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Text Box: WHO WE ARE The Connecticut Bar Foundation, established in 1952, is a non-profit organization which develops and administers programs to enhance understanding and improvement of the law and legal institutions, provides grants for legal research, and sponsors educational symposia. The Foundation also administers the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program for the benefit of legal services agencies and for law school scholarships for students demonstrating financial need attending law schools in Connecticut. We would like to express our thanks to all of the organizations and individuals whose generous support and contributions make the programs of the Foundation possible. IOLTA/IOTA IOLTA/IOTA grants for legal services suffered a 50% drop for 2009. Grants for 2008 were in excess of $16,000,000; for 2009 grants have been cut to $8,080,587. Since becoming mandatory, IOLTA/IOTA has awarded over $163 million in grants and scholarships, funding the largest portion of legal services for the poor in Connecticut. Precipitous reductions in the Federal Funds Rate during 2008 has affected the yields that banks pay on IOLTA account balances; combined with the slowing of real estate transactions which impacts the principal balances in IOLTA/IOTA accounts. The outlook for IOLTA/IOTA revenue for 2009 is dire, and could be as low as $3,500,000. THE JAMES W. COOPER FELLOWS The Fellows Program was established in 1994 to promote a better understanding of the legal profession and the judicial system and to address matters concerning the legal profession and administration of justice in Connecticut. The Fellows program undertakes many projects throughout the year to accomplish its mission.

Connecticut Bar Foundation

31 Pratt Street, Suite 420, Hartford, CT 06103

Phone: 860-722-2494

Fax: 860-722-2497

Email: ctbf@cbf-1.org

To contact us:

IOLTA Interest on

Lawyers’ Trust

James W. Cooper

Fellows Programs

Board of Directors

Connecticut Bar

Financial Institutions

08/09 Essay Contest Winners

Alternative Dispute Resolution

James W. Cooper

Text Box: Leadership Banks Volunteer to Pay Higher IOLTA Rates The Connecticut Bar Foundation is pleased to announce the IOLTA Leadership Bank program. During this time of historically low interest rates, the IOLTA Platinum Leadership Banks and Leadership Banks have volunteered to pay a net yield that is higher than the yield they are required to pay on IOLTA. The additional interest generated by these banks provides much needed funding for legal services to low income residents during a critical period of need. For a link to the Leadership Banks click here

2008/2009 Essay Contest

Winners Announced

Click here for more information