Innovative attorney and educator to lead UMass Law's access-to-justice initiative into its next decade
/filters:quality(90)/prod01/production-cdn-pxl/media/umassdartmouth/news/law/Proia-Branding_0198-copy.jpg)
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School of Law (UMass Law) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelli J. Proia, JD, as Executive Director of the Justice Bridge Legal Center. Proia succeeds Len Zandrow, the founding executive director, who retired after more than 11 years of dedicated leadership and service.
Proia brings over 30 years of experience in the legal profession. She has served as an intellectual property attorney, both as in-house counsel and as a solo practitioner. In addition to her legal work, she is a certified life and business coach for lawyers. In 2014, she founded Lawducate to help attorneys develop essential business skills. Proia also teaches The 21st Century Lawyer at Suffolk University Law School, underscoring her commitment to innovation in legal education.
"I'm honored to join UMass Law and lead Justice Bridge into its next phase of growth," said Proia. "Justice Bridge represents the best of what legal education can be—where new lawyers gain hands-on experience while making a real difference for people who otherwise might not have access to legal help. It's a powerful model for both professional growth and public service."
Founded in 2014, Justice Bridge Legal Center is a nonprofit organization with offices in Boston and New Bedford that provides recent law graduates with mentorship, training, and infrastructure to launch sustainable law practices that serve low- and moderate-income clients. The center serves as a vital community resource, offering affordable legal representation in areas such as housing, family law, small business, and immigration.
Over the past decade, Justice Bridge has become a key component of UMass Law's mission to expand access to justice. The center has connected students, alumni, and community partners to provide high-quality, accessible legal assistance to individuals and small businesses that otherwise might not have access to representation.
"We are deeply grateful to Len for his visionary leadership and for helping to build Justice Bridge into a transformative resource for our students and community over the past decade," said UMass Law Dean Sam Panarella. "We're also thrilled to welcome Kelli as our new Executive Director. Her extensive experience, entrepreneurial mindset, and commitment to bridging legal service and education make her the ideal person to lead Justice Bridge forward. I look forward to what we will accomplish under her leadership."
As Executive Director, Proia will oversee the center's strategic direction, cultivate partnerships with legal and community organizations, and continue expanding opportunities for UMass Law students and alumni to provide affordable legal services across the Commonwealth.
"Law firm incubators are rare, and Justice Bridge is the only one of its kind in New England," said Proia. "I envision cohorts of new attorneys progressing through our nine-month training program together—supporting one another and receiving mentorship from our extensive network of business and legal professionals. At Justice Bridge, you'll find all the support you need to launch your practice successfully."
Prospective clients and recent UMass Law graduates can visit justice-bridge.org to contact Proia and learn more.
About UMass Law
The only public law school in Massachusetts, UMass Law is committed to providing an excellent, affordable legal education while advancing social justice. Through its seven clinics and community partnerships like Justice Bridge, UMass Law prepares graduates to serve the legal needs of Massachusetts and beyond with skill, integrity, and compassion. This commitment to experiential learning helped the school earn recognitions from U.S. News & World Report and preLaw Magazine as a top law school for public interest law employment and practical training, respectively.