NACBA's Members-Only Workshop 2026

This comprehensive plenary session offers practitioners a critical update on the latest case law and legislative developments affecting consumer bankruptcy. Attendees will explore emerging circuit splits, recent Supreme Court rulings, and statutory shifts, equipping them with the substantive knowledge required to navigate evolving legal frameworks and effectively advocate for their clients.

Navigating student loan dischargeability remains a complex challenge for bankruptcy professionals. This session offers a detailed analysis of the current legal landscape, with a strong focus on recent Department of Justice and Department of Education guidance. Participants will learn practical, step-by-step strategies for evaluating undue hardship claims, preparing necessary documentation, and successfully litigating student loan discharges in bankruptcy court.

This interactive plenary session brings faculty and attendees together for a structured, moderator-led discussion of current issues and practical challenges facing consumer bankruptcy practitioners. Using prepared topics, hypothetical scenarios, and audience questions, moderators will guide substantive discussions in Chapter 7, Chapter 13, Practice Management, and Legal Ethics.
The session will explore emerging issues, common practice challenges, ethical considerations, and real-world scenarios encountered in bankruptcy practice. The ethics portion will specifically address attorneys’ professional responsibilities, including issues involving client communication, competence, confidentiality, conflicts, technology, and other ethical considerations that may arise in the representation of consumer debtors.
Faculty will provide relevant written materials, applicable ethics rules, authorities, and/or hypotheticals to support the discussion and CLE learning objectives.
Attendees are encouraged to participate by sharing questions and experiences while faculty provide guidance, identify applicable rules and considerations, and facilitate discussion of practical approaches and best practices.