§ 1 Definitions
§ 2 Creation of corporation; purpose
§ 3 Board of directors
§ 4 Executive director; employees
§ 5 Vice chairman, secretary and treasurer of board of directors; duties; bond
§ 6 Powers of corporation
§ 7 Compliance of recipients and employees with chapter provisions and rules, etc.; attorney responsibilities; non–English speaking clients
§ 8 Participation in litigation; influencing legislation; political activity; attorney compensation
§ 9 Financial assistance to state and local programs
§ 10 Annual report
§ 11 Audit
§ 12 Legal assistance fund; applications; financial statements

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 221A - The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation Act

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.