Articles tagged: SJC

Their Legacy Moves us Forward

Their Legacy Moves us Forward

The legal community lost two brilliant minds last week with the passing of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants, and the passing of Supreme Court of the United States Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In very different ways, both of these great leaders influenced my career path. They each helped to define for me the way in which I wanted to use my advocacy skills to promote more access to justice and a justice system that promotes greater equality in outcome. While my story may be unique, these two zealous advocates had a memorable impact on the career of many of my fellow mediators too.

When applying to law school, I wrote of my desire to affect change through litigation and advocacy to further women’s and civil rights. I think for most female lawyers of my generation, Justice Ginsburg was a beacon of hope and…

The Alimony Reform Act: Lessons Learned in the Last Six Years

The Alimony Reform Act: Lessons Learned in the Last Six Years

by Valerie Qian & Justin L. Kelsey

The Alimony Reform Act of 2011 defined what alimony is and how it should work in much greater detail than the prior law. The Alimony Reform Act, 2011 Mass. Acts ch. 124. However, it also left many questions unanswered. In the six years since the Act became effective, on March 1, 2012, the courts have slowly been further clarifying, and in some cases arguably undercutting, the Act. In this article, we will summarize the provisions of the Act and note the court cases that have affected the language of those sections.

Alimony: What is it?

Alimony is defined in the Act as '…