1.
How do I retire from the bar?
You have the option to request retirement with the right of revocation, or permanently. Determine whether you want to request to retire with the right to revoke your retirement at any time pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-55, or if you want to request to be permanently retired from the practice of law pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-55A.
Once you’ve made your decision, view the forms.
2.What
is the difference between a revocable and permanent retirement?
A retirement granted pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-55 is
revocable at any time. Upon retirement, you will be exempt from
paying the client security fund fee required by Practice Book
Section 2-70(a), but you must continue to comply with the
registration requirements required by Practice Book Sections 2-26
and 2-27(d). You may revoke this retirement at any time by filing
form
JD-GC-25 with the clerk for the judicial district of Hartford
and the Statewide Bar Counsel. Attorneys who are not currently
practicing law but may wish to do so in the future should choose
revocable retirement. Attorneys who retire with the right of
revocation may thereafter engage in uncompensated services to
clients under the supervision of an organized legal aid society, a
state or local bar association project, or a court-affiliated pro
bono program. View a
list of pro bono opportunities that would comply with this
permitted activity.
A retirement granted pursuant to Practice
Book Section 2-55A is permanent and not revocable for any reason.
Upon retirement you will be exempt from paying the client security
fund fee required by Practice Book Section 2-70(a) and you will no
longer have to comply with the registration requirements required by
Practice Book Sections 2-26 and 2-27(d). Thereafter, if you wish to
practice law as an attorney in the state of Connecticut, you must
apply for admission to the bar pursuant to Practice Book Sections
2-8 or 2-13. Attorneys who have completely retired from the practice
of law due to age or irreversible illness, as well as attorneys who
wish never to practice law in Connecticut ever again should choose
permanent retirement. A decision to retire permanently should not be
made lightly because the decision is not reversible for any reason.
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3.
Does retirement stay or terminate disciplinary
proceedings against me?
No. Retirement under either Sections 2-55 and 2-55A
does not bar the initiation, investigation or
pursuit of disciplinary complaints filed on or
subsequent to the date of retirement.
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4.
May I file a request for retirement if disciplinary proceedings are pending against me?
No. You may not submit a request for retirement if
you are the subject of any pending disciplinary
investigation. The Statewide Bar Counsel may reject
requests for retirement filed after a disciplinary
investigation has been opened.
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5. If I
retired before January 1, 2014, do I have to
register and can I revoke my retirement?
Prior to 2014, Connecticut did
not have a procedure to permanently retire from the
practice of law. If you retired from the practice of
law in Connecticut prior to January 1, 2014, then
you have a revocable retirement, which means you may
revoke your retirement, but you are obligated to
register every year. If you wish to permanently
retire, then you may do so by completing this
form.
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6. Can I practice
law in Connecticut if I retire?
If you
retire pursuant to Section 2-55 (revocable retirement), then you may
engage in uncompensated services to clients under the supervision of
an organized legal aid society, a state or local bar association
project or a court-affiliated pro bono program only. If you retire
pursuant to Section 2-55A (permanent retirement), then you will no
longer be eligible to practice law as an attorney in the state of
Connecticut in any capacity.
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7. How is retirement
different than resignation?
Retirement
is a voluntary decision by an attorney to stop practicing law
because the attorney does not want to practice law in Connecticut
any longer. Retirement is not discipline.
Resignation is the
voluntary decision by an attorney who is the subject of a
disciplinary investigation to stop practicing law. If the attorney
waives his or her right to apply for reinstatement as part of the
resignation, he or she will never be able to practice law in
Connecticut again. Resignation is treated as a disciplinary sanction
and can lead to reciprocal discipline in other jurisdictions.
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8. What form do I
have to file if I want to file a revocable retirement pursuant to
Section 2-55?
If you wish to retire and
retain your right to revoke your retirement at any time, you must
file form
JD-GC-24 with the Statewide Bar Counsel. This form is available
online and at any judicial district clerk’s office, the office of
the Statewide Bar Counsel and at the office of the Client Security
Fund Committee. The Statewide Bar Counsel will advise you of the
decision on your request. If your request is granted, you will be
advised of the effective date of your retirement.
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9. What form do I
have to file if I want to file a permanent retirement pursuant to
Section 2-55A?
If you wish to
permanently retire, you must file form
JD-GC 26
with the Statewide Bar Counsel. This form is available online and at
any judicial district clerk’s office, the office of the Statewide
Bar Counsel and the office of the Client Security Fund Committee.
The Statewide Bar Counsel will advise you of the decision on your
request. If your request is granted, you will be advised of the
effective date of your retirement.
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10. I have power of
attorney for an attorney. Can I complete the retirement paperwork
for him or her?
Yes. If you have legal
authority to act for an attorney, you may complete the retirement
paperwork for them. You should attach a copy of the Power of
Attorney to the retirement form as proof of your authority.
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11. How do I revoke
my retirement?
If you wish to revoke
your retirement in the future, you may do so by filing Form
JD-GC-25
with this office. Retirement will not be revoked if there is an
outstanding balance with the
Client Security Fund, or if you permanently retired pursuant to
Practice Book Section 2-55A.
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