The Connecticut Bar Foundation (CBF), in partnership with the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) and the Connecticut Judicial Branch, has created a sustained platform for dialogue, education, and collaboration on civil access to justice. Through the CT Civil Access to Justice Speaker Series, these organizations bring together judges, legal aid leaders, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to examine unmet civil legal needs, measure the justice gap, and explore evidence-based solutions that strengthen the rule of law for all Connecticut residents.
The series is free to attend, offers CLE credit, and is designed to inform the legal community while fostering the partnerships necessary for systemic progress. It reflects a shared commitment among the bar foundation, bar association, and judiciary to advance equal access to justice.
CT Civil Access to Justice Speaker Series: Educating and Engaging for Systemic Change
In 2026, the Connecticut Bar Foundation, Connecticut Bar Association, and Connecticut Judicial Branch were honored with the NCBF Partnership for Success Award for the CT Civil Access to Justice Speaker Series. Co-sponsored by CBF (including its James W. Cooper Fellows Program), the CBA, and the Connecticut Judicial Branch, the series addresses fundamental questions facing the state’s civil justice system:
- What is civil access to justice?
- How do we define and measure the civil access to justice gap in Connecticut?
- What are the most critical areas of unmet civil legal needs?
- How does Connecticut rank in its efforts to improve access to justice compared with other states?
- Where do we need to focus our attention?
Sessions have covered topics including defining Connecticut’s civil access to justice gap, the impact of federal funding changes on legal services and economic security, the evolution of civil legal aid from safety net to systemic infrastructure, the economic impact of civil legal aid, the future of access to justice, and the role of law school clinics and externships in closing the justice gap. Speakers have included Connecticut Supreme Court justices, national researchers such as Professor Rebecca L. Sandefur, legal aid executives, and other experts. Sessions are offered virtually, are free of charge, and typically provide 1.5 to 2.0 Connecticut CLE credits.
The series creates a regular forum for the bench, bar, legal services community, and academy to share data, discuss challenges, and identify opportunities for collaboration. By engaging the Connecticut Judicial Branch alongside the bar foundation and association, the program models the kind of cross-institutional partnership that NCBF seeks to recognize.
The CT Civil Access to Justice Speaker Series aligns with the NCBF guiding principles . . .
The CT Civil Access to Justice Speaker Series exemplifies the NCBF guiding principles through meaningful, multi-partner collaboration that advances a foundation mission with strong support from the bar association and the courts. It produces significant community and system impact by educating attorneys, judges, and stakeholders, and it serves as a replicable model for other jurisdictions seeking to build sustained dialogue around civil justice gaps.
The program demonstrates formal co-sponsorship and ongoing involvement from the Connecticut Bar Association and the Connecticut Judicial Branch, while advancing the Connecticut Bar Foundation’s core commitment to access to justice.
The Series' Success
The success of the CT Civil Access to Justice Speaker Series reflects the power of collaboration among the Connecticut Bar Foundation, the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Connecticut Judicial Branch. By uniting these institutions around education, data, and dialogue, the partners have created a durable platform that informs the legal community, strengthens relationships across the justice system, and supports ongoing efforts to close Connecticut’s civil justice gap.