603 Legal Aid welcomes Ariel Clemmer as its new executive director

Executive Director chosen for state-wide legal aid call center and pro bono program

CONCORD, NH – The Board of Directors of 603 Legal Aid has chosen Ariel Rothstein Clemmer for the role of executive director. Clemmer is expected to start on November 20, 2023.

603 Legal Aid operates a state-wide call center for people with low income who are facing civil (non-criminal) legal crises, such as eviction, foreclosure, divorce, bankruptcy and more. In addition to providing advice and referrals over the phone, the program also recruits and trains private attorneys to take cases pro bono.

Clemmer most recently served as Director of the Center for Social Justice at Western New England University School of Law, where she created and oversaw a number of free civil legal services initiatives built upon collaborative efforts to work toward a more just, equitable, and inclusive society.

“I am thrilled to join the exceptional team at 603 Legal Aid. What attracted me most is the organization’s unwavering dedication to making access to justice a reality for, and with, Granite Staters in need. I am also incredibly excited to be returning home to New Hampshire and to be able to raise my family in the region where I grew up,” Clemmer said.

“603 Legal Aid is headed for a bright and impactful future building on its impressive track record of tirelessly advocating for those who face civil legal challenges that threaten their basic human needs. I see immense potential in the organization’s ability to continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those it serves across the state, many of whom have faced pervasive, unjust discrimination and systemic barriers to success, simply as a result of being poor.

“My passion lies in empowering others and consistently pushing for social change. Civil legal aid is about more than advice or representation; this work often requires a holistic understanding of the entirety of factors that led the person to be involved in the justice system in the first place. Rarely are individuals facing a singular issue or remedy. Instead, to truly be effective, we must use multi-dimensional approaches and innovative thinking to both reveal the underlying root causes and make progress on a path towards equity and justice for all.”

“Ariel is an experienced innovator in the pro bono world and has demonstrated a strong commitment to access to justice for people who would otherwise not be able to afford legal counsel or representation,” said Board Chair Melinda Gehris. “She brings with her a legacy of successful fundraising, cooperation with corporate and institutional funders, and managing programs through growth and transformation. The board is eager to support Ariel and the staff as they leverage technology, innovation, and momentum to expand access to justice in New Hampshire. We know our core Pro Bono supporters in the Bar will be inspired by her, too. We look forward to her role with us as a powerful ambassador for civil legal aid and the power of access to justice.”

Prior to running the Center for Social Justice at Western New England University School of Law, Clemmer served as the Pro Bono Director of the Hampden County Bar Association directing the award-winning Hampden County Legal Clinic, and worked as a litigator for seven years in New York City, including as a public defender with the Bronx Defenders, a family law associate, and an associate at one of the largest law firms in the world.

Clemmer has served as an adjunct professor at Western New England School of Law teaching both Access to Justice and Law and Social Change courses. She is currently the chair of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's Pro Bono Committee, and serves ex officio on the state's Access to Justice Commission.

Clemmer was recently named to the Association of American Law School's 2023 Pro Bono Honor Roll and BusinessWest's 40 under 40 class of 2022. She has received numerous accolades for her work in pro bono, including the 2021 MA Women’s Bar Association Emerging Women in the Law Award and 2020 MA Lawyers Weekly Excellence in the Law, Excellence in Pro Bono Award.

Clemmer obtained her juris doctorate cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2010, a Master of Arts in early childhood education from Pace University in 2007, and a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from the University of Richmond in 2005.

About 603 Legal Aid: 603 Legal Aid is based in Concord and helps low-income people across New Hampshire by providing free civil legal advice and information by telephone, by representing someone in court, or through a referral to a volunteer attorney or another program for legal help. 603 Legal Aid was launched in 2021 from the merger of two long-standing civil legal aid programs, the Pro Bono Program of the NH Bar Association and the Legal Advice and Referral Center. In partnership with volunteer attorneys and community organizations, 603 Legal Aid works to make justice a reality for and with people who experience economic hardship that threatens their basic human needs.

603 Legal Aid is supported by funding from the Legal Services Corporation, the NH Bar Foundation’s IOLTA program, the NH Charitable Foundation and other sources.