About Us

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute is a statewide legal advocacy and support center. Our mission is to promote economic, racial and social justice for low-income people through legal action, education and advocacy.

Core Values

These are the core values that define and direct MLRI’s advocacy:

• All individuals and families should have their fundamental human needs met and have the opportunity to reach their full potential
  
  MLRI advocates for laws, policies and reforms that provide low-income individuals and families with stability, dignity, and social and economic opportunities
• Poverty, and the cycle of poverty, must end
  
  MLRI engages in advocacy to address the root causes of poverty, including, racial inequity, disability, lack of educational and economic opportunities, age and gender
• Structural racism has a significant and adverse impact on the social and economic circumstances of people of color
  
  MLRI works to achieve racial equity and reduce the substantially disproportionate burden of poverty affecting minority populations
  
  Multicultural advocacy is fundamental because increased empowerment and opportunity must include all economically disadvantaged people and communities
• MLRI works to end linguistic and educational barriers that obstruct people’s access to justice and opportunity
  
  MLRI advocates for humane immigration policies that provide low-income immigrants and their families with stability, dignity, and social and economic opportunities
• Domestic violence seriously undermines the health and social and economic circumstances of women and children
  
  MLRI works to protect survivors of domestic violence and their children
• Taking a collaborative, comprehensive and multi-faceted approach helps improve the lives of low-income individuals and families
  
  MLRI advocates in the courts, legislature, state agencies, and the public forum to effect widespread policy reform
• MLRI collaborates with numerous other legal services providers, advocacy groups and coalitions across Massachusetts
  
  Educating others and disseminating information enables legal services providers and advocacy organizations to best serve individuals and families in need
• MLRI follows emerging issues and keeps abreast of changes to laws and regulations so we may best support the advocacy efforts of others
  
  MLRI provides the legal services community with technical assistance, trainings and support so they may best serve their individual clients
• Informed and supported individuals and communities are best equipped to improve their circumstances
  
  MLRI provides people with the information and support they need to advocate for themselves
• People’s prospects for better lives are significantly improved when they are empowered to advocate on their own behalf
  
  MLRI works in close collaboration with low-income people, communities, and advocacy groups to enable them to define their own solutions and participate in decisions that affect their lives
• Barriers to opportunity are more prevalent in certain communities and among certain populations than others
  
  MLRI promotes strategies that challenge the continued existence of geographic areas of the Commonwealth with disproportionately high concentrations of poverty
• Legal assistance to low-income people and communities should be accessible, welcoming and culturally sensitive
  
  MLRI is comprised of a diverse group of attorneys, advocates and board members who understand the needs and challenges facing varying population groups