and alumni helped celebrate the center’s 40th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the firm’s partnership with LSC. The event was an opportunity to recognize the LSC’s distinctive presence in the Boston and national pro bono communities, as well as WilmerHale’s contributions to LSC’s achievements.
The firm has had many partners support the LSC and its law students over the years, including John Hamilton and Jack Cogan, who established the WilmerHale–LSC partnership, and Tuchmann, Hugh Jones, Rich Johnston, Mary Jo Johnson and Vin McCarthy, who all spent time at LSC while at the firm.
WilmerHale’s ongoing pro bono work with the LSC includes providing students and staff with negotiations training and hosting LSC’s Lunch & Learn events at the firm’s Boston office on topics such as the Housing Justice for Survivors project, a new pro bono opportunity.