massbar.org

The Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) offers several volunteer opportunities for attorneys and legal professionals, including community service programs such as Dial-A-Lawyer and Mock Trial, as well as the MBA Innocence Initiative. According to the MBA website, members can "volunteer on community service programs like Dial-A-Lawyer, Mock Trial and others," and the site also features resources for those interested in volunteering with the MBA's Innocence Initiative. These opportunities are best suited to MBA members or legal professionals who want to contribute their time to access-to-justice and public service efforts across Massachusetts.

Community Service Programs

The MBA's volunteer page highlights community service programs as a primary way for members to get involved. Two named examples are:

• Dial-A-Lawyer — a program through which attorneys provide legal information to the public by phone.
• Mock Trial — a program that engages volunteers in supporting student mock trial competitions.

The website describes these as "community service programs" and notes that the MBA "offers several opportunities for members to volunteer" in this category. The page does not list every program, so the full range of community service options may extend beyond these two examples.

Innocence and Conviction Integrity Initiatives

The MBA also maintains a dedicated page for its Innocence and Conviction Integrity Initiatives. According to the site, this page "features helpful resources for those interested in volunteering with the MBA's Innocence Initiative, resources for prosecutorial Conviction Integrity Programs and a 'Timeline of Progress.'"

This means the initiative serves two audiences:

• Attorneys interested in volunteering with the Innocence Initiative.
• Those seeking resources related to prosecutorial Conviction Integrity Programs.

The MBA describes the page as a resource hub rather than a sign-up form, so volunteers should expect to review the materials and follow the linked guidance to get involved.

Related Access-to-Justice Work

The MBA's Chief Justice Ralph Gants Fund for Racial Equity and Access to Justice supports "initiatives to advance access to justice, racial equity and criminal justice reform in the legal system." While the website excerpt does not explicitly frame this fund as a volunteer program, it reflects the broader access-to-justice focus that connects to the MBA's volunteer initiatives.

How to Find More Information

The MBA website provides a Resources section with a "view all" link, and the volunteer page itself directs visitors to "Learn more" about volunteering with the MBA. To explore opportunities:

1. Visit the MBA website's volunteer page.
2. Review the listed community service programs (Dial-A-Lawyer, Mock Trial, and others).
3. Check the Innocence and Conviction Integrity Initiatives page for volunteer resources and the "Timeline of Progress."
4. Use the Resources section to browse additional MBA tools and services.

Key Takeaways

The MBA frames volunteering as part of its broader member benefits, which also include free tools such as Decisis legal research and Smokeball Bill trust and billing software. For attorneys seeking to combine professional development with public service, the MBA's volunteer programs offer structured entry points, though the website does not specify eligibility requirements or time commitments beyond membership.

Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) members get several tools at no additional cost, according to the association's website: free unlimited access to the Decisis legal research database, a free Smokeball Bill trust and billing software subscription (stated as valued at $588 per user per year), the weekly eJournal newsletter, MBA On Demand programming, the My Bar Access networking platform, and the "Be-Anywhere Benefits" package. These benefits apply to MBA members; the site does not state that they are available to non-members.

Free legal research: Decisis

The MBA describes Decisis as "the comprehensive and reliable legal research database you've been looking for," and states it is free for MBA members, with unlimited use. The site also points members to training sessions and a "learn more" page.

• What you get: Free, unlimited access to an online legal research library.
• How to start: Use the Decisis link on the MBA site to learn more or join a training session.
• Why it matters: Legal research platforms are typically a recurring cost for solo and small-firm attorneys, so this is one of the more concrete dollar-value benefits listed.

Free trust accounting and billing software: Smokeball Bill

Smokeball Bill is described as trust and billing software for law firms that helps you "manage trust accounting compliantly, bill easily, and get paid faster." The MBA states members have free access to Smokeball Bill subscriptions, valued at $588 per user per year.

• What you get: A free subscription to Smokeball Bill for trust accounting and billing.
• Stated value: $588 per user, per year.
• How to start: Follow the Smokeball Bill link on the MBA site to learn more.

Note that the site describes the software as helping with compliant trust accounting — it does not claim the software itself makes you compliant, and compliance obligations remain yours.

Networking and collaboration: My Bar Access

My Bar Access is the MBA's "proprietary social networking tool" that lets members "collaborate online with thousands of members." If your goal is referrals, practice-area questions, or connecting with attorneys across Massachusetts, this is the member benefit aimed at that.

