Will Lawyers Lose Work Over this ABA Resolution?

Amid a growing debate about a justice gap in the U.S., the American Bar Association has approved a resolution that could allow more non-attorneys to provide legal services.

During the ABA’s Midyear Meeting in San Diego on Feb. 8, the House of Delegates approved Resolution 105, which creates “model regulatory objectives” for the provision of nontraditional legal services. Specifically, the resolution describes 10 standards states should incorporate into licensing rules, professional certification processes and training curriculums being created for non-attorney legal professionals.

A spokesman for the ABA said the model regulatory objectives serve as “recommendations” or “guiding principles” for professional regulatory agencies and ...