For Immediate Release

Media Contact
Madeline Graf, mgraf@mlri.org , 617-357-0700 ext. 368

Boston, MA (May 7, 2025) – The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is pleased to announce that Sue Finegan, Esq., Chair of the Pro Bono Committee at Mintz, will be honored with the prestigious Catalyst for Change Award on September 18th, 2025. The annual award recognizes exceptional leaders in the community who strive for economic, racial, and social justice for low-income people in Massachusetts.

“We are thrilled to honor Sue Finegan with this year’s Catalyst for Change Award,” said Georgia Katsoulomitis, Executive Director of MLRI. “Sue’s steadfast commitment to advancing access to justice and her leadership in pro bono work have made a profound impact on countless lives across the Commonwealth. Her spirit and tireless advocacy embody the very essence of what this award represents.”

Sue Finegan, Esq., is a nationally recognized pro bono pioneer with exceptional litigation skills and an unwavering passion for helping underserved populations. As chair of Mintz’s Pro Bono Committee, she leads groundbreaking cases and manages pro bono matters for the firm. Finegan has been a tireless and innovative advocate for low-income people in Massachusetts and beyond. Through her former leadership on the Access to Justice Commission, she spearheaded creative funding mechanisms to support legal aid organizations and developed the statewide civil appellate pro bono program for self-represented litigants. Eleven years ago, she co-founded the Access to Justice Fellows program, with MLRI Board Member and Mintz Partner, Martha Koster. Through this program, over 200 retired and retiring lawyers have devoted over 200,000 pro bono hours at legal services organizations, nonprofits, and the courts.

“It is a privilege to be recognized by the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, an organization that has been at the forefront of poverty law and policy for so many years,” said Sue Finegan. “I am proud to stand alongside them in the fight for equity and access to justice for all.”

The Catalyst for Change event will be held on September 18, 2025 at Mintz, and will raise money for MLRI’s new Massachusetts Legal Aid & Community Education (LACE) Project. The LACE Project will coordinate statewide poverty law training and work with community partners to empower community members regarding their rights.

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About the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Founded in 1968, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is a nonprofit poverty law and policy program that provides statewide advocacy and leadership in advancing laws, policies, and practices that secure economic, racial, and social justice for low-income people and communities. To learn more, visit MLRI.org.