Pursuant to D. Conn. Local Bankr. R.  9083-6, the Connecticut Bar Association’s Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section has formed a panel of volunteer attorneys to represent needy and qualified individuals or married spouses pro bono in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, contested matters and adversary proceedings.


Note: This page is intended only for use by attorneys interested in volunteering in this program. If you are a member of the public seeking to apply to be considered for referral for potential assistance you can find more information and an application here.

Volunteer Panel Attorneys

(All of the following is subject to the actual provisions of the rules referenced)

The formation of the Pro Bono Panel to represent qualified individuals in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, contested matters, and adversary proceedings relating to Chapter 7 cases is established pursuant to D. Conn. Local Bankr. R. 9083-6 (the “Local Rule”).  Operative procedures are set forth in Appendix P to that Local Rule.

The Local Rule provides for the formation of the Pro Bono Panel, which will be comprised of Panel Attorneys, and will have two separate “Sections”.  The Panel Administrator (“PA"; as defined in the Local Rule) and the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section (the “CL&B”) encourage qualified Connecticut attorneys to become members of either or both of Section One (petition filing) and Section Two (adversary proceedings and contested matters) list of pro bono attorneys.  The creation of these lists of volunteer attorneys is subject to the application process created by the PA pursuant to and consistent with Appendix P of the Local Rule.

Any attorney who has been admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut (the “Court”), who has a primary office in this District, is in good standing, has a CM/ECF login and password in the Bankruptcy Court may request inclusion on the pro bono panel, either in one or both Sections and upon successful completion of the application process, shall be considered a Panel Attorney for purposes of D. Conn. Bankr. Local Rule 9083-6.

Pursuant to subsection (b) of the Local Rule service by an attorney under Subsection (a) of the Local Rule is deemed to satisfy the mandatory pro bono service required by that attorney in the Connecticut District Court under D. Conn. L. Civ. R. 83.10 for the year in which such services were performed.  It is the attorney’s responsibility, however, to notify the district court of her or his service under subsection (a) of the Local Rule so as to qualify for the exemption provided by subsection (b) of the Local Rule.

Further details of how a prospective attorney can join the pro bono program and become a Panel Attorney can be found in the application form:

Application

Statewide Legal Services (SLS) provides professional liability insurance coverage to volunteer bankruptcy attorneys who accept referrals to represent clients that meet the project’s eligibility criteria.

Please contact the Panel Administrator with any questions.

Protocol for Receipt and Assignment of Pro Bono Cases

The following is a general summary of how an applicant seeking pro bono bankruptcy representation would enter the necessary portal to initiate the application process, and how the application is then reviewed “upstream.”  An applicant’s entry into the pro bono program involves a detailed review by SLS, in accordance with certain application forms and criteria established by the CL&B and in particular, the CL&B's Pro Bono Administering Committee.  The program includes the establishment of the “Panel Administrator” (“PA”), which is comprised of the CL&B's Pro Bono Administering Committee Members.

  1. Any member of the public will be able to access the Connecticut Bar Association’s (“CBA”) website concerning the program, which includes a webpage specifically dedicated to accessing pro bono bankruptcy representation.  The link to that webpage can be found here.

  2. The pro bono applicant will access the dedicated SLS webpage to obtain and complete the necessary application forms, including the financial disclosures contained therein.  Financial standards are predetermined by the PA with the assistance of the SLS and are contained on the application and disclosed on the CBA webpage.

  3. SLS will process and review each application and determine that a pro bono applicant qualifies for pro bono legal assistance and has satisfied the criteria promulgated by the PA.  Upon determining that the applicant qualifies for the pro bono program, the applicant’s submission will be referred to a member of the program’s Section One list of attorneys, assuming the application pertains to the filing of a bankruptcy petition.  If the matter in question concerns an adversary proceeding or contested matter in a Chapter 7 case, the matter will be submitted to a Section Two attorney.

  4. In making its referrals, SLS will take into account the geographical proximity between the anticipated seat of court in which an applicant seeks assistance and the designated choice of Courts made by the Panel Attorney in that attorney’s application form.

  5. In making referrals to Panel Attorneys, SLS shall take into account the number of referrals already made to such Panel Attorney, so that in any given year the maximum number of active referrals being handled by such Panel Attorney member shall not exceed four (4) matters.

  6. After a referral is made by SLS to one of the appropriate Panel Attorneys, the designated attorney shall have the opportunity to review the referral, and to then accept or decline the referral, after which the designated attorney shall inform SLS of her or his decision by sending notice by email to ch7probono@slsct.org.  The opportunity to accept or reject a referral by the Panel Attorney shall be at the discretion of the Panel Attorney.  A referral alone does not obligate the Panel Attorney to accept the matter.

  7. Once a matter has been accepted by a Panel Attorney, that attorney will provide periodic case status information as might be reasonably requested by SLS.  SLS in turn will inform the PA of cases and activity.

  8. A Panel Attorney shall notify SLS upon the completion of a matter.

  9. SLS will provide periodic and year-end reports to the Section (through the PA), as requested by the Section.

  10. Further information regarding how the SLS will administer the review and assignment of applications for pro bono referrals pursuant to this program can be obtained by contacting SLS, by email at ch7probono@slsct.org or by phone at (860) 344-8096 Ext. 3018. Questions concerning the Panel of Attorneys can be directed to the PA at ProBonoAdministrators@ctbar.org.