Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

05/30/2026

He aquí algunas cosas que debe saber y hacer antes de rentar un apartamento en Massachusetts.

https://www.masslegalhelp.org/es/vivienda-apartamentos-refugio/derechos-inquilinos/antes-mudarse

Artículo por Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

05/30/2026

Here are some things to know and do before you agree to rent an apartment in Massachusetts.

https://www.masslegalhelp.org/housing-apartments-shelter/tenants-rights/you-move

Article by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

05/29/2026

Last night, we joined the Women's Bar Foundation for their annual Comedy Night!

The WBF's trained volunteer attorneys provide critical legal assistance to domestic abuse survivors and low-income individuals when they need it most. MLRI is proud to stand alongside this community of women committed to ensuring access to justice for all.

05/27/2026

Conozca cómo prepararse para mudarse y dejar su apartamento, y evitar problemas con el arrendador.

https://www.masslegalhelp.org/es/vivienda-apartamentos-refugio/derechos-inquilinos/mudarse-su-apartamento

Artículo por Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

05/27/2026

Learn how to get ready to move out of your apartment and avoid problems with your landlord.

https://www.masslegalhelp.org/housing-apartments-shelter/tenants-rights/moving-out-your-apartment

Article by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

05/27/2026

ICYMI: MLRI's Vicky Pulos sat down with Paul Hattis & John McDonough of The Codcast to talk health care cuts in the wake of OB3.

Click the link to listen to the full conversation. 🎙️🔗

On the monthly Health or Consequences episode of The Codcast, John McDonough of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Paul Hattis of the Lown Institute talk with Vicki Pulos, a senior health law attorney at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. They discuss the massive 2025 federal tax-a...

05/26/2026

Big win for families in Massachusetts! 🎉

The State Senate voted 36-4 to repeal a decades-old welfare rule that cut cash assistance from low-income families when their children missed too much school, even when those absences were due to disability, illness, or housing instability. Rather than getting kids into the classroom, this harmful policy made already struggling families worse off.

MLRI extends a massive thank you to our legislative champion Senator Jason Lewis for leading the charge on the Senate floor and calling this policy what it was: ineffective, inequitable, and needlessly punitive.

Read the full story:

BY SAM DRYSDALE, STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE The Senate on Wednesday moved to repeal a decades-old welfare reform rule that allows the state to reduce and end public benefits for families whose children have excessive unexcused school absences. Senators voted 36-4 to adopt the Sen. Jason Lewis a

05/21/2026

ICYMI: The Boston Globe is out with a look into how illegal broker fees are continuing to appear across the Boston rental market, with renters still encountering surprise charges even after last year's landmark law.

MLRI's Mark Martinez breaks down exactly why: “Tenants don’t have leverage. Everyone is nervous about not being able to find an apartment because there is so much competition. Landlords are taking advantage of that dynamic, because they know that if one tenant isn’t willing to pay an illegal fee, there’s going to be another who will.”

Mark also makes clear what this law was always meant to do: “Charging tenants a fee for the privilege of being able to pay rent instead of charging landlords a fee for the privilege of being able to collect rent is really lopsided. And I think brokers know that and should do the right thing.”

Read the full article:

As apartment hunting season enters full swing, the Globe identified dozens of online listings that include tenant-paid broker fees, oftentimes equivalent to one month of rent.

05/21/2026

Learnfare is an outdated state policy from 1995 that strips low-income families of some of their financial assistance from the state if a student has too many unexcused absences from school.

It has proven to be ineffective, inequitable, needlessly punitive, and pushes away students and families who need support the most.

Chronic absenteeism for low-income students often comes from barriers such as housing and food insecurity, lack of transportation, illness and mental health struggles, disabilities, and family responsibilities.

We are working at the local and state level to address these issues to combat chronic absenteeism which has declined since the pandemic but still remains a problem.

At the end of the day, taking away critical assistance from financially struggling families simply does not get students to attend school and only makes things worse, which is why I was proud to champion this issue and lead my Senate colleagues in voting to repeal Learnfare last night.

Thank you to the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Greater Boston Legal Services for your advocacy on this important issue!

05/21/2026

We're thrilled to welcome Alexandra "Allie" Mitropoulos to the MLRI Board of Trustees!⁠
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Allie brings deep legal expertise, a track record of institutional leadership, and a genuine commitment to equity that aligns with MLRI’s work. A past President of the Women’s Bar Association and member of board of the Arab American Bar Association, she has been a consistent voice for equity within the legal profession. ⁠
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We couldn't be more excited to have her as part of our work. Welcome, Allie! ⁠
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Read more: https://mlri.org/2026/05/20/alexandra-allie-mitropoulos-board-of-trustees/