Sue is a Member in the Litigation Practice and a nationally recognized pro bono pioneer with a passion for helping underserved populations and exceptional litigation skills. As Chair of Mintz’s Pro Bono Committee, she leads groundbreaking cases and manages pro bono matters for the firm.
Appointed the firm’s first Pro Bono Partner in 2007, Sue serves as lead counsel on numerous high-profile pro bono litigation matters. She also manages the firm’s pro bono efforts, consisting of over 300 varied cases annually throughout all of the firm’s offices, and advises firm clients on developing and sustaining pro bono programs within their in-house legal departments.
Sue has been a tireless and innovative advocate for low-income people in Massachusetts and beyond. Through her former leadership on the Access to Justice Commission, she spearheaded creative funding mechanisms to support legal aid organizations and developed the statewide civil appellate pro bono program for self-represented litigants. She co-founded the Access to Justice Fellows program, in which over 200 retired and retiring lawyers have devoted more than 200,000 pro bono hours at legal services organizations, nonprofits, and the courts.
Sue is also an experienced nonprofit board member, currently serving on the board of trustees of Dartmouth College. She has served as board vice chair and as chair of the Audit and Oversight Committee.
From 2004 to 2007, Sue was legal director of the Victim Rights Law Center, overseeing free statewide civil legal services to sexual assault survivors and providing training to legal aid attorneys nationally. While previously at Mintz, from 1993 to 2004, as an Associate and then a Member, Sue handled complex commercial, white collar, defamation, land use, and insurance defense matters in both state and federal trial and appellate courts. She also performed extensive pro bono work, including oversight of the firm’s Domestic Violence Project.
Following law school, Sue served as a law clerk for the Honorable Andrew A. Caffrey at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts and for the Honorable Francis P. O’Connor at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
Sue is a Member in the Litigation Practice and a nationally recognized pro bono pioneer with a passion for helping underserved populations and exceptional litigation skills. As Chair of Mintz’s Pro Bono Committee, she leads groundbreaking cases and manages pro bono matters for the firm.
Experience
- Co-counsel for the Boston branch of the NAACP and other advocacy organizations in support of a COVID-era Boston Public School Exam School Admissions policy that resulted in increased socioeconomic, geographic, and racial diversity at Boston’s three highly selective schools. The policy was challenged in federal court by a group that alleged that it was unconstitutional. After a three-year court battle, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the policy did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution.
- Managed a team of Mintz attorneys who advocated for the eventual passage of a new criminally enforceable restraining order law for sexual assault survivors in Massachusetts (G.L. c. 258E), filling a gap in the existing statute. For these efforts, the American Bar Association awarded the firm its Pro Bono Publico Award.
- Oversaw several compelling political asylum cases, including one that is the subject of a Steven Spielberg documentary, Finding Oscar.
- Successfully argued for a civil right to counsel for indigent parents in certain guardianship matters, favorably impacting hundreds of low-income parents each year; argued alongside L.B. v. Chief Justice of the Probate & Family Court Dep’t, 49 N.E.3d 230 (Mass. 2016).
- Served as lead counsel on several high-impact immigration litigation matters.
Specialize in representing victims of crime and the nonprofits that serve them.
- Represent several families impacted by crime, including high-profile domestic violence homicides and Boston Marathon bombing survivors.
- Represent hundreds of individual domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.
- Advise domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers on a variety of legal matters.
viewpoints
Fighting for Access to Lifesaving HIV Medicine
November 16, 2023 | Article
Removing Barriers to Second Chances
January 24, 2022 | Article
Nurturing a Community-Based Approach to Food Access
January 18, 2022 | Article
Collaborating to Expand Access to Boston's Exam Schools
January 3, 2022 | Article
In-house Counsel and Pro Bono Work
June 14, 2021 | Video | By Susan Finegan
News & Press
Mintz has been recognized by Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) with its 2026 Economic Justice Champion Award, which honors leaders working to close the racial wealth gap and foster entrepreneurship in under-resourced communities.
