(a) An attorney who is admitted to the bar in the state of Connecticut and is not the subject of any pending disciplinary investigation may submit a written request on a form approved by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator to the statewide bar counsel for permanent retirement under this section. Upon receipt of the request, the statewide bar counsel shall review it and, if it is found that the attorney is eligible for retirement under this section, shall grant the request and notify the attorney and the clerk for the judicial district of Hartford. Retirement shall not constitute removal from the bar or the roll of attorneys, but it shall be noted on the roll of attorneys kept by the clerk for the judicial district of Hartford. If granted, the attorney shall no longer be eligible to practice law as an attorney admitted in the state of Connecticut.
Section 2-55A.Retirement of Attorney—Permanent
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceAn attorney with no pending disciplinary investigation can ask for permanent retirement, which ends registration and fee obligations but requires reapplying for bar admission to practice again.
Full Text of Section 2-55A
(b) An attorney who has retired pursuant to this section shall thereafter be exempt from the registration requirements set forth in Sections 2-26 and 2-27 (d) and from payment of the client security fund fee set forth in Section 2-70 (a).
(c) An attorney who has retired pursuant to this section and thereafter wishes to be eligible to practice law again in the state of Connecticut must apply for admission to the bar pursuant to Section 2-8, 2-13 or 2-13A.
(d) Retirement pursuant to this section shall not be a bar to the initiation, investigation and pursuit of disciplinary complaints filed on or subsequent to the date of retirement.
Amendment History
(Adopted June 14, 2013, to take effect Jan. 1, 2014; amended June 10, 2022, to take effect Jan. 1, 2023.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 2-55A works much like Section 2-55, but with a permanent twist. An attorney who isn’t the subject of a pending disciplinary investigation can submit a written request to the statewide bar counsel for permanent retirement. If the bar counsel finds the attorney eligible, the retirement is granted and noted on the roll of attorneys kept by the Hartford clerk. The attorney remains on the roll but can no longer practice law in Connecticut.
Once retired under this section, the attorney is exempt from both the registration requirements in Sections 2-26 and 2-27 (d) and the client security fund fee in Section 2-70 (a). Unlike Section 2-55 retirement, this one has no simple revocation notice. An attorney who wants to practice again after permanent retirement must apply for admission to the bar under Section 2-8, 2-13, or 2-13A. As with Section 2-55, permanent retirement doesn’t bar any disciplinary complaint filed on or after the retirement date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is permanent retirement different from regular retirement under Section 2-55?
Regular retirement under Section 2-55 can be revoked with a simple written notice. Permanent retirement under Section 2-55A has no such revocation — an attorney who wants to practice again must apply for bar admission under Section 2-8, 2-13, or 2-13A.
Does permanent retirement remove an attorney from the roll of attorneys?
No. Retirement doesn’t constitute removal from the bar or the roll of attorneys; it’s noted on the roll kept by the clerk for the judicial district of Hartford.
Is a permanently retired attorney exempt from any fees?
Yes. The attorney is exempt from the registration requirements in Sections 2-26 and 2-27 (d) and from the client security fund fee in Section 2-70 (a).
Can a permanently retired attorney be disciplined?
Yes. Permanent retirement doesn’t bar the initiation, investigation, or pursuit of disciplinary complaints filed on or after the retirement date.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 2-55A). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
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