Bankruptcy Clinic
The Bankruptcy Clinic is currently accepting new intakes. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Volunteer attorneys represent individuals filing personal bankruptcy by providing advice, preparing the petition and related schedules, attending the meeting of creditors, and otherwise handling all aspects of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process. The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center prescreens all clients before they are referred to volunteer attorneys to ensure that potential bankruptcy petitioners are eligible for pro bono services and good candidates for bankruptcy protection.
The Increased Need for a Bankruptcy Clinic
Economists are predicting a huge increase in bankruptcy filings due to millions of people facing unemployment, unexpected medical bills, struggling businesses, and other financial consequences of COVID-19. In fact, U.S. bankruptcy filings increased seven percent across all chapters for the second consecutive month in September 2022, according to data released from Epiq’s Bankruptcy Analytics platform.
Bankruptcy Clinic volunteers who are not experienced bankruptcy attorneys must attend one of the clinic’s twice-yearly training sessions. The trainings feature a discussion on the basic skills used to interview a prospective client, prepare bankruptcy schedules, and represent a debtor through a Chapter 7 proceeding. Additional topics include a summary of the Fair Debt Collection Act summary; case screening and evaluation; automatic stays; completion of schedules; exemptions; discharge provisions; and ethics and conflicts of interest issues. For more information or to register, view the list of upcoming trainings. All volunteers must be members in good standing of the D.C. Bar or the bar of another U.S. jurisdiction.
Volunteer attorneys have access to mentors, training manuals and other materials available on probono.net/DC/bankruptcy, support of Pro Bono Center staff, use of bankruptcy preparation software, and client meeting space. The Pro Bono Center provides malpractice insurance for cases handled through the Bankruptcy Clinic.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
