The 2023 Rappaport Center Fellows Final Meeting

By: Isabel Hasselbalch, 2023 Rappaport Fellow

For the 2023 Rappaport Center for Law and Policy Fellows’ final meeting, we visited the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) and spoke with Chief Counsel, Anthony Benedetti. We began the meeting hearing about Attorney Benedetti’s long career in public policy that ultimately brought him to CPCS (and the Advisory Board of the Rappaport Center!) and each of the Fellows shared something meaningful they worked on over the summer.  Benedetti spoke about his previous role in the State’s House Ways and Means Committee, and how he has utilized his experience in both legislative and judicial work to advocate for best practices and better policies for Massachusetts’ state public defenders. 

Specifically, CPCS is advocating for better outcomes for their clients through providing transparency to legislators about issues public defenders are encountering in the courtroom. Currently, this includes a discussion with lawmakers, law enforcement, public defenders and academics on the racial disparities in police automobile and pedestrian stops. Internally, Benedetti spoke about the importance of working with the agency’s communication department to ensure that defendants’ narratives are shared with the public, rather than just the law enforcement perspective. As always, my Fellow-Fellows had many thought provoking questions, prompting discussions on prison abolition, child welfare and poverty, and pay disparities between public defenders and other attorneys. 

This summer, I had the privilege of working at CPCS in the Youth Advocacy Department in Juvenile Appeals. I had a wonderful experience working for this agency and was grateful to receive mentorship from many brilliant attorneys who fiercely advocate for their clients. It was a pleasure to end my summer hearing from the Chief Counsel of CPCS to know more about the policies that have helped make CPCS a great place to work. 

The end of our meeting with Benedetti was bittersweet, for it was our final outing together as Fellows this summer. This summer has been exceptional, and I have personally learned so much from the people that have taken the time to speak with us. I leave this summer with hope for the future, for I know that there are so many people working to make Massachusetts a better place to live for everyone. I cannot wait to see what my Fellow-Fellows/eleven new friends do in the future. I know each of them is destined for stellar, impactful careers in public service. Thank you to the Rappaport Family, Lissy, and the folks at the Rappaport Center for this opportunity!

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Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy

The Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy at Boston College Law School galvanizes the region’s policy makers and thought leaders to engage in dynamic discussions on critical public policy issues through the Rappaport Distinguished Public Policy Series. The discussions include forums, conferences, and symposia to address societal issues with leaders from government, business, academe, and the nonprofit world. To inspire future public policy leaders, the Rappaport Center also runs the Rappaport Fellows Program which provides funded summer internships for 12 exceptional law students from Boston College Law School, Boston University School of Law, Harvard University Law School, Northeastern University School of Law, Suffolk University Law School, New England School of Law, the University of Massachusetts School of Law, and Western New England University School of Law. These law students are offered opportunities to experience the complexities and rewards of public policy work and public service at the highest levels of state and local government. The program includes coveted summer internships, during which students work with top policy makers; mentorship by the Center’s staff, civic leaders, and respected attorneys; and educational programming. The Rappaport Center is led by Faculty Director R. Michael Cassidy and Executive Director Elisabeth J. Medvedow. An Advisory Board, chaired by former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, helps guide its work. The Center works in collaboration with the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston at Harvard University. The Rappaport Center was established at Boston College Law School in 2015 with a gift from the Phyllis & Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation.

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