News and on-demand learning

• eJournal: The MBA's weekly newsletter, covering upcoming MBA events, members in the news, and more.
• MBA On Demand: Listed among the association's resources for accessing programming on your own schedule.

Be-Anywhere Benefits

The MBA markets a set of "Be-Anywhere Benefits," stating that many of its tools and services "can be accessed wherever you are, whenever you have time." This is a framing of remote access to the benefits above rather than a separate product.

Other programs and resources on the site

The homepage also highlights non-tool benefits and initiatives, which may matter depending on your interests:

How to decide whether these benefits matter to you

• If you pay for legal research: The free Decisis access is the benefit most likely to replace an existing expense.
• If you handle client funds and billing: The free Smokeball Bill subscription is the benefit with a stated dollar value ($588 per user per year).
• If you want peers and referrals: My Bar Access and the section conferences are the relevant benefits.
• If you want CLE-style content on your schedule: eJournal plus MBA On Demand cover that.

The site does not publish pricing for MBA membership itself, so check the membership page for current dues before comparing cost against the listed benefits.

The Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) runs two related efforts under this heading: an Innocence Initiative that connects volunteers with wrongful-conviction work, and resources for prosecutorial Conviction Integrity Programs. MassBar.org describes the initiative page as a hub with "helpful resources for those interested in volunteering with the MBA's Innocence Initiative, resources for prosecutorial Conviction Integrity Programs and a 'Timeline of Progress.'" If you are an attorney, law student, or legal professional in Massachusetts looking to volunteer or to understand how conviction review is organized in the state, this page is the starting point.

What the Initiatives Cover

The page groups three kinds of material:

• Volunteer resources for the Innocence Initiative — guidance for members who want to work on innocence-related matters.
• Resources for prosecutorial Conviction Integrity Programs — reference material aimed at conviction integrity units, which review claims of wrongful conviction from the prosecution side.
• A "Timeline of Progress" — a historical view of developments in this area.

The MBA frames the broader effort around fairness in the criminal justice system. A related MBA fund, the Chief Justice Ralph Gants Fund for Racial Equity and Access to Justice, supports "initiatives to advance access to justice, racial equity and criminal justice reform in the legal system," which is the same general territory as conviction review work.

How to Get Involved

The MBA describes the initiative page as the entry point for volunteers. Based on the site's structure, the practical path is:

1. Review the initiative webpage — the MBA directs interested parties there for volunteer resources and the Timeline of Progress.
2. Check MBA volunteer opportunities — the MBA offers several ways to volunteer on community service programs, naming Dial-A-Lawyer, Mock Trial, and others. Innocence Initiative work sits alongside these as a member volunteer option.
3. Use member tools to stay connected — MBA members can collaborate through My Bar Access, the association's online networking tool, which is a reasonable place to find or coordinate with others on this kind of work.

Note that the source material does not specify eligibility requirements, training schedules, or case-acceptance criteria for the Innocence Initiative. Those details would need to come from the initiative page itself or from MBA staff.

Who This Is For

Related Member Benefits Worth Knowing

If you are considering volunteering, several MBA benefits support that work at no cost to members, according to the site:

• Decisis — a legal research database, described as free and unlimited for MBA members.
• Smokeball Bill — trust and billing software, free for MBA members (the site lists the value at $588 per user per year).
• eJournal — the MBA's weekly newsletter, which carries event and member news.

These are member benefits rather than part of the initiatives themselves, but they are the tools most likely to be useful if you take on innocence or conviction review work through the MBA.

What the Source Does Not Cover

The available MassBar.org content does not state application deadlines, required experience, CLE credit for participation, or how individual cases are assigned. For those specifics, go directly to the MBA Innocence and Conviction Integrity Initiatives webpage or contact the MBA.

The Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) runs annual conferences and other events that members and other legal professionals can attend, and the basic path is: find the event on massbar.org, check whether it is still open, then register through the event page. The main catch is availability — some events fill up, and the MBA's own site shows at least one recent conference marked "SOLD OUT." Registration is handled per event, so there is no single sign-up that covers everything.

What kinds of events the MBA runs

The MBA's homepage highlights a mix of large annual conferences and ongoing programs:

• 2026 Health Law Conference — hosted by the MBA's Health Law Section, held in person at the Massachusetts Bar Association. The site describes it as a chance for health care attorneys across the commonwealth to reconnect and discuss current issues.
• 35th Annual Family Law Conference — hosted by the Family Law Section Council, returning to the Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster. This one is listed as SOLD OUT.
• MBA Innocence and Conviction Integrity Initiatives — resources for volunteers, prosecutorial Conviction Integrity Programs, and a "Timeline of Progress."
• Volunteer programs such as Dial-A-Lawyer and Mock Trial.

