The New York Southern District Bankruptcy Legal Clinic ("the Clinic") is a free legal clinic that is a partnership between the Southern District Bankruptcy Court and various members of the Southern District bankruptcy legal community.   This program provides petitioners with an opportunity to meet, one-on-one, with a volunteer bankruptcy attorney for a free half-hour consultation. The Clinic provides limited legal advice to individuals without an attorney by answering their questions about bankruptcy and required paperwork, as well as how bankruptcy may be used to help prevent foreclosure. The Clinic cannot provide an attorney to complete your paperwork for you or represent you. Please review the Clinic Brochure for information on the services available and answers to frequently asked questions.  The Clinic is located at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, One Bowling Green, 6^th Floor, New York, NY 10004.

The Clinic operates from 11am – 1pm. Please check the calendar for available dates here or by contacting the Clerk's office at (212) 284-4040.  All sessions are by appointment only and must be scheduled in 30 minute sessions.   Since each appointment lasts no more than 30 minutes, the volunteer attorney will conduct four appointments per day except in extenuating circumstances, therefore early booking is recommended.  If all appointments on a clinic day are booked, please contact the Clerk's office at (212) 284-4040 to determine if an additional appointment can be scheduled.

Our attorneys participate in the Clinic program as volunteers, without payment, and as such, their time is incredibly valuable.  If you sign up for a Clinic appointment and fail to appear at the scheduled time (without notice or prior rescheduling), you will not be eligible to attend any future Clinic session.   

You must complete the following forms prior to your appointment at the Clinic and bring them with you:

1.  the "Intake Sheet", which is used to gain an understanding of the client’s financial condition and is shredded on-site or returned to the client after the meeting and

2. the “Agreement for Limited Legal Advice” which confirms the limited scope of legal advice provided and contains a conflict waiver.

3. the ProSe Checklist

What to Bring with You to your Clinic Appointment?