“Equal justice under law is not merely a caption on the facade of the Supreme Court building; it is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our society… it is fundamental that justice should be the same, in substance and availability, without regard to economic status.”
— Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr.
In greater Springfield, Hartford, and the Boston area, too many people who could greatly benefit from legal services can’t afford to pay a lawyer, so members of MassMutual’s Legal and Compliance & Ethics Departments step up to help.
Through our Law Division’s pro bono program, MassMutual volunteers partner with local organizations to provide no-cost legal assistance to those with limited means. MassMutual’s commitment to pro bono helps more people access equal justice. And that makes our community a better place.
MassMutual volunteers help low-income persons at the most critical juncture in the life of a debt: the collection action.
MassMutual volunteers help veterans apply for discharge upgrades, as many negative discharge classifications are linked to a combat related mental health condition.
Criminal records can result in a denial of housing, loans, and employment, long after a person has “served their time.” MassMutual volunteers work with the Western New England Center for Social Justice to address the on-going need for criminal records expungement and sealing.
MassMutual volunteers help asylum seekers, who are frequently the victims of persecution and violence in their home countries, apply for asylum so that they may remain safely in the United States.
MassMutual volunteers help asylum seekers, who are frequently the victims of persecution and violence in their home countries, apply for asylum so that they may remain safely in the United States.
MassMutual volunteers participate in an internet-based program through which qualified low-income residents can seek advice from volunteer attorneys regarding civil legal questions.
MassMutual began its own Pro Bono Week celebration in 2021, to inspire pro bono work during the pandemic.
Turning today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders is what the mock trial program from Discovering Justice is looking to achieve.
The disparity between the need for civil legal services and their availability is profound. In many geographic areas, including Massachusetts and Connecticut, public resources are constrained. Among people eligible for assistance through Community Legal Aid (CLA), which serves residents of Western and Central Massachusetts, two out of three are turned away because there aren’t enough legal aid lawyers to go around. There are also certain constraints on who CLA can represent.
To provide meaningful access to justice in our community, the private bar and other members of the legal community must step up to provide robust and effective pro bono service. MassMutual’s ongoing efforts in this space have been recognized locally and nationally. While it’s gratifying to receive awards, that is not why members of our Law Division do pro bono work. As a mutual company, as one of the state’s largest employers, and as a business that employs many legal professionals, we believe we have a moral obligation to serve our community in this manner. It’s an important part of the way we Live Mutual.
— Mike O’Connor, General Counsel