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Section Councils and Division

The majority of Massachusetts Bar Association 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. Unlimited section membership is included as part of 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 educational programs per year, and monitor and develop legislation, propose legislative positions to the House of Delegates, and participate in the development of legal publications, articles and special projects.

Sections/Division

Access to Justice

Access to Justice

Serves to support lawyers who provide representation through legal service organizations, court-appointed criminal defense or other pro-bono activities. 

Business Law

Business Law

Designed to improve the practice of in-house counsel and outside business counsel through seminars, practice forums, legislation and committee activity in a variety of areas, such as high technology, small business, bankruptcy, banking and commercial law. 

Civil Litigation

Civil Litigation

Provides information, contacts and resources to members through legal education seminars and publications; promotes dialogue and collaboration among the bench and bar; and provides a forum for discussing topics chosen by members.

Civil Rights & Social Justice

Civil Rights & Social Justice

Advocates for the protection of individual rights, with an emphasis on those who are under-represented in the judicial system. 

Complex Commercial Litigation

Complex Commercial Litigation

Provides information, contacts and programs for attorneys who represent clients in commercial litigation, including commercial contract disputes and business torts, and intellectual property, bankruptcy and professional liability matters. 

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice

Provides a forum for all criminal practitioners — defense and prosecution — to exchange ideas, experiences and positions resulting in well-balanced education programs and legislative review. 

Dispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution

Provides outreach, support and education to members, attorneys and users of DR, the judiciary, the Legislature, law students and the public about the nature and benefits of the DR processes and how to achieve the best resolution of conflict. 

Family Law

Family Law

Designed to improve the Probate and Family Court's accessibility and efficiency to benefit lawyers, judges, staff and the public by informing members about educational seminars, updates on legislative activity and bench/bar networking opportunities.

Health Law

Health Law

Provides a discussion platform to improve the professional competence of attorneys dealing with health care issues through seminars and publications; strives to bring together all members interested in the practice and delivery of health care.

Judicial Administration

Judicial Administration

Promotes the fair and impartial administration of justice in courts across the commonwealth. With members of both bench and bar, the section monitors the needs of the Massachusetts Courts and supports proposals for enhancing their efficiency.  

Juvenile & Child Welfare

Juvenile & Child Welfare

Enables attorneys of abuse/neglect, delinquency, youthful status offender cases to discuss issues facing children/families; opportunities include: legislative work, presentation of seminars, roundtables and open section meetings and publishing articles. 

Labor & Employment

Labor & Employment

Brings together representatives of employees, employers, labor organizations, the neutral sector, state and federal agencies, and arbitrators and mediators to provide a forum for all segments of the labor and employment bar. 

Probate Law

Probate Law

Focuses on legal and practical issues in the areas of estate planning, elder law and probate administration and litigation; members are involved in Probate Court procedures, shaping legislation and practice methods that update and improve practice areas. 

Public Law

Public Law

Serves as a forum for discussion and education concerning practice as a government lawyer or as a private attorney representing, dealing with or practicing before government agencies.

Real Estate Law

Real Estate Law

Monitors and comments on legislation, litigation and real property practice trends affecting attorneys who deal with commercial, residential, landlord/tenant, conveyancing and environmental concerns. 

Solo/Small Firm Law Practice Management

Solo/Small Firm Law Practice Management

Helps attorneys and law students build efficient and successful practices by providing programming, mentoring and educational resources on the topics of leadership and management, technology, finance, marketing and business development, and wellbeing.

Taxation Law

Taxation Law

Enables members to foster ties with the government, IRS and the Massachusetts DOR, while suggesting legislation, providing services to the section and the bar, and acting as a liaison between its membership and the MBA House of Delegates. 

Workers' Compensation

Workers' Compensation

Dedicated to advancing the interests of workers' compensations practitioners in the commonwealth through educational seminars, legislative support, discussion groups and networking opportunities. 

Young Lawyers Division

Young Lawyers Division

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.