Rule 2-70. Client Security Fund Fee

(a) The judges of the Superior Court shall assess an annual fee in an amount adequate for the proper payment of claims, the provision of crisis intervention and referral assistance, and for making grants-in-aid for the purpose of funding the delivery of legal services to the poor under these rules and the costs of administering the client security fund. Such fee, which shall be $75, shall be paid by each attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state and each judge, judge trial referee, state referee, family support magistrate, family support referee and administrative law judge in this state. Notwithstanding the above, an attorney who is disbarred, retired, resigned, or serving on active duty with the armed forces of the United States for more than six months in such year shall be exempt from payment of the fee, and an attorney who does not engage in the practice of law as an occupation and receives less than $1000 in legal fees or other compensation for services involving the practice of law during the calendar year shall be obligated to pay one half of such fee. No attorney who is disbarred, retired or resigned shall be reinstated pursuant to Section 2-53 or 2-55 until such time as the attorney has paid the fee due for the year in which the attorney retired, resigned or was disbarred.

(b) An attorney or family support referee who fails to pay the client security fund fee in accordance with this section shall be administratively suspended from the practice of law in this state pursuant to Section 2-79 of these rules until such payment, along with a reinstatement fee of $75, has been made. An attorney or family support referee who is under suspension for another reason at the time he or she fails to pay the fee, shall be the subject of an additional suspension which shall continue until the fee and reinstatement fee are paid.

(c) A judge, judge trial referee, state referee, family support magistrate or administrative law judge who fails to pay the client security fund fee in accordance with this section shall be referred to the Judicial Review Council.

Committee Notes

amended June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000; amended Nov. 17, 1999, on an interim basis pursuant to Section 1-9 26, 2000, to take effect Jan. 1, 2001; amended June 21, 2004, to take effect July 13, 2004; amended May 3, 2005, to take effect May 17, 2005; amended June 20, 2005, to take effect Jan. 1, 2006; amended June 15, 2012, to take effect Jan. 1, 2013; amended June 23, 2017, to take effect Jan. 1, 2018.)