The Equal Justice Coalition (EJC)—a collaboration of the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, Massachusetts Bar Association and Boston Bar Association who work together to protect the state appropriation for civil legal aid, which funds programs that provide legal advice and representation to low-income Massachusetts residents facing civil legal problems—announced that WilmerHale Partner Louis Tompros has been appointed chair, effective immediately. Tompros replaces John Carroll, of Meehan, Boyle, Black, & Bogdanow, who served as chair for three years.
Focusing his practice on intellectual property litigation, Tompros has also represented numerous clients on a pro bono basis, including local nonprofit organizations, public housing tenants facing eviction, and employees in unemployment claims and appeals. For the past two years, Tompros has led the EJC's efforts to engage the private bar, and particularly young attorneys, in the campaign to increase funding for civil legal aid.
“We are thrilled to have Louis step into this new role,” said Director of the EJC Catherine Rizos. “He is dedicated to ensuring that the Commonwealth's low-income residents have access to legal representation when facing life-altering legal issues like eviction, domestic violence, and denial of benefits. Louis brings great energy and experience to the EJC and we are grateful to have his leadership as we continue our work to increase funding for and access to civil legal aid.”
“Because of the energy, enthusiasm, and extraordinary advocacy of lawyers from civil legal aid organizations, bar associations, law firms, and corporate legal departments, the EJC has maintained or increased funding for civil legal aid every year for nearly a decade,” Tompros said. “But there is still much work to be done: even today, more than half of eligible applicants for assistance are turned away, because there are still not enough resources for civil legal aid. I look forward to continuing to work with EJC to fight until everyone in the Commonwealth has equal access to justice.”
In addition to his work at WilmerHale, Tompros is a lecturer on law at Harvard Law School, where he teaches a course on patent trial advocacy. Tompros received his BA in English from Yale University in 2000, and his JD from Harvard Law School in 2003. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Robert J. Cordy of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and for the Honorable Richard Linn of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.