Current Projects
Appleseed focuses on broad systemic social initiatives rather than on the traditional provision of legal services to individuals. This vision grew out of the idea that the best way to achieve big results is to work for the kind of change that levels the playing field and transforms entire communities at a time. Massachusetts Appleseed identifies and addresses issues particular to our community at large and then connects with private practice lawyers, corporate counsel, law schools, civic leaders, and other professionals to tackle these difficult social problems at their root causes.
The growing number of self-represented litigants in Massachusetts is transforming our civil courts into institutions that inhibit low- and middle-income people from accessing their rights to legal protection and redress. This surge in self-represented litigants, which mirrors national trends, is worsening the disparities in outcomes between wealthy and poor litigants. In both the civil and criminal legal systems, outcomes are uneven based on race, citizenship status, English language proficiency and other factors. Our Access to Justice Projects identify ways to make these systems of justice fairer for all participants.
Each year, the Massachusetts state legislature passes a state budget that provides funding for various state programs, agencies and departments for the following year. The budget process begins in January, when the Governor files his budget recommendations. In April and May the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate each pass their own separate budget proposals and in June, a Conference Committee made up of three Senators and three Representatives, is appointed to iron out the differences between the House and Senate budgets. A joint budget is sent to the Governor by July 1st and the Governor has ten days to approve, amend or veto each line item.
