MBA Sections/Division
Information on the MBA
sections/division; practice groups; committee & task
forces
MBA
Sections/Division
The majority of MBA members belong to one or more
sections, or the Young Lawyers
Division, to keep current with developments in the law and
expand contacts in the legal profession. Unlimed section membership
is included as part of your MBA membership.
The work of the sections is led by its councils, which are
comprised of a chair, vice chair and members appointed by the
MBA president. Sections typically develop more than 100
education programs per year, as well as monitor
and develop legislation, propose legislative
positions to the House of Delegates and participate in the
development of legal publications, articles and
special projects. MBA sections/division include:
-
Access to Justice
The MBA's Access to Justice Section serves to support lawyers who
provide representation through legal service organizations,
court-appointed criminal defense or other pro-bono activities.
- Business Law
The MBA's Business Law Section is designed to improve the practice
of both in-house counsel and outside business counsel through
seminars, practice forums, legislation and committee activity in a
wide variety of areas, such as high technology, small business,
bankruptcy, banking and commercial law.
- Civil Litigation
The MBA's Civil Litigation Section's continuing goals are to
provide information, contacts and resources to its members through
legal education seminars and informative publications; to promote
dialogue and collaboration among the bench and bar; and to provide
a forum for the discussion of matters of interest to its
members.
- Criminal Justice
The MBA's Criminal Justice Section serves to provide a forum for
all criminal practitioners -- defense and prosecution -- to
exchange ideas, experiences and positions resulting in
well-balanced education programs and legislative review.
- Family Law
The MBA's Family Law Section is designed to improve the Probate
and Family Court's accessibility and efficiency for the benefit of
lawyers, judges, staff and the public by keeping its members
current with educational seminars, updates on legislative activity
and bench/bar networking opportunities.
- Health Law
The MBA's Health Law Section is designed to improve the
professional competence of attorneys dealing with health care
issues through seminars and publications. It strives to bring
together all members interested in the practice and delivery of
health care.
- Immigration Law
The MBA's Immigration Law Section creates a focal point for its
members to access information relevant to immigration issues and
questions; network with other specialized practitioners to respond
to the needs of a growing client base in the immigration field; and
reach out to and collaborate with other existing sections dealing
with immigration law issues.
- Individual Rights &
Responsibilities
The MBA's Individual Rights & Responsibilities Section
advocates for the protection of individual rights, with an emphasis
on those who are under-represented in the judicial system.
- Judicial Administration
The MBA's Judicial Administration Section serves to promote the
fair and efficient administration of justice within courts of the
commonwealth. With members from both bench and bar, the section
monitors the needs of the Massachusetts Courts and supports
proposals for enhancing their efficiency.
- Juvenile & Child
Welfare
The MBA's Juvenile & Child Welfare Section enables
practitioners who represent clients in abuse and neglect,
delinquency, youthful offender and status offender cases to meet in
one forum to address the variety of issues affecting children and
families. The section provides opportunities for members to work on
projects involving proposed and current legislation, develop and
present continuing legal education seminars, roundtables and open
section meetings and publish articles.
- Labor & Employment
The MBA's Labor & Employment Law Section is designed to bring
together representatives of employees, employers, labor
organizations, the neutral sector, state and federal agencies,
arbitrators and mediators to provide a forum for all segments of
the labor and employment bar.
- Law Practice Management
The MBA's Law Practice Management Section serves to assist members
in sustaining an efficient, ethical and fulfilling law practice by
sponsoring continuing education programs that counsel attorneys on
how to start and continue to operate successful businesses,
including areas of case management, technology and client selection
and retention.
- Probate Law
The MBA's Probate Law Section concentrates on legal and practical
issues in the areas of estate planning, elder law and probate
administration and litigation. Section members are involved in
Probate Court procedures; shaping legislation and practice methods
that update and improve practice areas.
- Property Law
The MBA's Property Law Section monitors and comments on
legislation, litigation and real property practice trends affecting
attorneys who deal with commercial, residential, landlord/tenant,
conveyance and environmental concerns.
- Public Law
The MBA's Public Law Section serves as a forum for discussion and
education concerning practice as a government lawyer and as a
private attorney representing, dealing with, or practicing before
government agencies.
- Taxation Law
The MBA's Taxation Law Section has been a driving force behind tax
reform in Massachusetts. It acts as a forum for members to foster
important ties with the government, Internal Revenue Service and
the Department of Revenue while suggesting legislation, providing
services to the section and the bar and acting as the liaison
between the section's membership and the MBA House of
Delegates.
- The Sole Practitioner & Small
Firm
The MBA's Sole Practitioner & Small Firm Section assists
members by studying the needs and concerns of solo, small firm
practitioners; providing a forum and clearinghouse for the exchange
and dissemination of ideas and information; motivating and
assisting the MBA to address the section's needs and concerns; and
encouraging, identifying and promoting programs, benefits and
services of interest to solo and small firm
practitioners.
- Young Lawyers Division
The MBA's Young Lawyers Division is designed for attorneys in
practice for 10 years or less, and provides the professional tools
that newer practitioners need to excel within their careers
including continuing legal education and networking
opportunities.
Access your
user-specific My Bar Access homepage and a full
list of MBA member groups here.
Practice groups
For many section members, the primary way to become actively
involved in a section is to join a practice group. The MBA's
practice groups are as varied as the field of law. For more
information about all of the MBA's practice groups, or to join a
practice group, click here.