ATLANTA — The Northern District of Georgia Bankruptcy Court selected visiting assistant professor B. Summer Chandler to serve on its Bench and Bar Committee in January.
Established in 2013, the 20-member committee promotes effective communication about court procedures, local rules and other issues that affect various constituencies of the bankruptcy community. Chandler’s primary responsibilities on the committee include developing a quarterly newsletter distributed to members of the Georgia bankruptcy community.
Other committee members include the clerk of court, the chief deputy clerk, the law clerk for the chief judge, Chapter 13 trustees, a representative of the U.S. Trustee, Chapter 7 trustees, and debtor and creditor attorneys.
“I am honored to have been chosen as a member of the committee,” Chandler said. “I believe law schools should be a part of and contribute to their legal community. As a committee member, I can continue to develop the relationship between both in ways that are beneficial to the bar and the court.”
Chandler oversees the Georgia State Law Bankruptcy Assistance & Practice Program (BAPP) and Pro Se Assistance Center, supervising students who handle consumer Chapter 7 and other bankruptcy-related cases and disputes for individuals without access to legal assistance.
“The BAPP and Pro Se Assistance Center benefit the students and the clients they serve, and the Atlanta bankruptcy community has been exceptionally supportive of the both,” Chandler said.
As a committee member, Chandler plans to involve her BAPP students in writing case summaries of recent decisions from the Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Georgia and potentially other bankruptcy courts. The bankruptcy community will be able to review the summaries in the recurring newsletter or online.
“The students will reduce lengthy court opinions to succinct summaries, saving attorneys’ valuable time,” Chandler said. “The students are excited and appreciate the opportunity to gain exposure to judges and practitioners by being listed as authors, while making a real contribution with their work,” Chandler said.