Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Trusted Legal Advocate for Mental Health Rights in Massachusetts
Established in 1973, the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee (MHLAC) has dedicated over five decades to safeguarding the legal rights of individuals involved in mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities programs across Massachusetts. As a state agency of the judiciary, our advocacy work focuses on systemic issues affecting vulnerable populations, prioritizing clients with intersecting disadvantages such as race, disability, and socioeconomic status. We employ diverse tactics including litigation, legislative advocacy, and policy reform to ensure clients live independently in communities while protecting their rights in institutional settings.Our team provides direct legal representation to low-income individuals, offers referrals for others, and educates professionals through training programs. With a board appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court, we maintain rigorous standards of legal expertise while addressing critical issues like school exclusion, family law discrimination, and mental health parity through both individual and class-action advocacy.
Services
Legal Advocacy
Education & Training
Policy Reform
Family Law Representation
School Exclusion Defense
Details
- Year established: 1973
Highlights and features
- We offer 50+ years of specialized legal expertise in mental health and disability rights.
- Our systemic advocacy addresses intersecting challenges like race, disability, and poverty.
- We combine litigation, legislative action, and education for comprehensive solutions.
- Direct legal representation prioritizes low-income clients with critical needs.
- Board members appointed by the Supreme Judicial Court ensure rigorous legal standards.
Services
Legal Advocacy
MHLAC provides targeted legal advocacy for individuals facing mental health-related discrimination in institutional and community settings. Our services include class-action litigation, policy reform efforts, and direct representation for low-income clients. We focus on systemic issues like solitary confinement, school exclusion, and healthcare access, ensuring clients' rights are protected through strategic legal interventions.
Education & Training
We offer comprehensive training programs for judges, lawyers, and mental health professionals on disability rights and legal representation standards. Our educational initiatives include workshops on school discipline reform, family law advocacy, and crisis response protocols. These programs aim to improve legal outcomes through better-informed practices across multiple sectors.
Policy Reform
MHLAC actively promotes legislative changes to address systemic inequities in mental health care and disability rights. Current priorities include school discipline reform, mental health parity laws, and protections against involuntary treatment. We collaborate with coalitions to draft legislation, testify before committees, and monitor implementation of new policies to ensure lasting impact.
Family Law Representation
Our Family Law Project offers legal representation to parents with mental health diagnoses facing custody challenges. We challenge discriminatory practices in family courts, advocate for reasonable accommodations, and provide technical assistance to attorneys handling disability-related cases. This service helps preserve family relationships while combating systemic bias.
School Exclusion Defense
MHLAC defends students with mental health conditions against unfair school exclusions through litigation and policy advocacy. We address discriminatory discipline practices, ensure access to special education services, and promote alternatives to school-based policing. Our work includes class-action lawsuits and collaboration with school districts to implement equitable policies.
People
Phillip Kassel
Executive Director
Phillip Kassel leads MHLAC's statewide advocacy efforts, focusing on systemic reforms for mental health rights. With extensive legal experience, he directs litigation strategies, policy initiatives, and coalition-building to protect vulnerable populations from discrimination and institutional abuse.
Kate Nemens
Legislative Advocacy Director
Kate Nemens spearheads MHLAC's legislative agenda, working with state lawmakers to advance mental health parity laws and disability rights protections. Her expertise in policy development ensures effective implementation of reforms through strategic advocacy and coalition partnerships.
Questions
How can I request legal help from MHLAC?
Contact us during live call hours (Mon/Tues 1-3 PM, Thurs/Fri 9-11 AM) at 617-338-2345 or complete our online intake form for specific legal areas like education or family law.
What areas of law does MHLAC handle?
We specialize in mental health-related legal issues including education rights, family law discrimination, institutional abuse protection, and healthcare access advocacy across Massachusetts.
Do you offer services for non-English speakers?
Yes, we provide language access services including Spanish interpretation and assistance for limited English proficient parents navigating special education systems.
Can MHLAC help with school discipline issues?
We address discriminatory school discipline practices through legal representation, policy advocacy, and class-action litigation to keep students with mental health needs in educational settings.
How does MHLAC approach systemic reform?
We combine litigation, legislative advocacy, and coalition-building to address systemic inequities, focusing on high-impact cases that benefit large groups of clients with intersecting vulnerabilities.