Mintz Honored with NLADA Beacon of Justice Award
August 21, 2025|
Impacting Lives – Many Times, Many Ways
February 3, 2025|
‘A Pro Bono Pioneer’
October 11, 2024|
Mintz Honored with NLADA Beacon of Justice Award
April 22, 2024|
In Tribute To A Man Of Generous Spirit
July 7, 2023|
Mintz Named Recipient of NLADA’s 2023 Beacon Of Justice Award
April 14, 2023|
21 Law Firms Touted By Legal Aid Group For DEI Efforts
April 14, 2023|
The Benefits Of Pro Bono In Law Firms
April 5, 2023|
Mintz Helps to Launch Abortion Hotline Offering Free Legal Advice
January 31, 2023|
Mintz Attorney Handed 2022 Shining Star Award By Victim Rights Law Center
September 22, 2022|
Law360's 2021 Access To Justice Editorial Advisory Board
March 19, 2021|
Legal Industry Forms Fund to Honor Late Chief Justice Ralph Gants
December 3, 2020|
Mintz Salutes Veterans Through Pro Bono and Community Service
November 11, 2020|
Beacon of Justice 2020 Awardees
November 11, 2020|
How Some Attys Are Ditching BigLaw For Public Interest Work
September 14, 2020|
A Civil Justice Crisis is Coming
September 11, 2020|
Mintz Joins New Law Firm Antiracism Alliance
June 26, 2020|
Landmark Supreme Court Ruling on LGBTQ Rights
June 16, 2020|
Mintz Honored with PAIR’s 2020 Pro Bono Mentor Award
May 22, 2020|
Counsel Who Care: How Attys Are Helping During A Crisis
April 23, 2020|
Law360's 2020 Access To Justice Editorial Advisory Board
March 17, 2020|
Women, Influence & Power in Law 2019: Susan M. Finegan
December 2, 2019|
Federal Judge Rules Detained Immigrants Are Entitled to Fair Hearings
November 27, 2019|
Gov't Often Has 'Nothing' To Hold Immigrants, Judge Says
November 6, 2019|
One Hundred Mintz Attorneys Ranked as Leaders by Best Lawyers 2020
August 15, 2019|
Immigration Courts Are 'Ignoring The Law,' Mass. Judge Says
August 6, 2019|
Mintz, ACLU Lead Charge to End Unlawful ICE Detentions
June 19, 2019|
BigLaw Directs Pro Bono Efforts At Trump Admin Policies
November 6, 2017|
BC Law Voices on Trump Ban
February 21, 2017|
ACLU files complaint in Boston seeking full repeal of Trump order
February 1, 2017|
Mintz Attorneys Among PAIR’s 2015 Honorees
June 15, 2015|
Events & Speaking
Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission Updates
Boston Bar Association
Boston Bar Association, 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA
Pro Bono Institute Annual Conference
Gaylord National Resort, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD
Massachusetts Bar Foundation’s 2019 Annual Meeting & Reception
Federal Reserve Building, 600 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA
Access to Justice Fellows Program Information Session
Boston Bar Association
Boston Bar Association, 16 Beacon Street, Boston, MA
Access to Justice in Brazil and the U.S.
Boston College Law School, 885 Centre Street Newton, MA
Keynote Address on Access to Justice Initiatives
Liberty Mutual - 141 Congress Street Boston, MA 02110
National Meeting of State Access to Justice Commission Chairs and State Supreme Court Justices
American Bar Association
Thomas Jefferson School of Law San Diego, CA
Conference on Law and State Government Fellowship Symposium
Indiana University McKinney School of Law
Second Acts®: Tapping Transitioning Baby-Boomers to Enhance Law Firm Pro Bono
Capital Hilton, Washington, D.C.
Expanding Access to Justice by Engaging Senior Fellows
Boston Bar Association
16 Beacon St. Boston, Ma
VAWA Implementation and the Potential Impact of Proposed Massachusetts Bill S.650
Mintz Levin
Boston, MA
VAWA Implementation and the Potential Impact of Proposed Massachusetts Bill S.650
Mintz Levin
Boston, MA
Sue is a Member in the Litigation Practice and a nationally recognized pro bono pioneer with a passion for helping underserved populations and exceptional litigation skills. As Chair of Mintz’s Pro Bono Committee, she leads groundbreaking cases and manages pro bono matters for the firm.
