Since 1989, Middlesex Community College’s Law Center has offered free resolution and consumer advocacy services to the community. Moving from the Lowell Campus to Bedford in 2024, the Law Center holds a strong partnership with MCC’s academic programs, including offering students internships and hands-on experiences.
“Through this collaboration, students from programs such as paralegal studies and criminal and social justice can complete internships at the Law Center,” said Michael Healey, MCC’s Director of the Law Center. “They assist with case intake, observe and support mediations, conduct research, and participate in outreach and consumer advocacy activities. We have had the pleasure of onboarding close to 150 students interns to date.”
Passionate about making a positive impact in the community, Alezalee Ayala, of Lowell, is a paralegal studies student at MCC. As an intern at the Law Center, Ayala prepares clients for the mediation process, including walking them through the steps, answering questions, and uploading information into the system. Proud to help others in this role, Ayala is also gaining practical experience in the field.
“This experience has helped me understand the basics of mediation and the importance of clear communication,” Ayala said. “Handling phone calls is improving my confidence in speaking with clients and has given me a glimpse into the various perspectives involved in mediation, which I find interesting. MCC provides a strong foundation in legal principles and practical skills that will prepare me for a successful career in the legal field.”
A graduate of MCC’s paralegal studies certificate, Paul Rowe, of Billerica, now works as MCC’s part-time Local Consumer Protection Advocate for the Law Center. Having been interested in the field since the 1990’s, Middlesex offered affordable and flexible classes to make getting an education possible. In his current role at MCC, Rowe is the primary facilitator for the resolution of a complaint.
“The subject matter and instruction in the paralegal courses directly tie in with my current role and would have practical applications in most any paralegal role outside the MCC Law Center,” Rowe said. “This experience gives you direct involvement in dispute resolution between a complainant and a respondent.”
Looking to help empower people, MCC’s Coordinator of Administration and Outreach for the Law Center Marlie Lin graduated with a paralegal studies certificate from Middlesex in 2018. Starting as an intern, she became an administrative assistant then program coordinator before her current role. In her position, she supports programs for housing mediation, face-to-face mediation, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Both her education in MCC’s classes and the Law Center “shaped my entire career path,” she said.
“I’m excited to see this partnership continue to grow,” Lin said. “When students walk through our doors as interns, they gain more than experience, they gain confidence. I’m proud to be part of something that connects education with real community impact.”
Graduating in 2018, Jonathan Crimmins, of Arlington, pursued paralegal studies at Middlesex because he enjoys helping others. As an intern in the Law Center, he went on to become a consumer advocate who trains interns. In this role, he helps organizations resolve disputes, completes research, and generates leads in the community.
“There’s nothing like on-the-job experience to help you learn and apply what you learned in classes to the real world,” Crimmins said. “Having both a paralegal certificate and a mediation training certificate through the Law Center always looks good on a resume. My MCC education has already gotten me some freelance legal research work with an attorney as a side job!”
Free and accessible for the community, the Law Center is supported through partnerships and funding from MCC, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration, and Lowell Public Schools.
MCC’s Law Center offers resolution and consumer advocacy services for mediation for housing, family, youth, workplace, and community conflicts. Through the Center’s Local Consumer Program, they assist individuals in resolving complaints with businesses and securing fair outcomes. The Center also delivers school-based peer mediation through Lowell Public Schools, restorative justice programming, and conflict-resolution training.
This Spring, the Law Center partnered with MCC’s paralegal studies program to create a mediation training class. The collaboration provides students with hands-on skill development, career exposure, and pathways into mediation, legal services, and public interest work, according to Healey. In the class, students go through role play, simulations, and observed mediations. Upon completion, students can intern or volunteer with the Center.
“This creates a clear pathway from academic training to applied practice,” Healey said. “The partnership benefits both the Law Center and MCC, along with the broader community. Students gain marketable Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and communication skills, exposure to court-connected and community mediation processes, and mentorship from experienced neutrals. At the same time, the Law Center strengthens its volunteer and intern pipeline, expands its service capacity, and advances its mission to promote accessible, community-based dispute resolution.”