The Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) hosted its most recent quarterly Free Legal Advice Clinic on Tuesday, April 21, and Wednesday, April 22. Held from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on both days, the clinic connected community members in need of legal advice with volunteer attorneys who, during 30-minute virtual online sessions, provided guidance on a variety of legal issues. The quarterly clinics are part of the CBA’s ongoing effort to address the access to justice gap in Connecticut by ensuring individuals—regardless of financial means—can receive reliable legal information when they need it most.
In total, 87 clients received free legal assistance through the clinic, which was made possible by the dedication of 31 attorney volunteers and 19 law student and paralegal volunteers. The attorneys delivered critical guidance across a wide range of legal areas, including family law, immigration, employment, estates and probate, consumer issues, bankruptcy, housing, and civil rights.
The participating volunteer attorneys emphasized the impact of the program, both for the clients they serve and for their own sense of purpose in the profession.
“I really do love this program and Lawyers in Libraries,” said Erin Daly. “Too often, people go without legal help simply because they think they can’t afford it. Programs like this matter—they make sure people can access real advice early, when it can actually change the outcome.”
Jake Dunigan echoed that sentiment, reflecting on the broader mission of the clinic, “Even before my career started in the law, I’d been a true believer in a system that strives for fairness and justice. There are a lot of barriers to those fair outcomes in the modern courts, but I still believe the intent is there. The clinic gives me a chance to bring that faith to one more person. A slow and steady march toward justice for all that I am proud to be a part of.”
CBA Director of Access to Justice and Equity Song Kim also noted how the clinic plays a vital role in bridging gaps in the legal system. “The Connecticut Bar Association’s Free Legal Advice Clinic is a critical program that addresses the justice gap in CT and meets people where they are, often in moments when they have nowhere else to turn,” Kim stated. “By tapping into the extraordinary depth and breadth of expertise of our dedicated volunteer attorneys, we’re able to provide meaningful, trusted, and excellent legal guidance, helping individuals better understand and protect their rights.”
Through initiatives like the Free Legal Advice Clinics, the CBA continues to make meaningful strides toward ensuring that access to justice is not a privilege, but a right available to all. Learn more about the CBA’s various pro-bono programs at ctbar.org/probono.