Conn. Practice Book § 2-27 (2026)

Sec. 2-27 Statutes § 51-81b. In addition, the trust account identification numbers on the registration forms filed pursuant to Section 2-26 and this section shall be available to the organization designated by the judges of the Superior Court to administer the IOLTA program pursuant to Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. The registration requirements of this subsection shall not apply to judges of the Supreme, Appellate or Superior Courts, judge trial referees, family support magis- trates, federal judges, federal magistrate judges, federal administrative law judges or federal bank- ruptcy judges. (e) The Statewide Grievance Committee or its counsel may conduct random inspections and audits of accounts maintained pursuant to Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct to determine whether such accounts are in compli- ance with the rule and this section. If any random inspection or audit performed under this subsec- tion discloses an apparent violation of this section or the Rules of Professional Conduct, the matter may be referred to a grievance panel for further investigation or to the disciplinary counsel for pre- sentment to the Superior Court. Any attorney whose accounts are selected for inspection or audit under this section shall fully cooperate with the inspection or audit, which cooperation shall not be construed to be a violation of Rule 1.6 (a) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Any records, documents or information obtained or produced pursuant to a random inspection or audit shall remain confidential unless and until a present- ment is initiated by the disciplinary counsel alleg- ing a violation of Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct or of this section, or proba- ble cause is found by the grievance panel, the Statewide Grievance Committee or a reviewing committee. Contemporaneously with the com- mencement of a presentment or the filing of a grievance complaint, notice shall be given in writ- ing by the Statewide Grievance Committee to any client or third person whose identity may be pub- licly disclosed through the disclosure of records obtained or produced in accordance with this sub- section. Thereafter,publicdisclosureofsuchrecords shall be subject to the client or third person having thirty days from the issuance of the notice to seek a court order restricting publication of any such records disclosing confidential information. Dur- ing the thirty day period, or the pendency of any such motion, any document filed with the court or as part of a grievance record shall refer to such clients or third persons by pseudonyms or with appropriate redactions, unless otherwise ordered by the court. 132 (f) Violation of subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this section shall constitute misconduct. An attorney who fails to register in accordance with subsection (d) shall be administratively suspended from the practice of law in this state pursuant to Section 2-27B. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 27A.) (Amended June 25, 2001, to take effect Jan. 1, 2002; amended June 24, 2002, to take effect July 1, 2003; May 14, 2003, effective date changed to Oct. 1, 2003; Sept. 30, 2003, effective date changed to Jan. 1, 2004; amended June 26, 2006, to take effect Jan. 1, 2007, and with respect to subsection (e), July 1, 2007; amended June 29, 2007, to take effect Jan. 1, 2008; amended June 30, 2008, to take effect Jan. 1, 2009; amended June 20, 2011, to take effect Jan. 1, 2012; amended June 15, 2018, to take effect Jan. 1, 2019; amended June 11, 2021, to take effect Jan. 1, 2022; amended June 10, 2022, to take effect Oct. 1, 2022.) Sec. 2-27A. Minimum Continuing Legal Edu- cation (a) On an annual basis, each attorney admitted in Connecticut shall certify, on the registration form required by Section 2-27 (d), that the attorney has completed in the last calendar year no less than twelve credit hours of appropriate continuing legal education, at least two hours of which shall be in ethics/professionalism. The ethics and pro- fessionalism components may be integrated with other courses. This rule shall apply to all attorneys except the following: (1) Judges and senior judges of the Supreme, Appellate or Superior Courts, judge trial referees, family support magistrates, family support magis- trate referees, administrative law judges, elected constitutional officers, federal judges, federal magistrate judges, federal administrative law judges or federal bankruptcy judges; (2) Attorneys who are disbarred, resigned pur- suant to Section 2-52, on inactive status pursuant to Section 2-56 et seq., or retired pursuant to Section 2-55 or 2-55A; (3) Attorneys who are serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States for more than six months in such year; (4) Attorneys for the calendar year in which they are admitted; (5) Attorneys who earn less than $1000 in com- pensation for the provision of legal services in such year; (6) Attorneys who, for good cause shown, have been granted temporary or permanent exempt status by the Statewide Grievance Committee. (b) Attorneys may satisfy the required hours of continuing legal education: (1) By attending legal education courses pro- vided by any local, state or special interest bar association in this state or regional or national bar associations recognized in this state or another

