January 20, 2021

New Court Resource: Superior Court Statewide Conciliation Program

The Superior Court has announced a new statewide conciliation program for civil cases beginning January 19, 2021, in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk and Worcester Counties. The Superior Court plans to expand the program to other counties later in 2021.

The American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) Statewide Superior Court Conciliation Program is a collaboration between ACTL and the Essex County Bar Association, which has provided conciliation training, and will administer the program. Members of the ACTL will serve as volunteer conciliators. Participation in the conciliation program is voluntary and without cost to litigants!

Interested parties with a civil case pending in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk or Worcester County may request a referral to the program from the session clerk or the judge, or may file a “Request for Referral to American College of Trial Lawyers Statewide Superior Court Conciliation Program” form that is available on the Superior Court forms webpage.

To learn more about this and other alternative options for resolving civil cases in the Superior Court during the COVID-19 pandemic, attorneys and self-represented litigants are invited to visit Superior Court Resources, on the Court system response to COVID-19 page on the Massachusetts Court System website.

If you believe you would need the help of a private attorney, email us a request for a lawyer at lrs@bostonbar.org or be referred to a lawyer online instantly here.