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Retirement Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I retire from the bar?
  2. What is the difference between revocable and permanent retirement?
  3. Does retirement stay or terminate disciplinary proceedings against me?
  4. May I file a request for retirement if disciplinary proceedings are pending against me?
  5. If I retired before January 1, 2014, do I have to register and can I revoke my retirement?
  6. Can I practice law in Connecticut if I retire?
  7. How is retirement different than resignation?
  8. What form do I have to file if I want to file a revocable retirement pursuant to Section 2-55?
  9. What form do I have to file if I want to file a permanent retirement pursuant to Section 2-55A?
  10. I have power of attorney for an attorney. Can I complete the retirement paperwork for him or her?
  11. How do I revoke my retirement?

1. How do I retire from the bar? 
You have the option to request retirement with the right of revocation, or permanently. Determine whether you want to request to retire with the right to revoke your retirement at any time pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-55, or if you want to request to be permanently retired from the practice of law pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-55A. Once you’ve made your decision, view the forms.

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2.What is the difference between a revocable and permanent retirement? 
A retirement granted pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-55 is revocable at any time. Upon retirement, you will be exempt from paying the client security fund fee required by Practice Book Section 2-70(a), but you must continue to comply with the registration requirements required by Practice Book Sections 2-26 and 2-27(d). You may revoke this retirement at any time by filing form JD-GC-25 with the clerk for the judicial district of Hartford and the Statewide Bar Counsel. Attorneys who are not currently practicing law but may wish to do so in the future should choose revocable retirement. Attorneys who retire with the right of revocation may thereafter engage in uncompensated services to clients under the supervision of an organized legal aid society, a state or local bar association project, or a court-affiliated pro bono program. View a list of pro bono opportunities that would comply with this permitted activity.

A retirement granted pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-55A is permanent and not revocable for any reason. Upon retirement you will be exempt from paying the client security fund fee required by Practice Book Section 2-70(a) and you will no longer have to comply with the registration requirements required by Practice Book Sections 2-26 and 2-27(d). Thereafter, if you wish to practice law as an attorney in the state of Connecticut, you must apply for admission to the bar pursuant to Practice Book Sections 2-8 or 2-13. Attorneys who have completely retired from the practice of law due to age or irreversible illness, as well as attorneys who wish never to practice law in Connecticut ever again should choose permanent retirement. A decision to retire permanently should not be made lightly because the decision is not reversible for any reason.

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3. Does retirement stay or terminate disciplinary proceedings against me?  
No. Retirement under either Sections 2-55 and 2-55A does not bar the initiation, investigation or pursuit of disciplinary complaints filed on or subsequent to the date of retirement.

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4. May I file a request for retirement if disciplinary proceedings are pending against me? 
No. You may not submit a request for retirement if you are the subject of any pending disciplinary investigation. The Statewide Bar Counsel may reject requests for retirement filed after a disciplinary investigation has been opened.

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5. If I retired before January 1, 2014, do I have to register and can I revoke my retirement?
Prior to 2014, Connecticut did not have a procedure to permanently retire from the practice of law. If you retired from the practice of law in Connecticut prior to January 1, 2014, then you have a revocable retirement, which means you may revoke your retirement, but you are obligated to register every year. If you wish to permanently retire, then you may do so by completing this form.
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6. Can I practice law in Connecticut if I retire?
If you retire pursuant to Section 2-55 (revocable retirement), then you may engage in uncompensated services to clients under the supervision of an organized legal aid society, a state or local bar association project or a court-affiliated pro bono program only. If you retire pursuant to Section 2-55A (permanent retirement), then you will no longer be eligible to practice law as an attorney in the state of Connecticut in any capacity.
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7. How is retirement different than resignation?
Retirement is a voluntary decision by an attorney to stop practicing law because the attorney does not want to practice law in Connecticut any longer. Retirement is not discipline.

Resignation is the voluntary decision by an attorney who is the subject of a disciplinary investigation to stop practicing law. If the attorney waives his or her right to apply for reinstatement as part of the resignation, he or she will never be able to practice law in Connecticut again. Resignation is treated as a disciplinary sanction and can lead to reciprocal discipline in other jurisdictions.
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8. What form do I have to file if I want to file a revocable retirement pursuant to Section 2-55?
If you wish to retire and retain your right to revoke your retirement at any time, you must file form JD-GC-24 with the Statewide Bar Counsel. This form is available online and at any judicial district clerk’s office, the office of the Statewide Bar Counsel and at the office of the Client Security Fund Committee. The Statewide Bar Counsel will advise you of the decision on your request. If your request is granted, you will be advised of the effective date of your retirement.
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9. What form do I have to file if I want to file a permanent retirement pursuant to Section 2-55A?
If you wish to permanently retire, you must file form JD-GC 26 with the Statewide Bar Counsel. This form is available online and at any judicial district clerk’s office, the office of the Statewide Bar Counsel and the office of the Client Security Fund Committee. The Statewide Bar Counsel will advise you of the decision on your request. If your request is granted, you will be advised of the effective date of your retirement.
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10. I have power of attorney for an attorney. Can I complete the retirement paperwork for him or her?
Yes. If you have legal authority to act for an attorney, you may complete the retirement paperwork for them. You should attach a copy of the Power of Attorney to the retirement form as proof of your authority.
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11. How do I revoke my retirement?
If you wish to revoke your retirement in the future, you may do so by filing Form JD-GC-25 with this office. Retirement will not be revoked if there is an outstanding balance with the Client Security Fund, or if you permanently retired pursuant to Practice Book Section 2-55A.
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