The Bachelder library was established in the 1930s after a former governor of New Hampshire, Nahum Bachelder, left money in a trust for its creation and long term maintenance. However, the archaic language of the will put such restrictions on the funds that by 1998, the library was in serious financial circumstances. Alex Bernhard, a Partner at Hale and Dorr LLP and a resident of East Andover, and Counsel Lou Hamel, working in collaboration with a Concord, N.H. law firm, wrote a persuasive brief arguing for the redefining of the historical definition of "interest". The Merrimack County Probate Court granted the Hale and Dorr petition and with the historical meaning of "interest" redefined, the library's trust will now produce approximately 50% more income than before.
Hale and Dorr recently provided pro bono legal services to the Bachelder library in East Andover, NH, enabling it to end its financial struggles and remain open to the public.