Massachusetts Law Updates

There’s nothing like cold ice cream on a summer day. But did you know there's a legal definition of what can be called “ice cream”? Behind the dessert lies a structured web of federal and state regulations that determine what makes ice cream…"ice cream".

Every year, the month of March is proclaimed "Massachusetts Maple Month" by the governor. Learn more about the proclamation, maple syrup laws, and how you can celebrate this sweet month.

This new program, which operates every Thursday, offers free legal help to self-represented litigants, or people without lawyers, in Superior Court civil cases. Volunteer attorneys provide guidance and advice to help steer people through the court system.

The term "mechanic's lien" is often a source of confusion as it sounds like it should be related to cars--but it's not! Learn more about this type of lien and where its name comes from.

Did you know you can't own a werewolf in MA? Or that you have a right to know if your next housemate is a ghost? Learn more about spooky laws in MA just in time for Halloween.

The Quabbin Reservoir, one of the largest man-made water supplies in the U.S., is a major source of drinking water for metropolitan Boston. Learn more about the Quabbin's legal history, as well as its social and environmental impact on the region.

A fire in 1869 almost destroyed all the books in the Berkshire Law Library. Many rare books were saved, and the library has two old catalogs from the 19th century that list books that may have been endangered or lost.

Learn more about state laws, programs, and guides that are aimed at preserving Massachusetts bodies of water, the local ecosystems, and the native species populations.

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, we take a look at MGL Section 39A: the "Berkshire Scenic Mountain Act". Learn more about this act and how it is used to preserve the scenic beauty of Berkshire County.