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| (From L to R) CBA Secretary Kyle LaBuff; CBA President J. Paul Vance, Jr.; YLS Pro Bono & Public Service Director Erin M. Daly, YLS Chair Sara Bonaiuto
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On the evening of October 7, over 80 members of the Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section (YLS) gathered at The VUE golf course in Hamden for the section’s 2026 Pro Bono Fair and Golf Event. This unique annual event consists of two parts, beginning with an optional round of golf followed by a reception featuring 16 booths representing various pro bono organizations from throughout Connecticut.
During the reception, each of the pro bono organizations provided brief introductions to their services and were on hand to provide information about volunteer opportunities to the YLS members at the event:
- CBA Pro Bono Programs (Free Legal Advice Clinics, CT Free Legal Answers, Lawyers in Libraries, CBA Pro Bono Connect)
- Center for Family Justice, Inc.
- Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights
- Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants
- Connecticut Judicial Branch Volunteer Attorney Programs
- Connecticut Legal Rights Project
- Connecticut Legal Services
- Connecticut Probate Court
- Connecticut Veterans Legal Center
- Hartford Public Library, The American Place
- Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services
- Lawyers for Children America
- New Haven Legal Assistance Association
- Pro Bono Partnership
- Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Inc.
- Victim Rights Center of Connecticut
The reception began with a welcome from the YLS Pro Bono & Public Service Director Erin M. Daly, who introduced the event’s keynote speaker, CBA Treasurer Kyle LaBuff. “I love this event. I get to see people who are passionate about helping others come together and share different opportunities that make a difference in our community,” stated Attorney LaBuff during his remarks. “This is a time where volunteer volunteerism is down about 20% throughout the country, yet we are still carving out time from our busy lives for the common cause to help those in need.” After thanking the attendees for their commitment to pro bono work, Attorney LaBuff invited CBA President J. Paul Vance, Jr. to the stage to speak. “Every day we navigate for clients, we solve problems, or at least we try to. We protect rights, and we owe it to people who are navigating what is to them the most important issue of their life,” stated President Vance. “That’s the power of pro bono, that we can provide meaningful and access to services to someone who might otherwise not have access to an attorney.”
Following the speakers’ statements, attendees were invited to visit each of the organizations’ booths and explore the pro-bono opportunities being offered.
View Event Photos