So "attending an MBA event" can mean a paid annual conference, a free member benefit session, or a volunteer program — the registration route differs by type.

How to register for a conference

1. Find the event. Start on massbar.org and look for the event listing or the "Resources / view all" area, which links to upcoming MBA events and the weekly eJournal newsletter.
2. Open the event page. Each conference has its own page with the date, format, and location.
3. Check status before planning. The Family Law Conference page states it is sold out, so confirm availability before making travel arrangements.
4. Register. The Health Law Conference page includes a Register link. Follow that to complete sign-up.
5. Note the format and venue. The Health Law Conference is in person at the Massachusetts Bar Association; the Family Law Conference is at the Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster.

Example: registering for the Health Law Conference

You open the 2026 Health Law Conference listing, confirm the date (Thursday, Oct. 8) and that it is in person at the MBA, then use the Register link on that page. If the page instead shows a sold-out notice, you would need to look for a waitlist or a future session rather than registering directly.

What to check before you commit

Finding upcoming events

The homepage's "Resources — view all" link and the eJournal, the MBA's weekly newsletter, are the two places the site points to for upcoming MBA events and member news. The eJournal is described as carrying information about upcoming MBA events, members in the news, and more. If you want a recurring reminder rather than checking manually, the newsletter is the intended channel.

A note on member benefits

Some MBA offerings are free to members and are worth knowing about if you are attending events anyway:

• Decisis — a legal research database, described as free and unlimited for MBA members.
• Smokeball Bill — trust and billing software, free for MBA members, with the site valuing the subscription at $588 per user per year.
• My Bar Access — the MBA's member social networking tool.

These are member benefits rather than conference registrations, but they appear alongside event listings and are often promoted to the same audience.

Common snags

• Assuming every event is open. The Family Law Conference shows that popular events can sell out; verify status first.
• Looking for one central registration. Registration is per event, not a single account-wide sign-up.
• Missing the format change. The Health Law Conference is explicitly in person, so plan travel accordingly.
• Overlooking the newsletter. The eJournal is the site's stated way to keep up with upcoming events, so it is easy to miss new listings without it.

MassBar.org is the website of the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA), a statewide professional organization for lawyers and judges in Massachusetts. It serves two audiences at once: attorneys who join for member benefits, and the public who encounter the MBA through community programs. If you are a Massachusetts lawyer deciding whether membership is worth it, or a member of the public looking for legal resources, the site is organized around those two purposes.

What the MBA actually offers

The homepage groups its activity into a few clear categories:

• Continuing legal education and conferences — annual events run by MBA sections, such as the 2026 Health Law Conference (in person, Thursday, Oct. 8) and the 35th Annual Family Law Conference at Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster. Note that some events sell out; the Family Law Conference is listed as SOLD OUT.
• Free member software and research tools — Smokeball Bill (trust accounting and billing software) and Decisis (a legal research database), both described as free for MBA members.
• Community and pro bono programs — volunteer opportunities including Dial-A-Lawyer and Mock Trial, plus the Innocence Initiative and Conviction Integrity resources.
• Access-to-justice work — the Chief Justice Ralph Gants Fund for Racial Equity and Access to Justice.

Member benefits worth knowing about

Two benefits carry explicit value figures on the page, which makes them the easiest to evaluate:

Beyond those, members get My Bar Access (an online collaboration and networking tool), the eJournal weekly newsletter, and MBA On Demand for recorded content. The "Be-Anywhere Benefits" section emphasizes that many tools are accessible remotely.

For the public

The MBA is not a legal aid clinic, but it does run public-facing programs. Dial-A-Lawyer and Mock Trial are volunteer-driven community service programs, and the Innocence and Conviction Integrity pages collect resources for people involved in those efforts. If you need legal help for a specific matter, the site is a starting point for finding programs rather than a direct service.

How to decide if it's relevant to you

• Massachusetts attorney: the free Decisis and Smokeball Bill subscriptions alone are the headline benefits; check whether your practice area matches an MBA section that runs conferences you'd attend.
• Attorney outside Massachusetts: the value is lower, since the research tools and networking are oriented toward the commonwealth.
• Member of the public: use the site to find volunteer and access-to-justice programs, not as a substitute for legal representation.

The page does not state membership pricing, so check the membership section directly before assuming cost.