Carla Reeves '08
MAJOR: Political Science, Spanish
Carla Reeves ’08 serves on the board of the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association (VLP). She’s a volunteer attorney for the Women’s Bar Foundation’s Family Law Project for Domestic Abuse Survivors. She also mentors law students through the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, is a member of the Women’s Bar Association’s Women of Color Committee and serves on the Outreach and Engagement Committee of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission.
In 2018, she won VLP’s Denis Maguire Pro Bono award. It recognizes attorneys for their commitment to assisting low-income clients and their dedication to spreading awareness of the importance of pro bono work through their contributions to the Volunteer Lawyers Project.
“Pro bono work is very important to me because it allows me to assist underserved individuals, organizations and communities that would not otherwise have access to legal representation,” Reeves said. “Pro bono work is fulfilling and gives me an opportunity to make a difference while honing critical skills.”
“I have represented domestic violence survivors seeking divorces from abusive spouses. I also provide pro bono representation to a family of refugees who are seeking resettlement in the United States,” she continued. “In addition, I provide employment advice to a number of nonprofit organizations.”
Employment law is also a big part of her full-time job at Goulston & Storrs PC.
“The counseling component of my practice entails providing day-to-day advice to employers in an effort to ensure compliance with federal, state and local employment laws,” Reeves explained. “As a litigator, I represent clients in state and federal court, and before administrative agencies, in cases involving claims of discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, and violation of post-employment restrictive covenants.”
“I conduct sensitive investigations involving reports of workplace misconduct,” she added, “and provide customized workplace trainings on topics such as discrimination and harassment prevention, and compliance with pay equity laws.”
Reeves, who has been with Gouslton & Storrs since 2016 and practicing since 2011, credits Union with setting her on this path. Her time in Schenectady helped her choose between becoming a professor and becoming a lawyer, and fellow alumnae have been instrumental in providing guidance.
“Valerie Hoffman ’75, a partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Chicago, has mentored me since my freshman year and was one of the first lawyers to do so,” Reeves said. “Judge Judith G. Dein ’76, a Union trustee and U.S. Magistrate Judge for whom I worked during the summer after my first year of law school, has also been a mentor. My experience working with her solidified my interest in litigation and trial work, and gave me the confidence to continue down that path.”