© Copyrighted by the Secretary of the State of the State of Connecticut SUPERIOR COURT—GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 2-27A state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘bar asso- ciation’’); any private or government legal employer; any court of this or any other state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia; any organization whose program or course has been reviewed and approved by any bar association or organization that has been established in any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia to certify and approve continuing legal education courses; and any other nonprofit or for-profit legal education providers, including law schools and other appro- priate continuing legal education providers, and including courses remotely presented by video conference, webcasts, webinars, or the like by said providers. (2) By self-study of appropriate programs or courses directly related to substantive or proce- dural law or related topics, including professional responsibility, legal ethics, or law office manage- ment and prepared by those continuing legal edu- cation providers in subsection (b) (1). Said self- study may include viewing and listening to all man- ner of communication, including, but not limited to, video or audio recordings or taking online legal courses. The selection of self-study courses or programs shall be consistent with the objective of this rule, which is to maintain and enhance the skill level, knowledge, ethics and competence of the attorney and shall comply with the minimum quality standards set forth in subsection (c) (6). (3) By publishing articles in legal publications that have as their primary goal the enhancement of competence in the legal profession, including, without limitation, substantive and procedural law, ethics, law practice management and profes- sionalism. (4) By teaching legal seminars and courses, including the participation on panel discussions as a speaker or moderator. (5) By serving as a full-time faculty member at a law school accredited by the American Bar Association or approved by the state bar examin- ing committee, in which case, such attorney will be credited with meeting the minimum continuing legal education requirements set forth herein. (6) By serving as a part-time or adjunct faculty member at a law school accredited by the Ameri- can Bar Association or approved by the state bar examining committee, in which case, such attor- ney will be credited with meeting the minimum continuing legal education requirements set forth herein at the rate of one hour for each hour of classroom instruction and one hour for each two hours of preparation. 133 (7) By serving as a judge or coach for a moot court or mock trial course or competition that is part of the curriculum at or sanctioned by a law school accredited by the American Bar Associa- tion or approved by the state bar examining com- mittee, or a high school or undergraduate mock trial or moot court competition that is sanctioned by a court, bar association or law school accred- ited by the American Bar Association or approved by the state bar examining committee, and requires the attorney to consider and to apply substantive legal principles, including, but not limited to, rules of evidence, and to provide a critique of the com- petitors’ performance. (8) By providing pro bono legal services to cli- ents unable to afford counsel through a pro bono program administered by one or more of the fol- lowing: (A) Any Connecticut nonprofit organization, including any legal aid organization, that provides legal representation to clients without charge; (B) Any state, local, or affinity bar association in Connecticut; and (C) Any state or federal court in Connecticut. (c) Credit computation: (1) Credit for any of the above activities shall be based on the actual instruction time, which may include lecture, panel discussion, and ques- tion and answer periods. Credit for the activity listed in subsection (b) (7) shall be based upon the actual judging or coaching time, up to four hours for each activity per year, two hours of which may be earned by judging or coaching high school or undergraduate mock trial or moot court compe- titions. Self-study credit shall be based on the reading time or running time of the selected mate- rials or program. (2) Credit for attorneys preparing for and pre- senting legal seminars, courses or programs shall be based on one hour of credit for each two hours of preparation. A maximum of six hours of credit may be credited for preparation of a single pro- gram. Credit for presentation shall be on an hour for hour basis. Credit may not be earned more than once for the same course given during a calendar year. (3) Credit for the writing and publication of arti- cles shall be based on the actual time required for both researching and drafting. Each article may be counted only one time for credit. (4) Credit for pro bono legal services provided pursuant to subsection (b) (8) shall be based on one hour of credit for each three hours of pro bono legal services. A maximum of six hours may be earned during a calendar year. (5) Continuing legal education courses ordered pursuant to Section 2-37 (a) (5) or any court order

© Copyrighted by the Secretary of the State of the State of Connecticut SUPERIOR COURT—GENERAL PROVISIONS