The Connecticut Client Security Fund Fee
by Ryan McKeen
For the past few days the discussion of Connecticut law and politics has been dominated by the exemption to the Connecticut Client Security Fund Fee. Exciting stuff.
What is the Connecticut Client Security Fund fee? It’s a fee paid by lawyers to:
A) reimburse claims for losses caused by the dishonest conduct of attorneys admitted to the practice of law in this state and incurred in the course of an attorney-client relationship, and (B) provide for crisis intervention and referral assistance to attorneys admitted to the practice of law in this state who suffer from alcohol or other substance abuse problems or gambling problems, or who have behavioral health problems. Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 51-81d.
Every non-exempt attorney in Connecticut presently pays $110 per year into the fund. Full exemptions are available to attorneys who have retired, are on active duty in the armed services for more than 6 months during the calendar year for which the fee is due, attorneys who have resigned, and attorneys who have been disbarred.
Partial exemptions are available for attorneys who do not engage in the practice of law as an occupation. In that case, the attorney keeps his license active but pays $55.
Here is a link to the Claim of Exemption for the Client Security Fund Fee Form (revised 11/2006). This form is only filled out by attorneys seeking an exemption.
January 25th, 2010 at 10:37 am
this is just another way to get money from lawyers if the courts are that hungry tell them to have a fudraISER
[Reply]
Ryan Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 11:31 am
The fee clearly gets money from lawyers. However it’s a modest price to pay to help further the public’s confidence in the profession and to assist attorneys who are having problems.
[Reply]
January 27th, 2010 at 10:41 am
It’s even worse for those of us who haven’t practiced for 30 years but have to keep forking over the $ for no reason if we don’t want to lose our license.
[Reply]