Fast track

This article first appeared in the Summer 2013 issue of the Northeastern Law Magazine:

Rachael Rollins, a 1997 graduate of the School of Law, is on the move. As the first woman to serve as general counsel of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the first person to jointly serve in that role for both the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, one of her top goals is to help put more women on the track to success.

“This is still a male-dominated field, but it’s also an exciting time when women are breaking down many barriers and becoming firsts. However, I don’t want to be the last. I want many women coming after me,” says Rollins, who just completed a term as president of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, another position that has been male dominated.

Rollins’ list of honors and accolades is lengthy, including selection as one of the Women’s Business Journal’s Top 10 Lawyers in New England, the Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, the Boston Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Ten Outstanding Young Leaders and the Volunteer Lawyers Project’s Lawyer of the Year.

Prior to her general counsel roles, Rollins was an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts and completed stints with the Boston Celtics, the National Basketball Players Association, the National Football League Players Association, the National Labor Relations Board, Bingham McCutchen and Seyfarth Shaw.

“It’s important to me to stay involved and active in the legal community although I am selective in where I give my time because of my 9-year-old daughter,” says Rollins, who recently co-chaired Northeastern’s Women in the Law conference. “I enjoy coming back to campus to talk to students about my career and the importance of leadership.”

Written by Meghan Laska ’98