Profile: MSL Alumnus Barry Finegold, ’98, Partner, Dalton & Finegold, LLP MSLAW alumnus Barry Finegold is no stranger to hard work: as a student, he worked during the day and attended MSLAW at night, graduating in 1998. He was admitted to the Massachusetts bar the same year. “I had a great time at MSL,” Finegold recounted. “I enjoyed meeting people at MSL and thank my two studying partners Nick Parsenios and Bill Dalton for getting me through law school.” At age 29, Finegold founded the law firm of Dalton & Finegold, LLP in Andover. He continues to work as a partner at the firm, which specializes in real estate, estate planning and corporate law and is one of the largest law firms on the North Shore. “I have practiced real estate law and that is what I am focused on now,” said Finegold. He noted that while it’s challenging to grow the business and still making sure he can service the business, the professional relationships he has developed along the way make it worthwhile. “I really enjoy the people I work with, and that is what makes me come back each and every day.” In addition to his work as an attorney, Finegold has served the people of the Commonwealth for two over decades. In 1996, he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a Democrat representing the 17th Essex District, consisting of parts of Andover, Tewksbury and Lawrence. He was the youngest member of his freshman class. In 2009, he was named Chairman of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. In that position, he championed renewable energy policies that have helped make Massachusetts a leader in clean energy. He served two terms in the Massachusetts State Senate and wrote and championed the passage of the 2014 Election Law Reform legislation. Finegold earned a Masters in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 1999, he won the Kennedy School Fenn Award for Political Leadership, and in 2003, he was selected as one of the top 100 young “Democrats to Watch” by the Democratic Leadership Council. To students interested in politics, Finegold stressed the importance of building professional relationships and practical skills in law school. “I think the most important thing for students is to get a good internship while they are in law school. If they want to get involved in politics, they need to volunteer on campaigns,” Finegold said. “I am thankful that when I graduated MSL, I did not have any debt, which allowed me to start my own practice after working for someone for only a year,” Finegold noted. “I started my firm in 1999 and it has been a great run. We now have 57 people who work with us and we want to continue to grow.” Finegold lives in Andover with his wife Amy and three kids Ava, Ella and Max.