Get Involved

DONATE: The great work being done by Access to Bankruptcy Court would not be possible without financial support from charitable foundations and the local insolvency community. It is only through your generous donations that we can pay attorneys to represent indigent debtors at no cost to the debtors. All donations are tax-deductible.

PARTICIPATE: Access to Bankruptcy Court is always looking for experienced consumer bankruptcy attorneys to serve as an ABC panel attorney.  ABC panel attorneys agree to serve for a reduced flat fee.  Attorneys are also encouraged to volunteer their services to help deserving individuals. See below for information on how to become an ABC panel attorney.

Apply to be a Panel Attorney

Thank you for considering applying to be an Access to Bankruptcy Court panel attorney. We would not be able to provide this valuable service to the community without people like you willing to provide representation to low income chapter 7 debtors at a reduced, flat rate.

ABC has two programs through which legal representation is provided.  We encourage you to apply to participate in one or both programs – whichever works best for you.

The first program, called the Volunteer Attorney Program, pays panel attorneys a flat fee ($400) to represent eligible applicants with their chapter 7 bankruptcy case.

The second program, called the ABC/WSU Bankruptcy Pro Bono Project, pairs a panel attorney with a law student from Wayne State University Law School to represent a  chapter 7 debtor approved by ABC.  These attorneys are paid a stipend for supervising the student, thereby contributing to the student’s education and training.  The law student has the opportunity to do most of the work, including working with the client to acquire the necessary information to complete the schedules, under the supervision of the ABC panel attorney.  Students participating in this program have received specialized training in the bankruptcy process, forms, and schedules, as well as training in the use of a bankruptcy software program. Learn more about the program

If you are interested in serving as an ABC panel attorney and would like more information regarding our programs, please contact Karen Evangelista at 248-652-7990 or at kevangelista@gmail.com. 

Debtors who qualify for an ABC Volunteer Attorney also qualify to have the bankruptcy filing fees waived, and the attorney is expected to file the requisite application seeking waiver of the fees. In the event a debtor does not qualify for the fee waiver for any reason, the debtor will be responsible for paying the court fees. Debtors are also responsible for any credit counseling fees that are not waived by the counseling agencies.

Volunteer Attorneys are not be required to represent debtors in adversary proceedings and other contested bankruptcy matters. In the event that such representation becomes necessary, the client may make his or her own arrangements with the Volunteer Attorney or another attorney.

Panel Attorney Application PDF

Please submit your completed application to:

Access to Bankruptcy Court
c/o Schafer & Weiner PLLC
Attn: Kim K. Hillary
40950 Woodward Ave.
Suite 100
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

ABC panel attorneys are invited to volunteer to provide legal services on a pro bono basis.

Comments from students and attorneys regarding their ABC involvement.

  • “

    So far, I think that my participation in the program [working with attorney Clint Hubbell] has been an amazing one. I have been exposed to Best-Case [bankruptcy software] and I have been able to attend a 341 hearing- meeting of creditors. I received a job offer from HubbellDuVall PLLC and started working for them during winter break.

    Howra A.
  • “

    I have had the opportunity to participate in both aspects of this extremely worthy program – directly representing a client, and also mentoring a law student while working with a client.  I find both opportunities very rewarding.  The students are bright, thoughtful, considerate and eager to learn, and the clients are extremely appreciative and grateful for the service ABC provides them.  I chose to volunteer in this program because I thought it would give me an opportunity to give something back, but the experience has been much greater than that.

    Michael Lieberman, Lieberman & Cohen, PLLC
  • “

    Thank you for contacting me and for the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Bankruptcy program. I really enjoy working with Attorney [Michael] Lieberman and the client. The next process in the case is the 341 hearing with the trustee. I am very pleased with how the process is going. Thank you again for letting me participate in helping make a difference in someone’s life.

    Shantell B.
  • “

    In the years I have been an attorney-panelist, I have helped single parents, homeless veterans, people with interpersonal challenges, people with critical medical conditions, and even debtors considering suicide as an option for their financial struggles. They all shared one thing in common: they had unaddressable debt caused by the things in life that sometimes go wrong. I stayed an ABC panelist, because I believe, as do many of the panel attorneys, that I can help…

    Clint Hubbell, Hubbell Duvall PLLC