PRESS RELEASE: Justice Law Collaborative Receives 2024 Empowering Women Honors
Recognizing the Firm’s Commitment and Tangible Efforts to Support, Elevate, and Empower Women in the Legal Profession
BOSTON, Mass. (July 29, 2024) – Justice Law Collaborative (JLC) is proud to announce recognition as a 2024 Empowering Women honoree, a distinction spotlighting select firms showing strong commitment and tangible efforts to elevate and advance women in the legal profession.
Awarded by the publishers of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, the elite Empowering Women list recognizes firms ranging from large general service firms to boutique practices that have demonstrated a commitment to hiring and promoting women, providing mentoring and opportunities for professional advancement for women attorneys, and establishing programs and policies to help women attorneys thrive professionally.
Kim Dougherty, co-founder and partner of JLC shared, “We designed our practice to foster greater gender equality within the legal profession and focus on social justice issues affecting women and children. Receiving this recognition is an acknowledgement of our mission and efforts, and establishes that the framework we’ve put into place is meaningful and valued by our team, peers, and industry colleagues. It’s an honor to be recognized.”
Co-founded in 2021 by attorneys Paula Bliss and Kim Dougherty, Justice Law Collaborative was formed to fill a void in trauma-informed litigation and social justice. In the last three years, the firm has grown to a team of 14, gained greater visibility for their legal victories against high-profile physical and sexual abusers, and has brought swift and lasting changes across state and nationwide legislatures. The firm was so named given the co-founders’ interest in collaboration not only within its own operation in Easton, Massachusetts but a nationwide network of women-owned litigation firms. As JLC’s caseload impacts clients residing in and beyond the Bay State, establishing ties with like-minded professionals has been invaluable.
“Paula and Kim lead with a sense of absolute empowerment,” shared JLC Partner Kelly Guagenty, who joined the firm in 2022. “Through their words and actions, they prove to every member of our team how valued and valuable they are, and how individual contributions matter. It’s unlike any other environment I’ve previously experienced.”
Justice Law Collaborative currently employs women of diverse ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, religion, and sexual orientation. Within its highly diversified mix of personnel are single mothers, students, and family breadwinners – all who receive dedicated attention through mentorship, professional development, and collaboration.
“Part of our mission as a female-founded and led law firm is teaching other women in the legal profession to gain power positions leveraging their skills, achievements, voices, and legal prowess,” said JLC Co-Founder and Partner Paula Bliss. “It can be challenging for junior professionals–especially women–to be seen as essential and not simply cogs in a wheel. Instead of cogs, we showcase how to become the wheel.”
About The Justice Law Collaborative
Justice Law Collaborative (JLC) embodies the highest level of professional, trauma-informed legal expertise associated with social justice. Led by attorneys with deep experience in civil rights, sexual assault and discrimination, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases, the firm has represented athletes abused by Olympic coach Larry Nassar, teenagers tormented by hostile, uncertified schools parading as therapy-based programs for troubled teens, and has tackled large industries (pharmaceutical, reproductive medicine, tobacco, etc.) when consumers or patients are harmed by corporate greed and negligence. Additionally, JLC is at the forefront of legislative reform, spearheading efforts to modify statutes of limitations and enact new laws to protect the innocent and to provide proper financial and judicial remedies to victims. More information about the firm and its far-reaching results can be found at: www.justicelawcollaborative.com.
