Guide To Legal Resources
Federal Courts Massachusetts state courts District Attorneys Trial Court Law Libraries Massachusetts Law Schools Books, Publications Important Law-Related Telephone Numbers
Federal Courts
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Supreme Court Building
1 First St. NE
Washington, D.C. 20543
(202) 479-3000
public information office: (202) 479-3017
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
John W. McCormack Building and Post Office
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 223-9057
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
John W. McCormack Building and Post Office
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 223-9152
(for central Massachusetts)
Federal Building and Courthouse
595 Main St., 5th Floor
Worcester, MA 01601
(508) 793-0552
(for western Massachusetts)
Federal Building and Courthouse
1550 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01103
(413) 785-0214
Office of the Circuit Executive
Judicial Council of the 1st Circuit
John W. McCormack Building and Post Office
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 223-9049
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
1101 O'Neil Federal Office Building
10 Causeway St.
Boston, MA 02222-1074
(617) 565-6050
10 Mechanic St.
Worcester, MA 01608
(508) 793-0543
U.S. Tax Court
O'Neil Federal Office Building
10 Causeway St.
Boston, MA 02222
(617) 376-2700
U.S. Attorney's Office
John W. McCormack Building and Post Office
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 223-9400
U.S. Marshal
John W. McCormack Building and Post Office
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 223-9726
U.S. Department of Justice
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Kennedy Building
Government Center, Boston 02203
(617) 565-3879
Federal Public Defender
195 State St.
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 565-8335
Massachusetts state courts
Supreme Judicial Court
New Court House
Pemberton Square, Boston 02108
(617) 725-8055
public information office: (617) 557-1113 (This is a good starting place for general administrative information on all the courts.)
Appeals Court
New Court House
Pemberton Square, Boston 02108
(617) 725-8000
Administrative Office of the Trial Court
2 Center Plaza, Suite 540
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 742-8575
Commissioner of Probation
One Ashburton Place
Room 405
Boston, MA 02108
Superior Court
New Courthouse
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 725-8000
Land Court
Old Courthouse
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 227-7470
Probate and Family Court
3 Center Plaza
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 742-9743
Housing Court
1000 New Court House
Boston, MA 02108
Clerk magistrate (Boston Division) : (617) 725-8485
Housing Court - Hampden Division
37 Elm St.,
Springfield, MA 01103
Clerk magistrate: (413) 781-8100
Housing Court - Worcester Division
2 Main St.
Worcester, MA 01608
Clerk magistrate: (508) 792-0800
Trial Court Department
Administrative Office
Holyoke Building
Holyoke Square, Salem, MA 01970
(508) 745-9010
Boston Municipal Court
Old Court House
Boston, MA 02108
Clerk magistrate, Civil: (617) 725-8404
Clerk magistrate, Criminal: (617) 725-8460
Juvenile Court Department
Old Court House
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 725-8558
District Attorneys
Barnstable: (includes islands) 3231 Main St., Barnstable 02630 (508) 362-8113
Berkshire: 42 West St. Box 1969, Pittsfield 01202
(413) 443-5951
Bristol: 88 Purchase St., New Bedford, 02740 (508) 997-0711
Dukes: see Barnstable
Essex: Museum Place, 1 India Sq., Salem 01970
(508) 745-6610
Franklin: 1 Court Square, Northampton 01060 (413) 586-9225
Hampden: Hall of Justice, 50 State St., Springfield, 01103
(413) 781-8100
Hampshire: see Franklin
Middlesex: Superior Courthouse, 40 Thorndike St., Cambridge, MA 02141, (617) 494-4050
Nantucket: see Barnstable
Norfolk: 360 Washington St., Box 309, Dedham, 02026
(617) 329-5440
Plymouth: 32 Belmont St., Box 1665, Brockton, MA 02403
(508) 584-8120
Suffolk: New Courthouse, Pemberton Square, Boston, 02108
(617) 725-8600
Worcester: Courthouse, Worcester, 01608, (508) 798-7700
Massachusetts Law Schools
Law schools are good sources of commentary on legal topics, particularly on constitutional law and interpretation, and legal ethics.
