News

Civil Legal Aid Is a Sound Investment For All Of Us

Story By: Yvonne Abraham, Boston Globe Columnist

January 26, 2012

Sometimes, the world puts you in a situation so unfair, so absurd, that only a lawyer can get you out of it. But what if you can’t afford a lawyer? People who can’t pay an attorney have a right to a public defender when they face criminal charges. 

Please visit www.bostonglobe.com to read the entire column

GBLS and Elder Advocates Ensure the Rights of MA Nursing Home Residents

Image of Wynn Gerhard, Managing Attorney of the Elder, Health & Disability unit

Greater Boston Legal Services Elder, Health and Disability Unit staff, along with members of our Nursing Home Reform coalition, were instrumental this week in a decision by the Office of MassHealth to drop plans that would have eliminated the bed hold protection, a key program that reserves a nursing home resident’s bed for up to ten days during brief periods of hospitalization or family visits. GBLS participated in a public hearing on this plan in June; coalition members produced petitions with over 1600 signatures supporting bed hold and managed to delay the cuts until November 1, 2011.

GBLS Supports Legal Immigrants' Access to Massachusetts Health Plan

Image of Managing Attorney, Sarah Anderson and Senior Attorney, Nancy Lorenz

Greater Boston Legal Services and Community Legal Aid, Inc. filed an amicus brief in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in support of immigrants' access to the Commonwealth Care health insurance program.  On October 6, 2011, the court heard oral argument in Finch v Health Insurance Connector Authority.

Manisha Bhatt Winner of the BBA's 2011 John G. Brooks Legal Services Award

Image of Jacqueline Bowman, Manisha Bhatt and Jack Ward

Manisha Bhatt, Senior Attorney in the Family Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services represents survivors of domestic violence in divorce, paternity, and abuse prevention proceedings has been named winner of the Boston Bar Association's 2011 John G. Brooks Legal Services Award. That award will be presented by BBA President Lisa C. Goodheart on October 13 at the BBA Annual Meeting Luncheon, an event drawing more than 1,000 lawyers.

An Interview with GBLS Senior Attorney Ellen Shachter About Family Homelessness

Ellen Shachter interviewed by Chronicle on Thursday, August 11, 2011 on a segment about family homelessness....Watch the clip

Please visit the Boston Channel.com to view the entire series.

Paid Sick Days Bill - GBLS Senior Attorney, Elizabeth Toulan, Joined FOX 25 Morning News Team To Discuss Bill

July 26, 2011: Elizabeth Toulan, Senior Attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services and Coordinator of Mass. Paid Leave Coalition, joined the FOX 25 Morning News team to discuss the Paid Sick Days bill... Watch clip

Lawmakers Consider Paid Sick Leave Mandate

July 18, 2011: Elizabeth Toulan a guest in 90.9 wbur - Boston news radio station.

The debate over paid sick leave

GBLS Selects Jacquelynne Bowman To Be Next Executive Director

GBLS next Executive Director

June 22, 2011:   Jacquelynne Bowman, GBLS’ Deputy Director, has been chosen to succeed Executive Director Robert Sable who is retiring after 20 years of service.  Ms. Bowman’s hiring is the result of a six-month national search.

Ms. Bowman has held the position of Deputy Director since June 2000 following three years as an Associate Director.  She served as Acting Executive Director during Robert Sable’s seven-month medical leave in 2009-2010.

Bob Sable featured in Boston Globe

Bob Sable in front of GBLS

He Always Came To Their Aid

An interview with Bob Sable, June 10, 2011

By Bella English, Globe Staff

Greater Protections From Debt Collectors For Low-income Consumers

Starting over four ago, GBLS attorneys Dan Bartley, Wynn Gerhard, and Alex Mitchell-Munevar along with National Consumer Law Center, Massachusetts Law Reform, and other groups began working to pass legislation to increase protections for low-income debtors.