The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is a statewide nonprofit legal advocacy and policy organization that advances economic, racial, and social justice for low-income communities. MLRI provides advocacy, training, and legal expertise on a wide range of civil legal issues affecting low-income people, including housing, health care, public benefits, employment, immigration, education, and family law. While MLRI does not provide individual legal representation, it partners closely with regional legal aid organizations, community-based groups, and directly impacted individuals to advance systemic change.
Services:
Reentry Health Access Project brings together advocates, legal aid, and health experts through the Reentry Health Working Group with the goal of making it easier for people leaving jail or prison to get MassHealth, access medical care, and connect with support services.
Know-Your-Rights Campaign creates easy-to-understand legal education materials and offers trainings on topics like health coverage, housing rights, public benefits, and sealing criminal records (CORI). These resources are made for people coming home and the providers who support them.
MassLegalHelp.org offers clear, simple legal information in many languages. You can find guides, FAQs, and forms on topics like MassHealth, housing, food and cash benefits (SNAP, TAFDC, EAEDC), family law, immigration, and sealing your CORI. Some pages are written specifically for people coming home after incarceration. (www.masslegalhelp.org)
Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder (LRF) helps users get connected to free or low-cost legal services, court programs, or government agencies that may be able to help. You’ll also find links to legal information and self-help guides. (Note: this is for civil legal issues, not criminal defense.) Visit www.masslrf.org for more information.