Program areas at Connecticut Bar Foundation
Court fees grants-in-aid and judicial branch grant for civil legal representation - in effort to replace drastically reduced iolta/iota revenue, the Connecticut state legislature passed certain court fee increases effective july 1, 2009, july 1, 2012, july 1, 2014, and july 1, 2016. Under the court fees grants-in-aid program, the judicial branch transfers the revenue from the fee increases to the cbf, which distribues the funds pursuant to section 51-81c of the Connecticut general statutes to current iolta/iota grantees for the purpose of funding the delivery of legal services to connecicut's low-income population. Legislation enacted in 2016 added the client security fund as a potential new funding source, and funding was made available from this source from july 2021 through june 2023. The cbf became the administrator for a state funded right to counsel for restraining order program for income eligible individuals and provided the first grants to three legal aid organizations in 2022. The cbf was named as the administrator of a state-wide right to counsel for eviction program and made grants available to five legal aid providers in 2022.
The james w. cooper fellows program was founded to promote a better understanding of the legal profession and the judicial system among the citizens of Connecticut. The Foundation sponsors programs for the legal community and the public. These programs are made possible by the generosity and commitment of hundreds of fellows who volunteer, plan, and support them financially. Symposia and speaker series the fellows presented a wide variety of programming that addressed timely and topical issues in 2022. With the Connecticut Bar association, the Connecticut Bar Foundation continued to co-sponsor the constance baker motley speaker series on racial inequality. The series presented seven virtual forums for the legal community in 2022, which explored issues of racial inequality and systemic racism. Additional events are scheduled throughout 2023. The fellows also sponsored three roundtable discussions in 2022, at which small groups of fellows discussed thought-provoking issues involving the practice of law. Roundtables are typically held in person throughout the state, but due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, all of the 2022 roundtable discussions were conducted virtually. In june 2022, the fellows celebrated and honored pride month by presenting a day-long symposium entitled "queer families: past, present, and promise." This program, created in collaboration with quinnipiac university school of law and held at the law school with a remote option, was dedicated to the exploration of issues affecting queer families. It examined the history and development of the rights of lgbtq+ families, including parents and queer youth, in the united states and specifically in Connecticut. Also in june 2022, the cbf presented "the tenth anniversary of the attorneys of color symposium: a celebration of progress and perseverence." This special event, held at quinnipiac university school of law and also offered via zoom, continued the discussion of the history of attorneys of color in Connecticut. The program included a morning of panels on the impact of the pandemic on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a keynote address by the Connecticut state comptroller. In may 1997, the Connecticut Bar Foundation launched the john a. speziale alternative dispute resolution symposium to honor former chief justice john a. speziale, the first chair of the fellows program. After his death in january 2005, a memorial fund was established by the Foundation to support the program, which is co-sponsored by quinnipiac university school of law. Symposia in this series focus on alternative dispute resolution, honoring chief justice speziale's pioneering role in bringing adr to Connecticut. In november 2022, the 12th speziale symposium was held in- person at qusl. The topic was "is virtual justice just?,- and national experts and trial lawyers joined us to share their unique perspectives and expertise on this topic. Additionally, the Foundation sponsored several events in the "understanding human trafficking" series. Presented jointly by the cbf, the Connecticut Bar association's committee on human trafficking, and quinnipiac's human trafficking prevention project, this ongoing series explores the interactions between trafficking victims and the legal system. Student programs the fellows also run several programs for students. The Foundation continued its partnership with the herbert & nell singer Foundation to administer the herbert & nell singer Connecticut public service fellowship program. The singer fellowship program was established in 2017 to offer recent law school graduates an opportunity to gain practical experience working for Connecticut civil legal aid organizations, providing legal services to underserved populations of Connecticut. Two new fellows began fellowships in 2022, and one fellow from 2021 continued his fellowship for a second year. In the fall of 2022, the singer selection committee reviewed six new applications for the 2022-2023 fellowship year. Two applicants were offered fellowships and both accepted; they are scheduled to begin in the fall of 2023. The fellows held the twenty-second annual quintin johnstone statewide high school essay contest in 2022. This year the contest received 145 essays, setting a new record for the number of submissions. The essays were scored by over 140 volunteer judges, attorneys, and law school professors, and the winners were honored at a ceremony at the Connecticut supreme court in june. Funds and awards finally, the Foundation adminsters several funds and awards that further its mission of promoting equal access to justice. The Foundation continued the Connecticut innocence fund project to assist exonerees who have been recently freed from prison based on proof of actual innocence by providing bridge loans. The david pels homelessness prevention fund was established in 2019 through generous donations from friends and family of attorney david pels. Since its formation, the fund has provided twenty-seven grants to prevent evictions that would have resulted in homelessness for the tenants. The Foundation continued to administer the honorable warren eginton memorial fund. This law school scholarship program was established posthumously by friends and family to honor judge eginton's legacy of mentoring others in the legal profession, with scholarships awarded in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, the Foundation awarded its third anthony m. fitzgerald award for excellence to the new haven legal assistance association. The award recognizes the dedicated service and outstanding achievements of a Connecticut nonprofit legal services provider or legal aid attorney(s). The award program was started with contributions from the partners of carmody torrance sandak & hennessey llp upon the retirement of anthony fitzgerald.
The interest on lawyers' trust accounts (iolta) and interest on trust accounts (iota)-- the program funds legal services to the poor and law school scholarships based on financial need. The program funded eleven nonprofit organizations providing legal services to the poor, and grants for law school scholarships to the three Connecticut law schools. The Foundation's efforts help thousands of low-income residents of Connecticut by enabling them to obtain critical legal information, advice, and legal representation. One of the innovative ways the cbf accomplishes this is by helping to fund the ctlawhelp.org website where low income people can find assistance with thier legal needs and tools for self respresentations. The Foundation helps the most vulnerable members of our community, including children who are abused, neglected and otherwise disadvantaged, disabled people, elderly victims of consumer fraud and other abuse, immigrants, many of them children, low-income families trying to protect their right to safe housing and fight unlawful evictions, and those victimized by domestic violence.