MAHA members are encouraged to get involved by:
Becoming an official member (click here to join)
Joining a MAHA Committee or Subcommittee
Volunteering at a MAHA event
Volunteering at a MAHA sponsored community service event
Speaking on a MAHA panel or teaching at a MAHA CLE program
Donating to MAHA
Join a MAHA Committee or Subcommittee
Annual Awards Reception
Plans and fundraises for the Annual Awards Reception; solicits nominations for (and selects) the recipients of the awards.
Appointments, Awards and Endorsements
Actively encourages and supports Hispanics interested in nomination to the bench by organizing educational programs concerning the judicial nominating process, and providing judicial mentors to supply advice and encouragement through the selection process. Promotes awards for Hispanics to recognize their contributions to the legal profession and society.
Business Law
Develops programming in business law areas. This year the committee is coordinating workshops and a summit to support small businesses and entrepreneurship.
Immigration Action
Develops programming addressing current concerns of immigration attorneys and community members. Organizes panels and/or CLEs to educate and share ideas within the legal community, and also participates in Know your Rights programs within the local communities of Massachusetts. This committee is actively handling issues of priority to MAHA and welcomes all members with a strong interest in current immigration matters.
Professional Development
Identifies employment and career opportunities available to the MAHA membership and advertises said opportunities to members via the MAHA website. Organizes various professional development events, including continuing legal education seminars and panel events on legal topics. Recruits members to speak on panels and at CLE programs.
Public Service
Develops and coordinates MAHA’s pro bono outreach effort to the Massachusetts Hispanic community; educates the community about its legal rights and responsibilities. Works with and through existing community organizations and governmental agencies serving Hispanics in Massachusetts. Coordinates members’ participation in various neighborhood clean-up and other volunteer events.
Social and Special Events
Develops and coordinates social and other special events to provide members with the opportunity to socialize and network with each other and with members of other professional organizations.
Young Lawyers Division
Provides support, training, and mentorship to new Hispanic attorneys practicing in Massachusetts. Coordinates networking events among young lawyers, with the MAHA general membership, and with other affinity groups. Develops and coordinates events for its law student members in collaboration with local Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA) chapters. Provides mentorship opportunities with more seasoned MAHA members.
Youth Symposium
Coordinates a Youth Symposium targeting 100 Latino and diverse high school students. This includes organizing three panels that will inspire the students to learn about the judicial system, connect with a mentor and consider a legal career.
In addition, MAHA forms ad hoc committees to address special issues of particular importance to its members, including:
Communications
Develops and maintains the MAHA website, Facebook, and LinkedIn web pages. Drafts emails and newsletters to the general membership. Develops and maintains MAHA logos, letterhead, and templates for flyers.
Employer Outreach
Conducts survey of Massachusetts legal employers to solicit information about their diversity programs and practices in an effort to evaluate each employer’s engagement in efforts to recruit and retain Hispanic attorneys. Meets with employers in collaboration with leaders of other affinity bar groups to assist in achieving this goal.
Legislative & Policy Issues
Informs the MAHA Executive Board and membership regarding developments in policy, law and practices, and recommends MAHA responses to such developments, including public education and press campaigns.
MAHA Legacy Project
The goal of the project is to re-connect with and gather information from all previous MAHA boards of directors and executive officers in an effort to promote the continued engagement of the organization’s prior leadership, as well as to create a digital archive of the rich history of the organization. Each member of the current MAHA Executive Board is participating in this important outreach effort.
Membership
Develops and implements membership services and initiatives, including membership drives, and the recent implementation of MAHA’s online membership form.
Volunteer at a MAHA 2017 EVENT
MAHA hosts many events at different forums throughout the year. We are constantly in need of volunteers to help create and organize events beforehand, as well as help with logistics on the day of the events.
January
January 21, 2017: Board of Directors Retreat 9:30-2:30pm at Suffolk Law School
January 26, 2017: Walk on the Hill, 11:00am-12:30pm at State House, Co-sponsor
January 26, 2017: Support MBA Immigration Resolution at the House of Delegates Meeting
January 26, 2017: Participate in Soft Opening/Food Tasting at La Fabrica, Caribbean Cuisine in Cambridge, MA, Latino owned
February
February 1, 2017: Support Safe Communities Act Kick-off Rally with MIRA, 12pm at State House
February 2, 2017: Alphabet Soup Mixer, 6:00pm-8:00pm at Scholars, Co-sponsor
February 8, 2017: An Evening with Experts: Judicial Application Process, 5:30-7:30-PM at Holland & Knight, Co-Sponsor
Community based Know your rights Immigration presentation- Chelsea, East Boston & Revere
March
Community Based Immigration Panel/Know your rights presentation
Panel on Current Immigration Law updates for Attorneys
Fireside Chat
April
April 13, 2017: Intro to Business Law Panel at the BBA
How to prepare for an interview panel/ Mock Interviews for Law students
April 29, 2017: Youth Symposium, 9:00am-3:30pm at Suffolk Law School
May
BBA Law Day- Adopt a school to give back, 3 hours
May 20 – 29, 2017: Board of Director’s Cuba trip –visit Havana Law School
June
MAHA joins Lawyer’s Have Heart 5K
July
Social event partnered with Provisors
MAHA Board & Members Family friendly Social event
August
Affinity Bar Social Mixer, Co-sponsored
September
Law Student Welcome Reception
Small Business Law/Entrepreneurships workshop
October
Annual Awards Reception
November
How to market yourself Panel/ Mock interviews for Law Students
December
Holiday Toy Drive
BBA and Affinity Bar Holiday party, Co-sponsor
Sponsor El Jorgorio, Latino Holiday gala
In addition to these events currently in the planning process, MAHA continues to include relevant programming as needed. MAHA also participates actively in co-sponsorships on an on-going basis. Please contact us to share your contributions and support the successful execution of an event of interest to you.
Volunteer at a MAHA sponsored community service event
MAHA strives to get involved with different community organizations by encouraging its members to volunteer their time for various legal and non-legal community projects, i.e. community clean up events, job skills workshops, court workshops, etc. We are always in need of volunteers to staff these events and offer their services.
If you are interested in volunteering or joining a committee, please email the MAHA Executive Board at MAHAwebmail@gmail.com.
Donate to MAHA
Your donation helps support the work of the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys. In addition to supporting the operations of the organization, your donation will assist us in hosting programs, events and panel discussions, providing scholarships to deserving students, and supporting local community organizations whose goals are on par with those of MAHA.