Are you interested in

  • Increasing your profits?
  • Getting new clients?
  • Reducing the stress of clients getting invoices for large amounts they cannot pay?
  • Helping to narrow the access to justice gap?

Then offering limited scope representation (LSR), also called unbundled legal services, may be for you.

Many CT residents cannot afford to hire a lawyer for a full representation, but can afford to hire a lawyer for part of a matter. The CT Rules of Professional Conduct allow lawyers to reasonably limit the scope of a representation. For example, in some situations, a lawyer can unbundle their services and limit the scope of a representation to only

  • Providing legal advice
  • Drafting documents or pleadings without having to go to court
  • Legal coaching, such as advising a client about how to introduce evidence or cross examine a witness
  • Filing a limited appearance to attend a particular hearing
  • Reviewing documents
  • Providing a legal opinion
  • Representing a client in a mediation or negotiation
  • Preparing a client to testify or negotiate

Learn more about LSR below.
Please note that all materials above are provided as a courtesy to help educate CBA members and provide examples of what other attorneys are doing. Except as noted above, the materials on the CBA website have not been reviewed or approved by the CBA or CT Judicial Branch and are not official Connecticut forms. Attorneys should always check the local and applicable rules and modify any samples or models accordingly before use.

The CBA is grateful to the following individuals and organizations that provided information and resources about LSR:

  • American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Chicago Bar Foundation
  • CT Judicial Branch
  • Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS)
  • Jessica Bednarz, Associate Director of Innovation & the JEP, Chicago Bar Foundation
  • Katy Drahos, Access to Justice Director, Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Michael Houlberg, Manager, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS)
  • Minnesota Unbundled Law Project
  • Sue Talia, Limited Representation Committee, CA Commission on Access to Justice