WBA announces 2021 Lelia J. Robinson Award recipients, Emerging Women Leaders
in the Law honorees
The Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts (WBA) has announced its 2021 Lelia J. Robinson Award recipients and its Emerging Women Leaders in the Law honorees.
The Lelia J. Robinson Award honors women attorneys who have captured the spirit of Lelia J. Robinson, the first woman admitted to practice in Massachusetts. The award recognizes women who, like Robinson, are pioneers in the legal profession and who have made a difference in the community. In 2021, the WBA is recognizing three women who have both excelled in their fields and committed their careers to serving the public: Hon. Nonnie S. Burnes (ret.), attorney Christine Hughes and Professor Caryn R. Mitchell-Munevar.
The WBA’s Emerging Women Leaders in the Law Award honors women attorneys who have demonstrated professional excellence or had a significant professional achievement in approximately their first 12 years in the legal profession, and either promote the status of women in the legal profession or contribute meaningfully to the equal participation of women in a just society. The 2021 awardees are:
- Ariel Clemmer, Western New England School of Law
- Stesha Emmanuel, McCarter & English LLP
- Danielle Johnson, Greater Boston Legal Services
- Elizabeth McEvoy, Hinckley Allen
- Sumbul Siddiqui, Mayor, City of Cambridge
- Mian Wang, Greenberg Traurig LLP
The awards will be presented at the WBA’s annual Gala on Oct. 25, 2021. For more information, click here.
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USDC-MA upgrading to NextGen on Sept. 20
The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts will be upgrading its CM/ECF software to the Next Generation (NextGen) of CM/ECF over the weekend of Friday, Sept. 17, 2021.
Effective Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, attorneys (and all other ECF account holders) will no longer be able to log into their CM/ECF accounts as they currently do. Instead, attorneys will log into CM/ECF through a Central Sign-On (PACER) to file documents.
Attorneys (and all other ECF account holders) will need to obtain their own individual PACER accounts.
To obtain a new PACER account or upgrade an existing PACER account, visit https://www.pacer.gov. Shared PACER accounts will not be usable by filing attorneys once the court has upgraded.
Instructions for registering for a new PACER account are available here, and
instructions for upgrading a current PACER account are available here.
Attorneys (and all other ECF account holders) will need to know their current CM/ECF login and password.
If you do not know your login or password, use the "reset" feature from the court's website, accessible here.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts is also transitioning to Next Gen CM/ECF on Sept. 20, 2021. For more information on the Bankruptcy Court’s transition timeline, click here.
General information regarding the upgrade to NextGen is available here.
Direct any questions to info@mad.uscourts.gov, or contact the District Court Clerk's Office at 617-748-9152.
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USDC-MA hosting program on news media
and the justice system
On Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Discovering Justice and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts will host "Writing the First Draft of Justice: The News Media and the Justice System."
Hear journalists and members of the federal judiciary discuss the importance and challenges of telling stories inside the courtroom. Judge George A. O'Toole, who presided over U.S. v. Tsarnaev, and three reporters will share the decisions they make around news coverage of the justice system. Learn about how journalists decide to portray parties and cases — and how the relationship between the courts and the press is evolving.
The event will take place in the Jury Assembly Hall on the second floor of the Moakley Courthouse, located at 1 Courthouse Way in Boston. It will also be available by Zoom.
Click here for more information and to register.
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Job Openings
Federal public defender at First Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is accepting applications for the position of
federal public defender for the Districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The term of appointment is four years, and the current annual salary is $172,500.
The federal public defender provides federal criminal defense to individuals unable to afford counsel. The defender supervises a staff of more than 45 people, including trial lawyers, an appellate unit, investigators and support personnel. The defender is also responsible for providing training to the panel of lawyers who take indigent federal appointments. The office is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with branch offices in Concord, New Hampshire; and Providence, Rhode Island.
Qualifications include membership in good standing in the bar of the state in which the applicant is admitted to practice, as well as a minimum of five years of criminal practice experience, preferably with significant federal trial experience, that demonstrates an ability to provide zealous representation of consistently high quality to criminal defendants, or other comparable experience.
Completed applications must be received by Monday, Aug. 30. Click here for more information and application instructions.
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Associate at Blake Law
Blake Law, with an office in Boston, is seeking an associate to add to its growing team. The firm specializes in elder law, guardianships and conservatorships, estate planning, probate, and estate administration, as well as mental health law and competency and capacity hearings.
The ideal candidate will have three to five years of experience in the firm’s practice area and will be seeking a long-term position. The firm is searching for someone who is motivated to assist in working with families in a meaningful way. In return, the firm offers a competitive salary and benefits.
Click here for more information on the position and how to apply.