From full retirement to semi-retirement and everything in between! There are various registration options available for lawyers who are considering retirement. S.J.C. Rule 4:02 lists the registration options available to Massachusetts lawyers.
Lawyers should consider maintaining their Active status if they wish to retire but would like to have the flexibility to take cases occasionally. Under that scenario, lawyers can simply continue registering with the Board of Bar Overseers (BBO) during their regular cycles, select Active status and pay the registration fee for that status.
Lawyers who change their statuses from Active to Inactive or Retirement statuses CANNOT PRACTICE LAW. There are some differences between Inactive and Retirement statuses when it comes to registration statements and registration fees. Lawyers who change to Inactive status must continue to register during their regular registration cycles, select Inactive status and pay the reduced fee for that status. Lawyers who wish to change back to Active status from Inactive status must pay the registration fee for Active status upon making this change. Lawyers who choose Retirement status must file registration statements for 3 years post-retirement. There is no registration fee for Retirement status. However, changing from Retirement status back to Active status requires that lawyers pay back the registration fees for Active status for each of the years during which they were retired.
There is also Pro Bono status, which is only available to lawyers who are under Retirement or Inactive statutes. There is no registration fee for Pro Bono status, but lawyers must still register with the BBO. Pro bono status allows lawyers to work only in legal services organizations that have been pre-approved by the Supreme Judicial Court. Practicing law pro bono outside of these organizations requires Active status.
The BBO Treatise, Massachusetts Bar Discipline: History, Practice, and Procedure, has additional information about these registration options. You can also schedule a free and confidential consultation with a law practice management advisor at LCL or contact the BBO’s Registration Department at (617) 728-8700, reg@massbbo.org or visit the BBO’s Registration Web Page.
RELATED RESOURCES:
Succession Planning Resources (LCLMA)
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