Recognition & Awards
Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation (2014 – 2027)
Litigation Counsel of America
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
Boston Bar Association, Thurgood Marshall Award (2024)
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly: Recognized in Inaugural “Hall of Fame” class (2023)
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Certificate of Appreciation (for leadership in co-founding and supporting the Access to Justice Fellows Program), Access to Justice Fellows Ten Year Gala (2023)
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Pro Bono Honor Roll (High Honor Roll) (since inception)
Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America, shortlisted for Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year (2020, 2021)
Profiled in the Chambers D&I North America Report 2021 on Racial Inclusion in the Legal Profession
Law 360’s “Access to Justice” Editorial Advisory Board (2020, 2012, 2024)
Legal 500 United States: Recommended for Labor & Employment: Immigration (2020)
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly: 2020 Attorney of the Year Designation
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Adams Pro Bono Awards, Ralph D. Gants Award for Extraordinary Leadership in Pro Bono Services, Inaugural Recipient (2020)
The National Law Journal: Crisis Leadership Trailblazer (2020)
Corporate Counsel Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards, Law Firm Honoree in Collaborative Leadership Category (2019)
Massachusetts Bar Foundation, Great Friend of Justice Award (2019)
The Second Step, Founders’ Award (2019)
Legal Services Corporation, Pro Bono Award (2017)
Volunteer Lawyers Project, Yvette Mendez Award (2017)
Boston College Law School, Women’s Law Center, Woman of the Year Award (2017)
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Pinnacle Award (2017)
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly: Top Women of the Law – Circle of Excellence Award (2015)
International Bar Association Pro Bono Award (2013)
Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts, Lelia J. Robinson Award (2013)
Political Asylum/Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project Outstanding Achievement Award (2013); Pro Bono Law Firm Award (2017)
Jane Doe, Inc. Inaugural Kelly Timilty Advocate for Justice Award (2013)
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly / Massachusetts Bar Association Excellence in Pro Bono Award (2012)
Massachusetts Super Lawyers: Legal Aid / Legal Services (2012)
Dartmouth College Alumni Award (2011, awarded to those who have demonstrated extraordinary service to Dartmouth and civic organizations in addition to career accomplishment)
Boston College Law School, Curtin Center for Public Interest Pro Bono Service Award (2011)
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly: Women of Justice Award (2009)
Boston Business Journal: “40 Under 40” business leaders (2003)
Mintz Special Recognition Award for Distinguished Service and Significant Contributions to the Pro Bono Program (2003)
Mintz Pro Bono Award (1998)
Dartmouth College Young Alumni Distinguished Service Award (1996)
Boston College Law School, St. Thomas More Award (1991)
Sue is a Member in the Litigation Practice and a nationally recognized pro bono pioneer with a passion for helping underserved populations and exceptional litigation skills. As Chair of Mintz’s Pro Bono Committee, she leads groundbreaking cases and manages pro bono matters for the firm.
Involvement
- Board of Trustees, Dartmouth College (Vice Chair; Chair, Audit and Oversight Committee; Member, Presidential Search Committee)
- Trustee, Boston Bar Foundation
- Advisory Board, Rappaport Center for Law and Public Policy at Boston College Law School
- Former Co-chair, Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission
- Former Chair, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Standing Committee Pro Bono Legal Services
- Former Chair and Member, Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct
- Former Member, Judicial Nominating Commission
- Former Co-chair, Boston College Law School Law Day Dinner
- Former Member, Dartmouth College Alumni Council (and former member, Dartmouth College Alumni Awards Committee)
- Former Chair, Merit Selection Panel for Magistrate Judge, United States District Court
- Former Member, Boston Bar Association Council
- Former Member, Boston Bar Association’s Women’s Leadership and Advancement Forum
- Former Member, Boston Bar Association's Task Force on Expanding the Civil Right to Counsel
- Former Board of Directors, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.
- Former Board of Directors, Massachusetts Equal Justice Fund
- Former Member, Trial Court Gender Equality Advisory Board
- Former Board of Directors, Women’s Bar Foundation
- Former President, Dartmouth College Association of Alumni
- Former Member, Presidential Steering Committee on Moving Dartmouth Forward
- Former Board of Advisors, Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy at Dartmouth College
- Former Member, External Advisory Committee, Dartmouth College Campus Climate and Culture Initiative
