Inga S. Bernstein

Inga S. Bernstein is a Boston criminal defense and employment lawyer with more than 25 years of experience representing individuals in courtrooms and workplaces. Her criminal practice covers serious state and federal matters, including homicide, fraud, racketeering, sexual assault, firearms offenses, drug charges, and OUI cases. She also represents employees in discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, disability accommodation, and wage equity disputes, as well as faculty and students in Title IX and academic matters.

Inga earned a B.A. from Wellesley College, graduating magna cum laude in 1984. She later received her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she graduated cum laude in 1994. After law school, she served as a law clerk to Judge Douglas P. Woodlock of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Before entering legal practice, she worked in civil rights enforcement and fair housing, experience that strengthened her commitment to fairness and individual rights.

Inga has secured significant results in both criminal and civil matters. Her work has included obtaining the dismissal of federal extortion charges after trial began, winning a not-guilty verdict in a murder case, and prevailing on suppression and other dispositive motions. In employment cases, she helped obtain a $7.6 million jury verdict for an executive who faced retaliation and secured a $2.2 million verdict for a police officer subjected to sexual harassment and retaliation. She also regularly appears before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

Inga S. Bernstein is a frequent lecturer for continuing legal education programs and participates in several criminal defense, employment law, and bar organizations. She also serves on the federal Criminal Justice Act panel, representing indigent defendants in federal court. Her professional recognition includes Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s Top Women of Law Award, listings in The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, and an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Her practice reflects careful preparation, determined advocacy, and a sustained commitment to protecting individual rights.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Member, Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar
• Member, Boston Bar Association
• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Member, National Employment Lawyers Association
• Member, Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association
• Member, Massachusetts Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
• Member, Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Licensed State

• Massachusetts

Education

• Harvard Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Wellesley College
  Bachelor of Arts

Awards & Badges