The Bankruptcy Project

The Private Attorney Involvement Program (PAI) for South Jersey Legal Services, Inc. refers cases to private, volunteer attorneys who then advise, and where appropriate, assist individuals to file a Chapter 7 case. If you would like to volunteer for this Project, please contact: Michelle T. Nuciglio, Esq., Director of Pro Bono Services, at 1-856-403-8620 or [email protected].

The initial screening for financial eligibility is handled by the SJLS Centralized Intake Unit. The case is then transferred to our PAI staff who review the case and determine whether the case is one which meets our established guidelines for representation. The Bankruptcy Project handles only “Chapter 7” cases. Individuals who satisfy the eligibility guidelines are then sent a packet of information to complete and return.

Once all of the information and associated documents are received, a packet of material is created and copied, and the case is referred to either the Hon. Judith H. Wizmur Bankruptcy Pro Bono Project at Rutgers Law School in Camden or to one of our volunteer private attorneys.

The Rutgers Project partners law students with volunteer attorneys to help clients to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy petitions. Groups of cases are referred to Rutgers at the start of the Fall and Spring school semesters and the clients are scheduled by the Rutgers. The students receive basic bankruptcy training to handle Chapter 7 cases, and they assist the client and the attorney in preparing the initial petition.

Cases that are not appropriate for referral to Rutgers or where the Project is no longer accepting clients for that semester are referred directly to a separate panel of volunteer attorneys. Many of these attorney volunteers are members in the South Jersey Bankruptcy Practitioners Group.

The South Jersey Bankruptcy Practitioners Group (SJBPG) was established to encourage participation in the South Jersey Legal Services, Inc. Private Attorney Involvement Program (PAI). The SJBPG provides free CLE courses over the course of the year (generally six 2 hour sessions for a total of 12 credits) in exchange for a commitment from the attorney to accept three (3) pro bono cases during this time. There is no cost to attend the CLE presentations for registered volunteer attorneys. Membership is open to bankruptcy practitioners and judges only. Registration is limited to attorneys who practice bankruptcy law and who are eligible to accept a bankruptcy case referred by SJLS. For more information, see the attached brochure.

Attorneys may participate in the Rutgers Project and/or the SJBPG. Cases taken through the Rutgers Project during the SJBPG season count toward the three (3) case requirement.