After my last exam, I took my usual walk home down Commonwealth Avenue, past Boston College’s main campus toward the quiet rows of Evergreen Cemetery. Winter had settled in, that strange season in Boston when night seems to arrive by three in the afternoon. The air had turned sharp, the kind of cold that still surprises a Floridian like myself, no matter how many winters I spend here. Out of the corner of my eye, a tall stone building caught the light of the moon and stood illuminated in the distance. I recognized it as Boston College’s McMullen Museum.
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The Real Reason to Become a Prosecutor
This guest post was written by 3L Alyssa Hatfield.
“Alyssa Hatfield on behalf of the Commonwealth.”
As introductions go, this one might be the most terrifying. What does it mean to represent the Commonwealth? To represent an entire group of people, the defendant included? It’s a heavy weight to bear, but it’s not meant to be borne alone.
This semester, I joined the Prosecution Clinic. As a part of the clinic, you learn a few things really fast. One: court moves really quickly. Like, really quickly. Two: how to swap stories like old-timers, because people commit some pretty odd crimes in some pretty odd ways that are ripe for class discussion. And three: to “do justice” might be the hardest and most unattainable mission to live by.
Continue readingThe ‘C’ in BC Law stands for Catering: My Favorite Club Event Food
Due to SNAP benefits being suspended, millions of people across the nation are at increased risk for food insecurity. If you or someone you know is affected, resources include: The Massachusetts SNAP Resource Hub, Project Bread, Newton Food Pantry, and Brookline Food Pantry.
The BC Law Weekly Headlines Nov. 3 email lists out more resources.
As we approach the end of the semester, we also approach a time for decision-making and looking ahead. No, I’m not talking about choosing spring classes or a finals study spot. I’m talking about something much more important: what to eat for lunch.
Continue readingSome 2L Advice: Do Things for the Love of the Game
As a 2L, I often find myself in a position to give (sometimes unsolicited) advice. Faced with questions like what elective should I take, when should I apply to jobs, where should I apply, when should I outline, and how do I outline, I often give the standard answer: it depends.
Continue readingWelcome Back to Impact
This week marks the start of the 2025-2026 school year at BC Law, and things are already in full swing! After a jam-packed schedule with the LAHANAS retreat, three days of Orientation, capped off by the inaugural 1L Bar Preview, the 1Ls are now ready for casebooks and cold calls. But before getting too engrossed in Civ Pro or Torts or Contracts, let’s get involved! The Student Involvement Fair will be held this Wednesday, August 27 on Stuart Lawn and will be the who’s who of all that BC Law has to offer. Being a 1L rep—whether it be for an affinity group or professional organization—helps build leadership experience early on in law school. But if you just want to figure out when each org will be having free lunch, that’s honorable, too.
Continue readingLaw School Via a ‘Kick in the Pants’
50 years ago this fall, I was a member of the very first class to start at the then brand-new BC Law School campus. But I ended up there after an unexpected — but well aimed — kick in the pants.
Continue readingEmpathy: The driving force of entrepreneurship
For people facing long odds, an entrepreneurial mind-set matters
This post was originally published in the Boston Business Journal. Authors & Innovators is a regular column by Larry Gennari, a transactional lawyer, BC Law adjunct professor and founder of Project Entrepreneur, and chief curator of Authors & Innovators, an annual business book and ideas festival.
About 77 million Americans have a criminal record. Experts expect that number to be 100 million by 2030. For the estimated 600,000 people returning home from incarceration annually, a criminal record creates substantial barriers to obtaining housing, employment, government benefits and continuing education, due to myriad federal and state restrictions. Getting an ID and finding a job — any job — are immediate priorities. No surprise that recidivism rates for returning citizens range from 29% to 59%, depending on the state.
Continue readingHow does a New Yorker become a Bostonian? A Five-Step Process Breakdown
With all the changes I have been through this past year, I did not think Boston becoming my favorite city would happen this year. While I grew up in New York through my childhood, NYC did not resonate as much with me as it does for some natives. Philadelphia was fun during my undergraduate years, but my city exploration was minimized due to the pandemic. Washington D.C. was a nice experiment, but the humidity pushed my northern soul well past my limits. I am happy to say Boston lived up to my hopes and exceeded them.
Continue reading‘A Culture of Excellence, Dialogue, and Integrity: Q&A with LLM Student Shrishti
Get to know Boston College Law School from the perspective of our current student, Shrishti, who is concentrating on Intellectual Property and whose home country is India:
What motivated you to pursue an LLM, and why did you choose this particular program?
I pursued an LLM to expand my global legal perspective and gain a deeper understanding of U.S. legal frameworks. BC Law stood out for its strong academic tradition, commitment to ethical leadership, and its inclusive approach to integrating international students into the fabric of the law school. I wanted a program that was both intellectually rigorous and personally transformative — and BC Law delivered.
Continue readingThe Five Best Bookstores You Have to Visit
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and while I’m not pulling my hair out over the prospect of finals, I’m thinking wistfully about summer plans. Not a vacation, no – I’m thinking of the 48 hours I will have every week, free of assigned readings and impeding cold calls.
The perfect amount of time to visit one of the city’s many bookstores. For those of you who will be in Boston this summer, here’s a small guide.
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BC Law: Impact 