​Non-Lawyer Assistance and Unauthorized Practice of Law

In some states, innovators in the delivery of legal services—or even those who provide services that are only tangentially related to law—have found themselves charged with the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). Although we recognize that consumers must be protected from incompetent and unprofessional operators, we do not regard such protection as being incompatible with competition. Responsive Law fights unreasonable restrictions on who consumers may use to provide services in fields related to law.

​​Testimony on Proposed Resolution 10A Regarding Online Document Providers to the American Bar Association (January 22, 2019)
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Testimony on Proposed Revisions to Virginia Supreme Court Unauthorized Practice of Law Rules (July 13, 2018)

Comments on Occupational Licensure in the Legal Profession, Submitted to the Federal Trade Commission Economic Liberty Task Force (October 31, 2017)

Testimony Regarding D.C. City Council Bill B21-8079 Expanding Access to Counsel to Low-Income Tenants in Housing Matters (October 24, 2016)
 
Comments on Issues Paper Concerning Unregulated Legal Service Providers, Submitted to the American Bar Association  (April 28, 2016)
 
Comments on Consumer Protection in the Wake of the Dental Examiners Decision, Submitted to the State Bar of California  (April 22, 2016) 

Comments on Recommended Improvements to the District of Columbia Rules on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, Submitted to the D.C. Court of Appeals  (February 29, 2016)

Comments on New Categories of Legal Service Providers, Submitted to the American Bar Association (January 8, 2016)

Testimony in Support of California Assembly Bill 285 (May 31, 2015)

Comments to the State Bar of California (May 11, 2015)

Comments on Issues Paper on the Future of Legal Services, Submitted to the American Bar Association (December 10, 2014)

Letter to California Governor Jerry Brown Urging Veto of AB 852 (May 20, 2014)

Comments on Proposed Rule Regarding Unauthorized Practice of Law, Submitted to Wyoming State Bar (March 28, 2014)

​Testimony in Support of Florida House Bills 7037 and 7039 (March 4, 2014)

Comments on Expanding Civil Legal Services in New York, Submitted to the New York Commission on Access to Justice (September 27, 2013)

Testimony in Opposition to California Assembly Bill 888 (giving the state bar new powers and financial incentives in UPL cases) (June 19, 2013)

Comments on Limited License Legal Technicians, Submitted to the State Bar of California (June 12, 2013)

Testimony in Opposition to Connecticut Senate Bill 829 (expanding definition of UPL and making it a felony) (April 25, 2013)

Testimony in Opposition to Oklahoma Senate Bill 986 (making UPL a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months imprisonment) (March 22, 2013)

Testimony in Support of New York Senate Bill 427 (allowing non-lawyer representatives in housing court) (February 27, 2013) 

Comments on Unauthorized Practice of Law and Forestry Consultants, Submitted to Georgia Bar (Georgia State Bar Standing Committee on UPL hearing to determine whether forestry consultants using fill-in-the-blank forms for timber contracts are engaged in UPL) (May 31, 2012)

Testimony on Georgia Senate Bill 365 (allowing broad class of plaintiffs to collect attorney fees from those liable for UPL) (March 14, 2012) 
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Comments on Proposed Amendments to Mississippi Rules of Appellate Procedure (expanding UPL restrictions to apply to broad range of professional services) (October 3, 2011)

Letter to North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue Urging Veto of Senate Bill 349 (establishing broad private cause of action for UPL) (June 27, 2011)