Mission:
Study the ethics rules that govern the circumstances under which a lawyer may pay another for recommending or connecting potential clients to that lawyer (e.g. ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct 5.4(a) and 7.2(b)), in light of changing models for obtaining and delivering legal services. Consider how such rules should be amended to account for these changes, while still protecting the public and allowing for greater access to legal services.
Resources:
1. Rules/Statutes:
· California: Bar 2018 Study of Online Legal Services
· DC: Statute and Rules
· Florida: 2018 Proposed amendments regarding lawyer referral services
· Georgia: Statute prohibiting cappers/runners
· Illinois: ARDC June 25, 2018 Study on Client Matching Services
· North Carolina: Proposed changes to Rule 5.4
· Oregon: Rule on referral service privilege
· Oregon: 2017 Proposed Changes to 5.4 and 7.2:
· Washington: Rule 5.9 fee sharing with legal technicians
· Wisconsin case: Disciplinary Proceedings Against Weigel, 2012 WI 71, 342 Wis.2d 129 (2012)
2. ABA Resources:
· Mary McDermott’s summary of RPC 7.2 history
· ABA Futures Commission Report
· ABA Standing Committee on Lawyer Referral Services – resources
3. Articles/Opinions:
· NYCBA Op. 2018-5 (Litigation Funding)
· Alberto Bernabe 2018 Article on Matching Services
· Rebecca Sandefur ABF 2014 study on access to justice
Committee Members
Lynda Shely, Co-Chair
Hope Todd, Co-Chair
Diana Ashton
Kendra Basner
Carole Buckner
Justice Daniel Crothers
Doug Ende
Brian Faughnan
Bob Glaves
Tom Gordon
Amber Hollister
Mark Henriques
Aviva Kaiser
Josh King
Jayne Reardon
