Lawyers for Affordable Justice
Residency Program for Recent Graduates
Lawyers for Affordable Justice is a collaborative legal incubator providing Boston residents with affordable legal assistance. Boston College Law School is a supporting member of this initiative until January 2018.
LAJ’s goal is to support, nurture and train entrepreneurial new lawyers in innovative practice methods in order to encourage them to serve low- and moderate-income clients who cannot afford conventional legal services in Massachusetts and elsewhere in New England.
LAJ helps its participants turn unmet needs into profitable practices. Policymakers and other observers have for years noted the growing crisis of clients with important legal needs who cannot afford a traditional lawyer to assist them. Employees with wage claims and other work-related injustices forego remedies because of the lack of lawyers. Beginning businesses struggle with confusing regulatory hurdles. Tenants don’t know where to turn for help getting their landlords to provide the most basic services. Immigrants seeking to reunite with family or secure legal status in the United States are faced with complex and confusing immigration laws. LAJ will support practices that focus on these four areas of need: immigrants’ rights, employment matters, small business/transactional issues and landlord/tenant disputes.
LAJ addresses the challenges facing underserved populations by helping new lawyers sustain practices that will serve primarily low- and moderate-income clients, relying on efficient and technologically savvy means of delivering legal services at low cost. LAJ assists these new lawyers in developing successful businesses, while at the same time mentoring them about many aspects of solo or small-firm life.
The incubator is led by Executive Director Damian Turco, founder of Turco Legal, PC, a Massachusetts divorce and family law lawyer. Attorney Turco, together with the clinical directors, James Rowan of Northeastern Law School, Paul Tremblay of BC Law, and Bob Burdick of BU Law, provide guidance and mentorship to the participating lawyers on a weekly basis.
Bridging the Justice Gap
650 Beacon Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02215
(857) 227-1963
Interested in helping LAJ meet the needs of the justice gap? Need legal services but can’t afford them? Learn more, get involved, refer LAJ cases, and find legal representation.
Contact LAJ for Legal Assistance
Meet Boston College Law School’s Participating Attorneys
Justin Brogden
Providing affordable legal services in the areas of landlord/tenant disputes, immigration law, employment discrimination, divorce, estate planning and social security disability law. Attorney Brodgen is committed to affordable justice, offering payment options, low hourly rates, flat fees, and limited assistance representation.
Hanford Chiu
Attorney Chiu’s practice is focused on probate and estate work, including estate planning and estate administration. He also represents parties through landlord / tenant disputes, including evictions and security deposit disputes. Attorney Chiu is committed to serving those in the justice gap, while delivering excellent customer service and attorney accessibility throughout representation.
Josh Silverstein
Attorney Silverstein provides affordable legal services to clients in the areas of tax, criminal defense and immigration. His extensive experience resolving tax controversies predates his joining LAJ, having worked in Washington, DC at a "Big 4" accounting firm's national tax office for three years. When tax issues rise to the level of criminal charges, this level of experience can be critical.