The Inspiration for Senior Partners

"Senior Partners is about helping others and feeling good about it."                         

In 2002, Hon. Edward M. Ginsburg, a retired associate justice of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court, established an innovative new pro bono project: Senior Partners for Justice. The idea for this program stemmed from Judge Ginsburg's having observed, during his many years on the bench, the struggles of pro se litigants as they tried to represent themselves in divorce, paternity, child support and custody matters.  Their voices have always remained too weak-and their numbers too great, for the court system to handle. Senior Partners for Justice asks lawyers to put their talents to use in the service of those who otherwise will find no representation in court.

Seeking to build on existing resources, Senior Partners teamed up with the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP), an organization with over three decades of experience providing pro bono civil legal services to the indigent in greater Boston. VLP provides the infrastructure and administration that have allowed Senior Partners to thrive.

Now in its sixth year, Senior Partners for Justice has attracted over 450 lawyers who range in age from 26 to 92. Their diversity is remarkable, including both retired and active lawyers, seasoned family law practitioners, specialists from outside family law, and even new bar admittees. For those attorneys whose intellectual curiosity, energy for work, passion for the law and desire to serve does not diminish with retirement, Senior Partners for Justice offers an opportunity to refocus their intellect, wisdom and experience. For practicing lawyers, both new and seasoned alike, Senior Partners for Justice is a unique opportunity to help families and "give back" to the community.

Although some of the Senior Partners for Justice may never have handled family law matters, their skills in negotiation, case management, courtroom advocacy and client representation are eminently transferable to this volunteer effort. Their lawyering talents and professional skills find new relevance, and in this relevance, great personal rewards.