Comments on Draft Definition

10 December 2002

Arthur H. Garwin
American Bar Association
541 N. Fairbanks Court
Chicago, Illinois 60611-3375

Re: ABA Draft Definition of the Practice of Law

Dear Art:

I will not be able to attend the open hearings on the ABA’s proposed definition of the practice of law. However, I wish to register my view, informed by my own quarter century’s research on this subject, that the proposed definition is overbroad, and that it ill serves the public’s interest. I have set forth my concerns in many publications that I will not attempt to summarize here. I will, however, attach an overview of that work published in my recent book, In the Interests of Justice: reforming the Legal Profession (Oxford Press, 2000). Other references to my work are cited in the endnotes to that excerpt.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Deborah L. Rhode