The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys is the only national organization for consumer bankruptcy attorneys that also works for consumer debtors. The organization was founded in 1992 from a group of a few local lawyers in Washington, D.C. Since then, they have grown to a national institution with more than 2,500 members in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico. 

The NACBA plays an important role in court cases and legislation alike. For court cases, they traditionally file amicus curiae briefs (“friend of the court”; a way of pointing out salient points to the justices to help them to decide a case in a way that a group or person wants) with both the United States Supreme Court and the United States Courts of Appeals. In legislation, they traditionally meet with members of Congress to discuss how a potential bill will affect consumer debtors.

In addition to their activities on a national level, they provide the most comprehensive educational programs for bankruptcy attorneys via their annual convention seminars. They also provide a network of help for all bankruptcy attorneys who, prior to NACBA’s founding, had to work alone. This supports their goal of helping consumer bankruptcy attorneys represent their clients in bankruptcy court more effectively.

The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys was founded to serve the needs of consumer bankruptcy attorneys and protecting the rights of consumer debtors. Early on in the 1990s, there was an increasingly successful anti-debtor lobby that was working to change the Bankruptcy Code. Now, they are the leading voice in America on consumer bankruptcy law. They are also the leading force against the anti-debtor legislation in Congress.