Executive Committee Member Carol Cahill Recognized with Distinguished Gold Star Service Award

On Thursday, June 17, 2021 at the Lawrence District Court, Judge Kevin J. Gaffney presented Attorney Carol Cahill with the Distinguished Gold Star Service Award at the Veterans' Court Graduation to which she received a standing ovation.  

Attorney Cahill was given the award due to her resilience and strength surrounding the loss of her father when she was very young.  Her father, Staff Sergeant George Eugene Cahill served in the United States Marines and was killed in Vietnam.  

Attorney Cahill has been helping veterans to overcome their personal struggles post war since the Veteran's Court first opened at the Lawrence District Court in 2015.  

Thank you to Carol and to your family and father for their service. 

The LBA held its Annual Meeting at the Lanam Club on January 15, 2019

On Tuesday, January 15, 2019, the Lawrence Bar Association held its Annual Meeting at the Lanam Club in Andover. The LBA welcomed incoming President K. Hayne Barnwell, and a new slate of officers and executive committee members.

Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett speaks at the 2018 Fall Dinner

The Lawrence Bar Association welcomed Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett as its keynote speaker at this year’s Fall Dinner, held at Andover Country Club on Thursday, October 25, 2018. Below are some photos of the event.

Matt Segal delivers key note speech at 2018 LBA Spring Dinner

The 2018 LBA Spring Dinner at the North Andover Country Club featured key note speaker Matt Segal, Legal Director at the ACLU of Massachusetts.  Segal spoke with the LBA about what it means to be a lawyer in the current era, focusing on the lawyer's role as the conscience of the country in the face of what he described as government by bigotry.  Segal discussed the litigation resulting in an emergency restraining order against Trump's original travel ban and touched on other civil rights issues being litigated by the ACLU and others.   

Mike Weinhold, of Northeast Legal Aid, and Jay McManus and Ernesto Berkowitz Groennou of Children's Law Center, also spoke to the dinner crowd about pro bono opportunities.

The LBA thanks its guests, Matt Segal, Mike Weinhold, Jay McManus and Ernesto Berkowitz Groennou, for sharing their time and experience with us!

LBA Announces 2018 Scholarships

The Lawrence Bar Association is now accepting applications for its annual scholarship program for the year 2018.  This year two scholarships are offered: (1) $4,500 provided by the Sargent Battershill Fund and, (2) $2,500 provided by the Lawrence Bar Association Educational Trust.  Scholarships are available to students currently attending law school whose principal residence is within the Greater Lawrence cities and towns (Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, North Andover, etc.) and who demonstrate a clear desire to further the aims and objectives of the legal profession.  Scholarships will be awarded based on academic merit and financial need.

Application Deadline:  October 5, 2018

Please send completed applications and direct all inquiries to:

Joanna Rodriguez, Esq.
LAW OFFICE OF JOANNA RODRIGUEZ, P.C.
4 High Street, Suite 202
North Andover, MA 01845
Telephone:  (978) 683-0508
Facsimile:  (978) 683-0506
Electronic Mail:  attorneyjoannarodriguez@gmail.com

The Highest Court in Massachusetts "Road trips" to Lawrence

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Commonwealth's highest court, held a rare special session at the Fenton Judicial Center in Lawrence on December 7. The seven members of the SJC heard four cases during the session, and then after the proceedings, took questions from area high school students.

The Lawrence Bar Association participated in the event by hosting a special reception following the session for the SJC justices and staff, and local judges, clerks, and other dignitaries, as well as members of the LBA, Essex County Bar Association, and Haverhill Bar Association.  The SJC was presented with a special gift to commemorate its Lawrence session: a framed photo of a spontaneous gathering of workers at the site of the Fenton Judicial Center during the famous 1912 Bread and Roses Strike, in Lawrence.  The gift will be displayed at the home of the SJC in Pemberton Square in Boston.

You can see (and hear) more about the SJC Special Session with this report from WGBH.

SJC Roadshow: The State's Highest Court Comes to Lawrence

LBA Welcomes Attorney General Maura Healey and Honorees to its Annual Fall Dinner

Attorney General Healey is presented with a basketball signed by members of the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club

The Lawrence Bar Association welcomed Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey to its annual Fall Dinner on October 20, 2016 at DiBurro's in Haverhill.

Attorney General Healey provided the group with her perspective a variety of topics facing the Commonwealth, including debt collection, the growing opioid crisis, public safety, and sexual violence and assault, particularly in sports. Instead of air pressure in footballs, the Attorney General said that the NFL, in particular, should be focused on recognizing the signs of violence and changing the culture of objectification.

