During the COVID-19 pandemic, ALL bankruptcy clinics will be conducted via Zoom1. Each clinic will feature a 45-minute video providing an overview of certain procedures for filing bankruptcy, followed by a Question & Answer session staffed by one or more pro bono attorneys who are available to give general advice on bankruptcy matters. These attorneys do NOT represent you and can NOT provide you with legal advice regarding your particular circumstances. If you have already filed your case and it is still pending, you are solely responsible for responding to any pleadings or motions and for compliance with any order issued by your Bankruptcy Judge or to a request for information and documentation from your Bankruptcy Trustee. Unless you are represented by a lawyer, you are solely responsible for protecting your own legal rights. This is a FREE service and the attorneys are not there to attempt to acquire you as clients or ask you to pay them for advice or future services.
If you believe you may qualify for pro bono (free) assistance from a lawyer, please fill out the Pro Bono Referral Intake Form and send it to the contact person in your county.
The Bankruptcy Bar Association recognizes the tremendous need for pro bono services in our community, especially during these economic times. The BBA Pro Bono Committee is available to help answer your questions about how to get involved with giving back to our community!
Did you know that there are several ways to be involved:
Please do your part and help those who need it the most! The BBA Pro Bono Committee is here to help provide the resources necessary to guide you through the process when volunteering. Please contact one of the BBA Pro Bono Committee Co-Chairs for more information.
You can also visit the Bankruptcy Court’s Pro Bono Committee web page here.
FACT: The Bankruptcy Bar Foundation supports the funding of a Bankruptcy Legal Coordinator at Dade Legal Aid/Put Something Back. The Legal Coordinator conducts intake, screening and placement of eligible pro bono clients to volunteer attorneys and law firm participants who would like to give back to the community. Put Something Back screens and assigns pro bono cases for the BBA on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at Dade Legal Aid located at 123 NW 1 Avenue, Miami FL 33128. Attorneys interested in volunteering, accepting a case or mentoring may contact Bankruptcy@dadelegalaid.org to accept a case or for more information.
FACT: The Bankruptcy Legal Coordinator assists in matching mentor attorneys to law students enrolled in the bankruptcy clinical classes at the University of Miami School of Law, Florida International University College of Law and St. Thomas University School of Law. Mentor attorneys work with students in representing pro bono clients in Chapter 7 and 13 cases, or, in limited instances, in an adversary proceeding. For more information, please contact Mahalaxmi “Lucky” Subramaniam, mahalaxmis93@gmail.com.
| Dade Legal Aid Put Something Back Pro Bono Project | American College of Bankruptcy Foundation |
| Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach, Inc. | Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida |
| Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. | Martin County Bankruptcy Committee & Martin County Library Systems for “Lawyers in the Library” Program (772-419-0057) |
Bankruptcy can have serious consequences, both in the short term and in the long term. A bankruptcy lawyer can explain to you what may happen as a result of filing for bankruptcy and what your options are outside of bankruptcy. If you do file for bankruptcy, a lawyer can help protect you, your family, your home and your possessions to the extent permitted by existing law.
Visit our Don’t Have a Lawyer page for useful resources and links to other helpful sites.
Visit our For Debtors or For Creditors page if you currently have a lawyer but are looking for additional information.