On July 24, 2026, Governor Maura Healey held a ceremonial signing for two new Massachusetts laws that seek to strengthen protections for survivors of sexual misconduct. Enacted through the fiscal year 2027 budget, the reforms address two distinct areas in Massachusetts law. One law creates an exception to the
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Nine Zalkind Law Attorneys Named in 2027 Edition of Best Lawyers
Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP is proud to announce that the following attorneys are listed in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession and
Free Speech at College: What are Professors’ Rights?
In the past couple of years, college campuses have dealt with a range of free speech challenges that have become increasingly difficult to navigate amid a polarized political climate and heightened government scrutiny. As campus leaders and a vital bridge between students and the administration, college professors are uniquely positioned to cultivate
Massachusetts Senate takes aim at addictive social media feeds, sidestepping House proposal to mandate age verification for all social media users
Earlier this month, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill (S. 3175) designed to limit youth exposure to addictive social media feeds.
I previously discussed a bill approved by the Massachusetts State House that would ban all users under the age of fourteen from social media platforms and mandate all users—including adults—to verify with the platform that they are over the age of fourteen.
The
MCAD issues new regulations dramatically reducing workers’ ability to fight employment discrimination
On June 19, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) decided to quietly roll back protections for workers, revising its regulations to make it harder for employees to fight discrimination in the workplace. These changes came after the MCAD recorded a record number of backlogged cases for fiscal
A Superior Court Held that Colleges and Universities Must Protect Students from Harm. How Does This Help Students Who Are Suicidal?
In a 2021-2022 survey of students across 133 colleges and universities, 44% reported symptoms of depression, and 15% reported seriously considering suicide in the past year. Around that same time, experts estimated that approximately 1,100 college students died by suicide annually.
Unfortunately, at the same
Massachusetts Legislature mulls bill prohibiting student cell phone use in public schools and requiring age verification to use social media
Last month, the Massachusetts State House passed a bill (H. 5366) that would have the Commonwealth join fifteen other states in banning cell phones in public schools statewide and twenty-seven other states in requiring all users—including adults—to verify their age to use social media.
Proponents of
Supreme Judicial Court confirms individuals may be sued for sexual harassment in education settings under state statute
First Circuit Evaluates PIPs As Adverse Employment Actions
SJC protects low-wage earners’ ability to sue for unpaid wages
Last month, the Supreme Judicial Court issued a decision protecting the rights of low-wage workers to file lawsuits against their employer for unpaid wages. The decision concerned “anti-SLAPP” motions, which employees may file if, after they sue their