Janice Skillings-Goff is a graduate of the University of Maine. She obtained a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Oregon, School of Law. She is admitted to practice before the Courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a member of the Essex County and Massachusetts Bar Associations.

She has researched, authored and co-authored several treatises and publications utilized by attorneys and state agencies including Aid to Families with Disabled Children in support of a bill presented to the Massachusetts Legislature; Analysis of 1988 Amendments to the Federal Fair Housing Act for use by Massachusetts attorneys.