ABA Committees Urge States to Reexamine Law Firm Ownership Rules

Reformers within the American Bar Association want more state-led experiments to open up rules on who can own law firms and provide legal services.

The ABA’s Center for Innovation and four standing committees, including one that studies ethics and professional responsibility, have put forth a report and a resolution to the ABA House of Delegates, and are seeking a vote by the policy group in February.

The proposal aims to add to momentum for access to justice reform, which aims to provide less expensive legal service options to the poor. It urges states to engage in more “courageous experimentation” and ...