Why Bar Advocate Pay Is Unsustainable

Hunter and Shira analyze hourly rates, overhead realities, and why low pay forces attorneys to supplement income or leave.

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Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Shira Diner to discuss the Bar Advocate work stoppage in the state of Massachusetts. Back in May, the Bar Advocates, the private defense lawyers who handle 80% of Massachusetts's public defender workload, stopped taking new cases due to the incredibly low hourly rate they are paid. Since then, thousands of people have been left without representation as the courts have been unable to assign cases to attorneys. Now the question is, where does the state go from here?

Guest:

Shira Diner, Professor of Law, Boston University

Resources:

News on Bar Advocates Here

https://www.alaa.org/thealaaorganizer/massachusetts-defense-attorneys-enter-third-month-on-strike

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2025/0916/sixth-amendment-us-constitution-massachusetts-bar-strike

https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/06/27/court-massachusetts-defense-strike-bar

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/bar-advocates-attorney-work-stoppage-pay-raise/

https://www.massbar.org/publications/ejournal/ejournal-article/lawyers-journal-2004-november/keep-it-going-delegates-urge-continued-momentum-on-bar-advocate-pay-issue-

https://www.masslive.com/opinion/2025/07/bar-advocates-arent-striking-were-standing-for-justice-viewpoint.html

https://www.wcvb.com/article/bar-advocate-strike-massachusetts-healey/65491317

Contact Shira