Susan M. Finegan, a Member of the Litigation Section and the Pro Bono Partner of Mintz, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., has been awarded the prestigious International Bar Association (IBA) Pro Bono award.  Ms. Finegan received the award at the IBA’s 2013 Annual Conference. The conference is being held in Boston October 6 –11th. 

Keynote speakers at the IBA conference include former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Stephen Breyer and former Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, Paul Volker.

The IBA Pro Bono Award is bestowed annually in recognition of pro bono work that exhibits an exceptional level of commitment and dedication to the provision of free legal services and access to justice. It recognizes work, including legislative reform, litigation, and transactional representation, that has brought about a significant impact – to an individual, community, group, or country, or to the provision of pro bono services generally.

“The IBA pro bono award is a fitting tribute to Sue.  She personifies the best the legal profession has to offer as an attorney and tireless advocate for those in need,” said Robert I. Bodian, Managing Member of Mintz.  “Throughout her career, Sue has made a real and lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals through her pro bono work.  We are proud to call her our colleague and congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.”

The IBA, established in 1947, is the world’s leading organization of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies.  With a membership of more than 50,000 individual lawyers and over 200 bar associations and law societies, the IBA influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world.

Ms. Finegan, whose firm responsibilities include Chairing the Pro Bono and Hiring Committees, previously handled complex commercial, white collar, defamation, land use, and insurance defense matters in both state and federal trial and appellate courts at the firm, as an associate and then a Member.

From 2004-2007, Ms. Finegan served as Legal Director of the Victim Rights Law Center, overseeing civil legal services to sexual assault survivors in Massachusetts and providing training to federally funded legal services programs nationwide. She also served as the Center’s Interim Executive Director.

Upon returning to Mintz in 2007, Ms. Finegan assumed the role of Pro Bono Partner, overseeing over 400 pro bono matters firm wide.  Her pro bono experience has primarily focused on sexual assault and domestic violence, representing individuals, advising nonprofits, filing appellate briefs, and promoting legislation.  Under her leadership, the firm has received a number of awards for its pro bono work including the 2011 Adams Pro Bono Award from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the 2010 ABA Pro Bono Publico Award, and the 2009 Thurgood Marshall Award from the Boston Bar Association.  Ms. Finegan’s individual recognitions include PAIR Project’s Outstanding Achievement Award, Jane Doe Inc.’s Kelly Timilty Award, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Excellence in Pro Bono Award, Boston College Law School’s Curtin Center for Public Interest Pro Bono Service Award, and Dartmouth College’s Alumni Award.

Ms. Finegan is the Chair of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services. She is a member of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission and the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct.  Ms. Finegan is also a member of the Boston Bar Association Council.  She recently served on the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Commission.

She received her B.A. from Dartmouth College and her J.D. from Boston College.  Following law school, she clerked for the Supreme Judicial Court and the United States District Court.