Reporter Resources Page
ABA Now: ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20
- Reporter Resources Page
Commission on Ethics 20/20 Will Not Propose Changes to Policy Prohibiting Nonlawyer Ownership of Law Firms
- Commission Co-Chairs' Statement
- ABA News Release
- ABA Journal Article
NEW: ABA Journal Reports on Ethics 20/20 Commission Meeting - February 3, 2012
The ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 still is undecided on whether it will make a recommendation on whether nonlawyers should be allowed to have some form of limited ownership interest in U.S. law firms.
In recent months, the commission's work on the issue has focused on what the substance of such a recommendation might be. On Dec. 2, the commission released a discussion paper (PDF) on alternative law practice structures that outlines one possible approach to nonlawyer ownership—but it does not amount to an actual recommendation.
The commission also posted initial draft proposals (PDF) on choice-of-law issues affecting fee-sharing when law firms operating in multiple jurisdictions are governed by different rules on nonlawyer ownership.
The commission is asking for comments on both documents by Feb. 29. (Comments may be sent to senior research paralegal Natalia Vera at [email protected].)
But after a lengthy discussion at today's meeting of the commission, it's evident that there is no clear consensus among commission members on whether they should bring any recommendation at all to the ABA's policy-making House of Delegates calling for revisions to the association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct that would let nonlawyers hold limited ownership interests in law firms. (The Model Rules are the direct basis for lawyer conduct rules in every state except California.) Read more
Articles
- ABA President William T. Robinson III discusses"U.S. and Canadian Lawyers: A Common Bond" in
- Canadian Lawyer (August 8, 2011)
20/20 Group Floats Draft Rule Amendments to Address Growing Reliance on Outsourcing - (ABA/BNA Lawyers' Manual on Professional Conduct- December 8, 2010) Ethics 20/20 Commission Invites Comments On Issues Raised by Growing Use of Internet
- (ABA/BNA Lawyers' Manual on Professional Conduct- September 29, 2010)
Speakers Debate Nonlawyers' Role in Firms At First Ethics 20/20 Commission Hearing
- (ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct - February 17, 2010)Ethics 20/20 Commission Reviews Comments on Its Preliminary Agenda
- (ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct – February 17, 2010)
Lack of New York Ethics Rule on MJP Leaves Open Question on In-House Lawyers' Licenses
- (ABA/BNA Lawyers' Manual On Professional Conduct - January 20, 2010
Agenda for Ethics 20/20 Project Examines Impact of Technology, Disappearing Borders
- (ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct, December 9, 2009)
Carolyn Lamm, ABA President: Meeting Today's And Tomorrow's Challenges
- (The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, November 2009)
Off the Mat: After a beat-down nine years ago, multidisciplinary practice may get another look from the ABA
- (ABA Journal, August 2009)
ABA President Carolyn B. Lamm Creates Ethics Commission to Address Technology and Global Practice Challenges Facing U.S. Lawyers - August 4, 2009
ABA Journal Article - June 1, 2012
Summary of Actions by the Commission on Ethics 20/20
The ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20 has released a summary of the Commission's work to date.