CT Bar Foundation

06/01/2026

Congratulations to the newly admitted lawyers who attended the Connecticut Bar Association's Swearing-in Ceremony last Friday!

We were happy to join the celebration and share information about our CBF’s mission to expand access to justice and how members of our James W. Cooper’s Fellows Program help us reach that goal.

05/29/2026

Congratulations to the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association, on a wonderful Annual Dinner! We were happy to join you for an incredible evening celebrating your members and your organization’s milestones!

Images:

- L-R: Attorney Tamara J. Titre, Esq., New President of the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association and new CBF James W. Cooper Fellow; Attorney Jennifer Ferrante, Chief Legal Services Officer at The Center for Family Justice and a Cooper Fellow; and Angela Schlingheyde, J.D., CBF Executive Director

- Chief Justice Raheem Mullins accepting the prestigious Crawford Trailblazer Award. Justice Mullins is an ex officio Board of Director at CBF

- Angela with Attorney Paul Slager, Slager Madry LLC, a title sponsor for last night’s event and member of CBF’s Board

- L-R: Jennifer Ferrante, Angela Schlingheyde, and Hon. Matthew Dallas Gordon, a James W. Cooper Fellow and member of the Roraback Circle

05/28/2026

Mark your calendars for June 15 for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Coalition for Elder Justice In Connecticut and AARP are sponsoring a conference to discuss this important topic.

Open to professionals and community members, this event underscores the importance of protecting older adults, strengthening community response, and promoting dignity and safety for all.

Keynote speaker Paul Greenwood, Greenwood Law

This event will be held at Quinnipiac University School of Law from 9:30-12 pm. It counts for 3 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit by the Connecticut Bar Association.

Register here: https://events.aarp.org/event/WEAAD26/summary

05/25/2026

Today, we wish everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day while remembering and honoring the brave Americans who died in the line of duty, serving their country.

We carry immense gratitude for the people whose courage and selflessness contributed to the freedoms that we enjoy today.

CBF is honored to partner with and help support Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, a nonprofit that provides free legal services, representation, and consultation to low-income Connecticut Veterans.

Their vision to ensure that all Connecticut veterans can thrive and contribute to their communities with a sense of self-worth and dignity honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.

05/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for the Connecticut Bar Foundation’s Annual Reception!

We were so pleased to connect with the Fellows community as well as officially welcome new members for 2026. We celebrated the work of Jill Davies, Deputy Director, Greater Hartford Legal Aid with the 2026 Anthony M. Fitzgerald Award for Excellence and recognized Thomaston Savings Bank with our Inaugural Banking on Justice Award.

It takes the work of a dedicated community to remove systemic legal barriers so that everyone has access to justice, and we were reminded of all of the great work people do to reach that goal.

Thank you to our sponsors who made this event possible and thank you to the CBF Programs team Alaina and Keelie for organizing a wonderful evening for everyone!

Photos by Devena Smith: venavisuals.com

05/14/2026

Our CBF Grants Manager Emma Bayer is currently attending the 28th Equal Justice Conference, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Organized by the American Bar Association and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, this annual event gathers legal services and pro bono advocates to share and learn about developments and innovations in providing legal services to people with low-income.

DarKenya Waller, one of the conference co-chairs and Executive Director at Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands said that this moment calls for “courage, creativity, and consistency.”

With so many energizing topics and speakers, Emma said that she’s looking forward to the next few days of impactful insights, connection, and learning!

05/12/2026

We’re excited to see everyone at the Annual Reception this Thursday at The Society Room in Hartford, where we’ll welcome new members into the James W. Cooper Fellows Program and honor individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding service to the civil legal aid network.

This year we’re pleased to introduce the Banking on Justice Award, which will be presented annually to one of CBF’s Leadership Banks for its commitment to advancing access to justice through the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts/Interest on Trust Accounts (IOLTA/IOTA) Program.

🎉 We’re proud to recognize Thomaston Savings Bank as our first honoree! 🎉

Leadership Banks like Thomaston voluntarily provide above-market interest rates on IOLTA/IOTA accounts, generating the majority of CBF’s funding for civil legal aid. These funds make it possible for residents who could not otherwise afford a lawyer to get the help they need in areas like housing, education, and family matters.

By investing in justice, Thomaston Savings Bank exemplifies the power of collaboration in stabilizing communities and achieving equal access to justice for all. ⚖️

05/08/2026

We’re excited for next week’s Annual Fellows Reception on May 14th at Hartford’s Society Room!

Special thanks to our Bronze Sponsors whose support helps make this event possible:

- Best Era
- Fiondella, Milone & LaSaracina LLP | FML
- Louden McGrath Bryan & Bissonnette
- Shipman & Goodwin LLP

05/06/2026

We can’t wait to gather together and celebrate with Cooper Fellows and the legal aid community at CBF’s Annual Fellows Reception on May 14 (check your email for your invitation and please RSVP by this Thursday, May 7)!

We’re humbled by the support and thank our sponsors who helped make this event possible.

Special thanks to our Silver Sponsors:

- Pullman & Comley
- Tzedakah House
- Verrill

05/06/2026

*Edited Wed. May 6, 1:40 p.m. CBF's website is operational. Thank you for your patience!

*Please note: CBF's website is experiencing technical issues. Our website service provider is working to address the issue and will notify us once it is resolved.

If you are trying to register for the Annual Reception next week, May 14th, or the Banking for Justice event on June 4, please wait until later today or please call us at 860-722-2494 to reserve your spot.

We will update this message once the website is live again.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

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