Quinn Featured in New Bedford Light on UMass Law partnership with the City of New Bedford

Dean Quinn was recently featured in a New Bedford Light article discussing his work on establishing a new legal internship program with UMass Law and the City of New Bedford

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School of Law Assistant Dean John Quinn was recently featured in the New Bedford Light on his work helping to advance an innovative partnership with UMass Dartmouth and the City of New Bedford to address the legal challenges surrounding vacant properties and complicated property titles. To discuss the partnership, Quinn recently sat on a panel, "Untangling Titles," at a conference held at Western New England University in Springfield, alongside program partners Deputy Director of Development Services Jordan Latham, local elder law attorney Lynn Whitney, and UMass Law student Sara Donahue '28.

After reading a 2025 New Bedford Light article highlighting the Latham's efforts to revitalize vacant homes, Quinn and Whitney recognized an opportunity to connect legal education with an important community need. Their collaboration led to the establishment of a legal internship program that engages UMass Law students in helping resolve complex property ownership issues, particularly those involving probate, inheritance, and properties left in legal limbo following an owner's death. The initiative provides students with valuable hands-on experience while supporting the City's efforts to return vacant properties to productive use.

UMass Law student Sara Donahue joined Quinn on the panel to discuss her work through the law school's legal internship program. Donahue spoke on how the program provides hands-on experience helping resolve complicated property title issues, including those involving probate and inheritance, and helps develop a deeper understanding of the legal challenges affecting her local community. Donahue shared her enthusiasm for the experiential learning opportunity, noting that she values the ability to apply the skills she develops in the classroom to real-world issues and make a meaningful connection with the community she calls home. The internship reflects UMass Law's commitment to providing students with practical legal experience while preparing them to make a positive impact beyond the classroom.