Boston College Law School
885 Centre Street
Newton, MA 02159
communications office: (617) 552-3350
Boston University School of Law
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
communications office: (617) 353-2240
Harvard Law School
Baker House
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
main number: (617) 495-3100
Massachusetts School of Law
500 Federal Street
Andover, MA 01810
main number: (508) 470-3070
New England School of Law
154 Stuart Street
Boston, MA 02116
communications office: (617) 451-0010, Ext. 201
Northeastern University School of Law
400 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
communications office: (617) 437-5426
Southern New England School of Law
74 Purchase St.
New Bedford, MA 02740
main number: (508) 999-0400
Suffolk University Law School
8 Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
communications office: (617) 573-8236
Western New England College School of Law
1215 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
communications office: (413) 782-1325
Books, Publications
Black's Law Dictionary
The unabridged law dictionary, Black's is the dictionary used by the legal profession. Most definitions are understandable by the layperson. Available in hardbound or paperbound, Black's can be found in large bookstores, many public libraries and in all law school bookstores. Or, contact West Publishing Company, 50 W. Kellogg Blvd., PO Box 64833, St. Paul, MN 55164-9752 or call (800) 328-9352.
The First Amendment Handbook
More of a booklet than a book, The First Amendment Handbook is, in the words of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, "a first line of defense in the battle to protect the news media's right to gather and disseminate the news." The handbook covers basic law dealing with problems of libel, invasion of privacy, court access and access to news in language understandable to non-lawyers. Price is $4. The Reporters Committee has a number of other excellent publications and services for journalists. Contact the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press, Suite 504, 1735 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006.
General Laws of Massachusetts
Published by the Massachusetts Legislature, the General Laws of Massachusetts is the official compilation of all Massachusetts statutes. It is the only listing of statutes published with the assistance of the Massachusetts Legislature and is more accurate than other compilations. As the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court requires that all citations in legal matters be drawn from the GLM, the books form an excellent resource for journalists. Unlike other compilations of Massachusetts statutes, which are hardcover and cost thousands of dollars, the GLM is in paperback, is easily portable and the 15-volume set is under $400. Included in the price are monthly updates and the entire set is revised every other year. The GLM is a superb reference for any newsroom. Contact West Publishing Company, 50 W. Kellogg Blvd., PO Box 64833, St. Paul, MN 55164-9752 or call (800) 328-9352.
A Journalist's Primer on Locating Legal Documents
A Journalist's Primer on Locating Legal Documents, is a 50 page booklet written to help journalists locate and access public documents that will provide them with valuable information. It is divided into sections on individual's backgrounds , court records , government agency records, property records and political records. There is a resources section listing address of agencies that maintain records a reporter might find useful. Copies are $2 each, $1.75 each for 50 or more. Handling fee is $1 for orders under $5, $2.95 for orders over $5. Order publication PC # 468-0017 from The American Bar Association, Commission on Public Understanding About the Law , 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611.
The Lawyer's Almanac
The publisher, Prentice Hall Law & Business, refers to The Lawyer's Almanac as "a complete reference to vital facts and figures about the legal profession." The book contains over 1,000 pages of data on the practice of law. Examples of material included: the 500 largest law firms, billing rates of major firms, survey of corporate lawyer salaries, legal education and bar admission statistics, ranges of verdict awards and federal litigation statistics. Contact Prentice Hall Law & Business, 910 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632.
Law Dictionary
This dictionary, published by Barron's, is not as huge as Black's Law Dictionary but is still quite comprehensive. It's also much more portable than Black's. $9.95 at bookstores or contact Barron's Educational Series Inc., 250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788
Law Pamphlets
As a public service, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Foundation publish pamphlets for consumers on different aspects of the law. Titles include How to Protect Your Privacy; Your Rights if Arrested; A Consumer's Guide to Auto Insurance; You, Your Marriage and the Law; Buying and Selling a House; Why Probate?, and a number of others. Single copies are available free of charge although the public is requested to send a self-addressed, stamped, business-sized envelope for every two titles requested. Contact the Massachusetts Bar Association, 20 West St., Boston, MA 02111-1204, (617)-0500.
The Maps
This spiral-bound book contains maps and written directions to the locations of all the courts in Massachusetts. Published by Lawyers Weekly Publications, 30 Court Square, Boston, MA 02108. (617) (617) 451-7300.
