Assistant Legal Director Elizabeth Brusie Named 2022 Top Woman of Law

De Novo Assistant Legal Director Elizabeth Brusie was recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly at its 2022 Top Women of Law event, held in Boston on November 16, 2022.

Elizabeth joined De Novo in 2017, and in addition to co-managing the legal program, she represents domestic violence survivors in the Probate & Family, Boston Municipal, and District Courts. "I have always practiced law interdisciplinarily and I believe it is the best way to reach clients who are struggling with issues related to poverty and violence," says Elizabeth.

A few years ago, Elizabeth represented a client in a long, complicated probate case. At the beginning of their work together, the client struggled to function without frequently breaking down. As time went on, she gradually began speaking up for herself. Not long after, the client's ex-husband began violating the terms of the settlement and the client pursued the contempt matter by herself— and won.

“I was so proud of her,” Elizabeth remembers. “She told me that she was just modeling what I had done. That my representation helped to build her capacity so that she could represent herself was an amazing feeling.”

Elizabeth is a hearing officer for the Board of Overseers and chairs its Hearing Committee. She has served on the Access to Justice Section Council of the Mass. Bar Association since 2017 and is a former co-chair of the Women's Bar Association Amicus Committee.