News and Noteworthy

• 

  Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee Solicits Nominations for 2025 Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards and Submissions for Pro Bono Honor Roll

  The Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services today announced that it is seeking nominations for the 2025 Adams Pro Bono Publico Awards. Named for attorneys John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the Adams Awards honor Massachusetts lawyers, law students, law firms, and legal organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to providing pro bono services for the benefit of individuals of limited means. Recipients may be honored for exceptional pro bono service during the year prior to the award ceremony or over a longer period, including service performed across multiple pro bono cases or activities. Read Full Article
• 

  Supreme Judicial Court Justices Adopt the NextGen Bar Examination Effective July 2028

  The NextGen bar exam is being developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and will replace the UBE, which Massachusetts has used since 2018. Like the UBE, scores from the new exam will be portable to other jurisdictions. The Massachusetts exam will continue to require completion of a Massachusetts-specific law component. Read Full Article
• 

  An Evening with Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. on April 17th

  Revolutionary Spaces is partnering with the Supreme Court Historical Society for the premiere Boston screening of the Society’s film on the life and times of Boston’s own Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., acclaimed jurist, scholar, and Civil War veteran. Read Full Article
• 

  Celebrating Women's History Month - In Our Collection

  For Women’s History Month we’ve selected books in our collection that spotlight the history and current state of women in the government and legal communities. Some titles focus on pioneers who defied the men who told them that they weren’t qualified to practice law or serve as judges or legislators. Others offer advice on overcoming the obstacles to equal opportunity that remain. Read Full Article
• 

  Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission Database Now Available at Social Law! ​

  Social Law Library members now have access to a database of decisions of the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission. The POST Commission was established as part of the criminal justice reform legislation enacted in Chapter 253 of the Acts of 2020. Read Full Article
• 

  Supreme Judicial Court Issues New Judicial Guidelines for Civil Cases with Self-Represented Litigants (2/12)​

  The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued new Judicial Guidelines for Civil Cases with Self-Represented Litigants (2025 Edition) to assist judges in working with the many litigants who do not have an attorney to represent them. Read Full Article