Massachusetts Lawyers Diary and Manual
The Lawyers Diary and Manual includes phone numbers and addresses for every lawyer admitted to the bar in Massachusetts, phone numbers and addresses of state and federal judges, names and locations of all courts and court-related agencies, bar association contacts, a Massachusetts municipal directory, and lots more information. Issued annually. To order, write Massachusetts Lawyers Diary and Manual, PO Box 1232, Newark, NJ 07101-1232 or call (800) 444-4041.
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Lawyers Weekly is the trade journal read by most practicing Massachusetts lawyers. Each issue contains timely articles on developments in the practice of law, legislation, activities of the various bar associations, the past week's opinions of the courts and human interest stories. Many journalists who cover law find Lawyers Weekly to be an excellent source of information on the legal profession. To subscribe, contact Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, 30 Court Square, Boston, MA 02108. (617) 451-7300.
Massachusetts Rules of Court -- State and Federal
As the title suggests this softcover book covers all the rules and procedures of the various Massachusetts state courts and the federal courts. While not written in lay terms. The book provides some insight into the mysteries and vagaries of the court system. Contact West Publishing Company, 50 W. Kellogg Blvd., PO Box 64833, St. Paul, MN 55164-9752 or call (800) 328-9352.
The Rules
A compilation of all rules for Massachusetts courts and local rules for federal courts. While this information is the same as that in West Publishing's Massachusetts Rules of Court -- State and Federal, this version is bound in a three-ring binder and is periodically updated. Published by Lawyers Weekly Publications, 30 Court Square, Boston, MA 02108. (617) 227-6034.
Important Law-Related Telephone Numbers
Massachusetts Bar Association Public Service Programs
Lawyer Referral Service- (617) 654-0400 or (800) 392-6164 - telephone referral to a lawyer for anyone seeking legal advice and representation, pro bono (free) and reduced rate telephone referral for those needing legal services and unable to afford them.
Tel-Law- (617) 542-9069 - telephone hotline playing recorded messages about basic legal questions.
Fee Arbitration Board - (617) 338-0552 - resolves fee disputes between clients and lawyers through voluntary arbitration.
Other Law-Related Services
Attorney General's Office - (617) 727-8400 - civil rights, consumer issues and violent crime information and assistance.
Board of Bar Overseers - (617) 720-0700 (complaints), (617) 720-0708 (registration) - attorney complaints and registration.
Citizen's Information Services - (617) 727-7030 - information on state government and agencies; legislative issues.
Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts - (617) 426-3170 - constitutional rights, civil rights and liberties advocacy and representation.
Clearinghouse for Affordable Housing and Homelessness -
(617) 742-0615 - legal assistance for non-profit groups planning or maintaining affordable housing.
Consumer Credit Counseling - (617) 426-6644 - counseling on family budgets, debt management and housing finance.
Consumer Information Office - (617) 727-7780 - clearinghouse for all consumer issues.
Department of Elder Affairs - (617) 727-7272/7750 - counseling for the elderly.
Department of Social Services - (617) 727-0900 - information on a variety of social service programs.
Disability Law Center - (617) 723-8455 - information on legal rights of the disabled.
Division of Insurance- (617) 727-3333 - consumer service section, information on insurance problems.
Divorce and Mediation Center- (617) 492-3533 - counseling, support groups and mediation.
Internal Revenue Service - (617) 523-1040 - taxpayer information.
International Institute - (617) 536-1081 - information on immigration, naturalization and social services.
Legal Advocacy and Resource Center - (617) 742-9179 - information and referrals on legal problems.
Massachusetts Commission on Discrimination - (617) 727-3990 - complaints of discrimination in credit, housing, public accommodations and employment.
Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services - (617) 482-2773, incarcerated clients call collect (617) 482-4124 - legal advice for indigent inmates regarding incarceration.
Massachusetts Department of Revenue - (617) 727-4545 - taxpayer assistance.
Child Support Enforcement Division - (617) 621-4444 - parents seeking child support.
Massachusetts Industrial Accident Board - (617) 727-4900 - industrial accident information and referrals.
Massachusetts Lemon Law Arbitration Program - (617) 727-4061 - disputes between car buyers and manufacturers.
National Lawyers Guild and Referral - Spanish - (617) 227-7008 - low and moderate income clients with working class, women's or minority rights issues.
Small Claims Advisory Service - (617) 497-5690 - student-staffed small claims information.