“The privilege of a lifetime is to be licensed to represent another person.”

John Carroll

“The privilege of a lifetime is to be licensed to represent another person.”

At Meehan, Boyle, Black and Bogdanow, John Carroll found an environment in which the needs of the client matched the needs of the attorneys: the pursuit of justice. Since joining the firm in 1985, he has been able to devote his energies to his two passions of social action and trial work, both to the benefit of his clients and the larger community.

John considers working in the field of personal injury, with the people he works with, for the people he serves, a privilege enjoyed by few. In December, 2019, he became “Of Counsel” and continues to actively pursue his many pro bono activities while lending his great talent and experience to all the firms’ cases.

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts, 1974
U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, 1974
South Dakota, 1976

Education

Boston University School of Law, 1974
Boston College, 1968
Military
- United States Navy, 1968-1971 (Active Duty)
- 1972 -1976 (Active Reserve)

Honors & Awards

Massachusetts Super Lawyers List, 2008-2024
Lifetime Achievement Award, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2020
Champion of Justice (Catalyst for Change) Award, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, 2019
Paul Harris Award for Community Service, Arlington (Mass.) Rotary Club, 2019
Arlington Catholic High School Hall of Fame, 2016
President’s Award, Massachusetts Bar Foundation, 2008

Professional Associations & Memberships

Massachusetts Bar Association
Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 1986-1988
Judicial Administration Committee, 1997-1998 (Chair)
Individual Rights and Responsibilities Committee, 1999-2000 (Chair)
Superior Court Case Flow Task Force, 2001-2002 (Chair)
Bench Bar Committee, 2003 (Chair)
House of Delegates, 2003-2008
Executive Committee, 2008-2012
Massachusetts Bar Foundation, 1999-present (Oliver Wendell Holmes Fellow, Grantee Reviewer, M.B.F. President’s Circle Bronze Fellow)
Arbiter, American Arbitration Association, 1986-1988
Volunteer Lawyer, St. Francis House, 1985-1986
Board of Directors, Greater Boston Legal Services, 1996-present
Hearing Officer, Board of Bar Overseers, 2000-2006
Member, American Association of Justice, 1990-present
Volunteer, September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, 2001-2003
Equal Justice Coalition, 2010-2016 (Chair), 2013-2016
Massachusetts Academy of Trial Lawyers, Board of Governors, 2006-2008
Massachusetts Academy of Trial Lawyers, Executive Committee, 2020-present
Justice Bridge, Board of Advisors, 2015-present
Pine Street Inn, Presidents’ Circle, 2018-present
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Board of Directors, 2017-present
Commission on Judicial Conduct, 2012-2018 (Vice Chair, 2016, Chair, 2017-2018)
Senior Fellow, Access to Justice Commission, 2017-present

Pro Bono Activities

Presidents Circle, Pine Street Inn, 2019-present

Published Works

Voices of Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, 2018

Published Decisions

Churchwell v. U.S., 545 F.2d 59 (8th Cir. 1976)
Minnie Riser v. Shawmut Bank N.A.: 8 Mass Appeals 950, 952 (December 1979)
Alter v. City of Newton, 617 N.E.2d 656 (Mass. App. 1993)
Halback v. Normandy Real Estate Partners, 63 N.E.3d 388 (Mass. App. 2016)
Rabassa v. Cerasuolo, 151 N.E.3d 447 (Mass. App. 2020)

Client Testimonials

Leo Boyle and John Carroll were tireless advocates for my family and I in the wake of a devastating severe traumatic brain injury I suffered in 2009. In the months and years after my injury, while the case was pending and long after, Leo and John took a personal interest in our case, continuously advocating for our safety and mental health. They displayed great intellect, as well as dedication and patience, in developing a compelling case and securing a much-needed settlement from the defendants. While it did not reverse the harm done, it provided us with the support, closure, and financial freedom we needed to move forward. — Leslie B.

Recent News & Blogs

Appeals Court Restores Opportunity for Jury Trial in Fatal Machinery Case

Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow Joins Forces with Keches Law Group

MBBB Attorneys Named to 2025 Boston Magazine Top Lawyers List

See all news & blogs

100 Cambridge Street, Suite 2101 | Boston, MA 02114 | 617-523-8300