For 15 years, Bernadette Stark has been serving clients in the Pioneer Valley in Family Law matters with compassionate counsel and aggressive advocacy. A graduate of Cornell Law School (2001), Attorney Stark is admitted to practice law in both Massachusetts and New York, as well as the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Prior to starting her own practice, Attorney Stark was a Staff Attorney at Western MA Legal Services (now "Community Legal Aid"), where she represented low-income survivors of domestic violence in domestic relations disputes and immigration matters for 6 years. Attorney Stark has also worked with the Student Legal Services Office at the University of Massachusetts as a Senior Staff Attorney and represented students before trial, appellate, and administrative tribunals across the Commonwealth.
Attorney Stark was recognized for her work in 2007 and was awarded the Sarah Betsy Fuller Social Justice Award. She was also honored in 2008 as a “Woman of Justice” by Massachusetts’ Lawyers Weekly, an award given to individuals who have made meaningful and inspiring contributions in the fields of social justice and advocacy. In 2010, she was awarded the "Gideon's Trumpet Award" in honor of her extraordinary commitment to A'access to Justice for all. She has also been honored as a "Super Lawyers Rising Star" for the years 2012-2016.
Attorney Stark also participates in a wide range of pro bono activities. She participates in the Massachusetts Bar Association's Dial-A-Lawyer project, as well as the Senior Partners for Justice Lawyer for the Day program. She is a panel attorney for Safe Passage, a local domestic violence shelter and also accepts pro bono cases.
When she is not working, volunteering or attending continuing legal education courses, Bernadette is home caring for her two wonderful boys. She is also the Commissioner of the Mary Vazquez Women's Softball League in Northampton, MA, and encourages women of all abilities to engage in this wonderful sport.
Attorney Stark helps clients with cases pending primarily (but not exclusively) in Hampshire County, Hampden County and Franklin County Massachusetts which includes the following Cities and Towns:
Hampshire:
Amherst
Belchertown
Chesterfield
Cummington
Easthampton
Goshen
Granby
Hadley
Hatfield
Huntington
Middlefield
Northampton
Pelham
Plainfield
South Hadley
Southampton
Ware
Westhampton
Williamsburg
Worthington
Hampden:
Agawam
Blandford
Brimfield
Chester
Chicopee
East Longmeadow
Granville
Hampden
Holland
Holyoke
Longmeadow
Ludlow
Monson
Montgomery
Palmer
Russell
Southwick
Springfield
Tolland
Wales
West Springfield
Westfield
Wilbraham
Franklin:
Ashfield
Bernardston
Buckland
Charlemont
Colrain
Conway
Deerfield
Erving
Gill
Greenfield
Hawley
Heath
Leverett
Leyden
Monroe
Montague
New Salem
Northfield
Orange
Rowe
Shelburne
Shutesbury
Sunderland
Warwick
Wendell
Whately
Languages spoken
English, Spanish
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
NY | Due to Register within 30 Days of Birthday | 2002 | 06/05/2022 |
MA | Active | 2002 | 05/30/2022 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2017 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2016 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2015 |
Top 10 Attorneys Under 40 | National Academy Of Family Law Attorneys | 2014 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2014 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2013 |
Rising Star | Super Lawyers | 2012 |
"TRT Hero of the Month - July, 2011" | The Rainbow Times | 2011 |
2010 Gideon's Trumpet Award | Senior Partners for Justice | 2010 |
Diversity Hero Award | Massachusetts Lawyers' Weekly | 2008 |
Woman of Justice Award | Massachusetts Lawyers' Weekly; Women's Bar Association | 2008 |
Sarah Betsy Fuller Social Justice Award | Cornell Law School | 2007 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Partner | Dinsmore Stark, Attorneys At Law | 2010 - Present |
Owner, Attorney | Bernadette Stark, Attorney At Law | 2008 - 2010 |
Senior Staff Attorney | Student Legal Services Office, University of Massachusetts | 2008 - 2010 |
Staff Attorney | Western Massachusetts Legal Services | 2002 - 2008 |
Attorney | Goulston & Storrs, P.C. | 2001 - 2002 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Supreme Court of the United States | Admitted | 2010 - Present |
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts | Admitted | 2009 - Present |
Hampshire County Bar Association | Member | 2008 - Present |
Hampden County Bar Association | Member | 2008 - Present |
Senior Partners for Justice, Volunteer Lawyers Project | Volunteer Attorney | 2008 - Present |
Massachusetts Bar Association | Dial-A-Lawyer Volunteer Attorney | 2008 - Present |
Franklin County Bar Association | Member | 2008 - 2016 |
Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys | Member | 2008 - 2011 |
Safe Passage | Clerk, Board of Directors | 2004 - 2006 |
Franklin Community Action Corporation (now known as "Community Action!") | Member, Board of Directors | 2002 - 2004 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Student Rights Advocate | Emotional Distress Damages in Landlord-Tenant Cases | 2008 |
The Daily Collegian | Unraveling the Truth to Security Deposit Law | 2008 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Cornell Law School | JD - Juris Doctor | 2001 |
State University of New York, Binghamton | BA - Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude | 1998 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
LGBT Life Over the Past 25 Years: Law – A Panel Discussion | Legal Issues and Challenges Faced by Same-Sex Couples in the Areas of Marriage, Adoption and Immigration | 2010 |
Guest Lecturer, Sexuality and Society Class, University of Massachusetts, Amherst | The Defense of Marriage Act and Goodridge v. Department of Public Health: Legal Challenges Faced by Same-Sex Couples in Massachusetts and the U.S. | 2010 |
Consumer Law for the Elderly | Concumer Protection Claims (Ch. 93A) in Landlord/Tenant Cases | 2009 |
Legal Issues Forum for International Students | Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions | 2009 |
Investigative Research: Using Court Documents & Other Publicly Available Information | Use of Public Records in Domestic Relations Proceedings | 2007 |
New England Learning Center for Women in Transition, New Staff and Volunteer Training | Legal Issues For Victims of Domestic Violence | 2006 |
Violence Against Women Act Training | Violence Against Women Act and Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence | 2006 |
Family Law Task Force Meeting | The Use of Summary Judgment Motions in Modification Proceedings (Domestic Relations) | 2004 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Jane Smith v. James Smith | Marine Pension Protected in Long-Distance Divorce |
Jane Doe v. John Smith | Alimony Award After Divorced For 10 Years. |
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Naoki Sekiya, Divorce and separation Attorney on Oct 17, 2018
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this attorney!
James Gregory, Family Attorney on Jan 6, 2010
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Atty. Bernadette Stark provides quality and concerned representation to her clients.
Kelly Griffin, Domestic violence Attorney on Nov 23, 2009
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer's work.
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