Memberships
- Member Board of Directors, The Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association
- Aug 2023 – Present
Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association and as Secretary of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association’s Executive Board
- Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston, College Mentor
- Oct 2023 – Present · 7 mos
Rebecca S. Spinner, a respected attorney at Surprenant & Beneski, has a deep understanding of the qualities that make a lawyer invaluable to her clients. Her diverse background, impressive credentials, and persistent concern for the rights of others combine to make her an asset to our practice.
Rebecca’s commitment to individual clients and to the community is evident in all that she does. While leading the Veterans Outreach Project of Legal Aid’s Worcester office, she provided civil legal services to low-income and elderly veteran clients throughout Central and Western Massachusetts. She has also served as a legal intern for the United States Army JAG Corps in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, at Penn State Law Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic, and with retired appellate judge Honorable Robert A. Lifson.
In addition to doing a great deal of pro bono for numerous underprivileged and non-English speaking clients, Rebecca spent almost 8 years volunteering with the Jacobs Light Foundation, an organization that provides essential items for U.S. troops. During her years as a lawyer, Rebecca has developed excellent skills in a number of essential legal areas, including research, drafting wills and other legal documents, and organizing financial and family information to complete estate plans.
During her academic career, she distinguished herself at The Pennsylvania State University where she earned her J.D. Among her many achievements, she was the Honor Code Representative of the Penn State Law Student Bar Association and President of the Jewish Law Students Association. During a semester of study in St. Petersburg, Rebecca became fluent in Russian and independently studied classical voice.
What is something your client’s have to deal with that you want to fix?
I think a lot of our clients just don’t know what they need. A big issue in our line of work is miseducation or lack of education altogether. Educating the public on the importance of the foundational documents and MassHealth planning for older folks is really important and something I’d like to continue to work on.
How would you convey to a prospective client how you participate in the firm’s team approach?
At S&B we truly work as a team. If you call me and I don’t have the answer to your question, I will work with the other attorneys, case managers, and client specialists to get you an answer. I will always try to personally call you back. If I can’t get back to you within 24 hours, someone else from the team will get back to you with the information.
Working as a team doesn’t mean you won’t be able to continue working with the same person, it just means that we have a huge collection of knowledge and skills we can tap into to assist our clients with their matters.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
When I’m not working I enjoy distance running, traveling, reading, and baking. On weekends, I love spending time camping with my family, including my two dogs. I also always look forward to the different activities that come with the changing seasons we have here in New England (e.g., apple picking, skiing, going to the beach, etc.).
What do you want our clients to know about you?
I have two dogs, a mini Goldendoodle, and a three-legged Beagle Cavalier mix. I have been married to my wife for a year in November. In college, I majored in Russian and minored in classical voice (opera). I was the president of my rugby team and sang in an a cappella group for 3 years.
Before my freshman year of college, I went on a 100-mile bike trip around Lake Champlain in Vermont. In law school, I played on an intramural Softball and Flag Football team called Habeas Scorpus.
I started my career in Legal Aid as a Veterans Staff Attorney. I really enjoyed helping older clients which made the move to Estate Planning and Elder Law very natural for me.
What’s your favorite local spot?
I love the Neds Point Lighthouse in Mattapoisett. It’s a little white lighthouse overlooking a big lawn where you can put out a blanket, have a picnic, and hang out. It also has a small beach and nice facilities.
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