Greater Boston Legal Services

10/19/2026

"Massachusetts nail industry workers are increasingly struggling with low wages, discrimination and health issues in the workplace, according to a new report released Monday. The report, 'Not to be left behind,' details troubling conditions among a largely immigrant workforce of nearly 20,000 licensed nail technicians working in some 1,700 salons across the state...Thao Ho, a staff attorney from Greater Boston Legal Services that co-authored the first report, said many of the issues during that time — including economic struggles, business closures and a rise in xenophobia and harassment — continue today...The new research was done with the help of a group of Asian advocates and Boston College Law School Legal Services, and captures the experience of all demographics that make up that state’s nail industry, led by Asian or South Asian workers."
Vietnamese American Initiative for Development Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW) APIs CAN - Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Action NetworkBoston College Law School Legal Services LAB Civil Rights Clinic

Massachusetts nail industry workers are increasingly struggling with low wages, discrimination and health issues in the workplace, according to a new report

10/19/2026

The Boston Globe's Katie Johnston's story, "Vietnamese workers at Mass. nail salons struggle with unstable pay, hazardous conditions", with a link to our Asian Outreach Center's and partners Vietnamese American Initiative for Development, Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), APIs CAN - Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Action Network and Boston College Law School Legal Services LAB Civil Rights Clinic's just released report on the MA nail salon industry, was posted today. " 'The nail salon industry has … helped to provide income in the past to raise up entire generations,' said Thao Ho, staff attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services’ Asian Outreach Center, which coauthored the report. Now, however, she said, 'nail salon work is being undervalued and under-resourced on a systematic level.' " Please read the report at the link below.

Not to be Left Behind Re-examining the Needs of the Massachusetts Nail Salon Industry Artwork by Nina To Nail salons have become commonplace in neighborhoods across many American communities. In Massachusetts, there are almost 20,000 licensed nail technicians and over 1,700 registered nail salons. D...

10/12/2026

MLAC-funded civil legal aid organizations, like Greater Boston Legal Services, work creatively every day to better serve their clients and communities. This includes connecting pro bono attorneys with people facing serious civil legal problems.

Pro bono support is crucial to expanding the capacity of civil legal service providers. More funding can help organizations reach more clients and continue to leverage pro bono partnerships.

10/08/2026

We hope you can join us on October 19 for the Nail Salon Report Community Launch! RSVP at the link below. You'll hear directly from nail salon workers about their experiences. The statewide Nail Salon Project is a partnership between Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), APIs CAN - Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Action Network, GBLS, and Vietnamese American Initiative for Development. https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSch5QhQsz4eUB.../viewform

10/07/2026

09/30/2026

"The consequences of this week’s cuts may not be felt immediately. Because the people slated to lose their eligibility are more likely to be healthy, many may not realize they’ve lost coverage until an unexpected bill shows up or they’re turned away from an appointment . . . . For others, conditions that could be managed with routine care won’t get attention until they reach an acute stage, advocates said."

In Massachusetts alone, 7,300 people are expected to lose access to full Medicaid coverage Thursday.

09/15/2026

“Immigrant and taxpayer advocates are asking a federal judge to determine whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement has used private technology contractors to gain access to protected taxpayer information despite a court order barring the agency from using Internal Revenue Service data already in its possession... 'Our ultimate goal is to make sure taxpayers can trust the government when it provides their most sensitive information,’ said Luz Arévalo, director of Greater Boston Legal Services’ Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic... 'We cannot rely on outdated security assumptions when handling highly sensitive information; the court must step in to ensure real accountability and modern protections.’ ”

Immigrant and taxpayer advocates petitioned a federal court to determine if Immigration and Customs Enforcement utilized private technology contractors to access protected taxpayer information, potentially circumventing a prior court order that barred the agency from using Internal Revenue Service d...

09/14/2026

Here, GBLS Lead Attorney Todd Kaplan recounts an instance when he "encountered a broker fee request while helping a family member look for an apartment." When Attorney Kaplan challenged the fee, the agent reversed their position and said there was in fact no fee for the apartment.

Today, and despite MA's law against renter-paid broker fees, GBLS recommends renters "carefully review listing disclosures and ask questions about who hired the broker before agreeing to pay any fee."

A Massachusetts law that took effect in 2025 prohibits landlords from charging broker fees to prospective tenants who did not hire a broker themselves.

09/07/2026

GBLS is closed today in recognition of Labor Day. Enjoy the day, thank a union, and we'll be back tomorrow.

09/03/2026

"Matt Brooks, managing attorney for the Consumer Rights Unit at Greater Boston Legal Services, said the settlement is a 'significant victory for consumers in Massachusetts...The basic premise of the settlement is that there was a lot of really serious, unlawful debt collection activity going on here,’ he said. 'The settlement provides for court decisions to be vacated or rolled back, for liens to be released from people’s homes, for people’s cars to be returned if they’ve been seized.' "

In a move that could provide millions of dollars in relief to debtors in the state, Andrew Metcalf has agreed to surrender his debt collection license and forgive debts allegedly owed by thousands of Massachusetts residents, according to court documents filed this week.