The LBA also bestowed this year's Liberty Bell Award to Karen Kravchuk of the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club. The Liberty Bell Award is given by the LBA each year to an outstanding community leader who leads by example and has made an exception and significant contribution to the betterment of the community. Honorees have generously given their time and resources to stimulate a sense of civic responsibility. Attorney Socrates de la Cruz, who introduced Ms. Kravchuk, told the assembled members of her tireless dedication to the children of the Boys and Girls Club, several of whom attended the event.

The LBA also honored Attorney George A. Stella with one of its most prestigious awards, recognizing him for serving the community for 50 years!

Also honored at the event were two law students who each received a scholarship to further their legal studies. The LBA Educational Trust Scholarship was awarded to Lauren K. Foley, who is studying law at the New England School of Law, and the Sargent Battershill Fund Scholarship was awarded to Danielle A. Brouder, who is a student at Suffolk Law School.

Law Day Remembers Miranda with visit from Judge Agnes and Speech Contest

The LBA celebrated this year's Law Day with a celebration on the theme "Miranda: More than Words" after the landmark ruling from 50 years ago. 

The day began with a speech contest of local high school students who gave their own perspective on the day's theme. The event continued with a luncheon at Salvatore's in Lawrence where Judge Peter Agnes, Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, spoke about the "legal earthquake" of the Miranda decision. He noted that Miranda is a reminder to police, prosecutors, and judges that this is a "society of laws and not men and women. There are limits we can't go beyond to pursue justice."

The LBA also honored Andy Caffrey for his many years of commitment to the LBA and to the surrounding community with his generous work. In comments thanking the LBA, he noted the organization's value to both new and old lawyers: "ask for help when you need it; give it when you can provide it."

The winner of the speech contest was Margaret Devlin (Central Catholic High School), who was awarded a $500 prize for her speech in front of the three-judge panel. The other participants in the speech contest, who were each awarded $100, were Alison Keenan (Methuen High School), Trammie Tran (Brooks School, North Andover), Elizabeth Stackley (Lawrence High School), and Angela Walukevich (Presentation of Mary Academy, Methuen). 

Speaker Robert A. DeLeo highlighted the LBA's recent Spring Dinner

Speaker Robert A. DeLeo joined the LBA for its annual Spring Dinner in March.

The LBA recently hosted its annual Spring Dinner as a time to reconnect with LBA members at the North Andover Country Club on March 31.

The featured speaker of the evening was Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Robert A. DeLeo, who provided his perspective on several issues that are in the forefront for lawmakers on Beacon Hill. One of the key issues driving the Commonwealth's agenda is the rise of opioid use in Massachusetts and the legislature's attempts to reorganize the courts and to reform criminal sentencing. Other topics included economic development of Massachusetts outside of Boston/Cambridge, where communities are facing double-digit unemployment, and driving manufacturing where jobs are needed and collaborative efforts for city businesses to work with communities outside of Boston. 

The LBA also honored one of its longest serving members with the 50 Year Service Award. Robert Manasian spoke about his experience becoming a lawyer 50 years ago when he followed in his father's footsteps and learned how to practice in a "trial by ambush". He also spoke fondly of a time when court was a more hallowed place and lawyers were held to a higher standard. As Manasian put it, "Lawyers are God's chosen few. They are entitled to some respect."

SJC Chief Justice Gants Speaks, Judge Trombley Honored, and Scholarships Awarded at Annual Fall Dinner

Court reforms, the honoring of a distinguished career, and the jump start of a new one were the themes of the evening and the LBA's Annual Fall Dinner held on October 29. Over 100 lawyers and guests attended the event at the Andover Country Club to reconnect and to celebrate all facets of the legal profession, from law students to the Chief Justice of the top court in the Commonwealth. 

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice, the Hon. Ralph Gants, addressed the assembly to provide his view on civil and criminal court reforms in the Commonwealth, by taking a fresh look at what the law is and trying to determine whether it make sense. 

He noted that in the civil justice system, the cost of discovery and litigation is too hard for people. The civil courts need to provide greater choices to litigants and make the cost of litigation and discovery appropriate to the amount at issue. The goal is for more cases to be brought to give everyone an opportunity to be heard. 

Chief Justice Gants also advocated for reducing incarceration and recidivism by understanding the risks and needs of defendants. By crafting sentences appropriate for each defendant, and focusing on probation, the Court can improve the criminal justice system by matching justice with mercy. 

The LBA also took time to honor one of its longest-serving members and to support one of its newest. Judge Charles W. Trombly was awarded the 50-Year Service Award for his distinguished service to the community and the bar as a lawyer and judge for 50 years. Accepting the award, he provided the gathering with his unique perspective on the practice of law and thanked the LBA for recognizing him. The LBA also honored two law students from the Lawrence, Andover, North Andover, and Methuen area with the Sergeant Battershill Fund Scholarship and the LBA Education Trust Scholarship.