State Bar associations’ proposed reforms throughout the United States are gaining momentum as they address a pressing issue within the country’s legal system: legal services are increasingly out of reach for most Americans.

Last week, American Bar Association president, Judy Perry Martinez, told Bloomberg Law that limited access to legal services in the US is a real and growing problem.

“What I know is that there are many in this country who can’t access legal services. And frankly, I think there is a moment in time, right now, where people are thinking critically and innovatively and with a different set of tools in their toolbox.”

ABA President Judy Perry Martinez https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/aba-president-looks-to-states-on-access-to-justice-reform

Legal matters can be expensive, time consuming, and confusing for both consumers and even for professionals. The US ranks 99th out of 126 countries for access & affordability of legal services, according to the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index.

State Bar associations and task forces throughout the United States are pressing for regulatory reform to make legal services more affordable and accessible. That’s why AlphaLawgics built a free platform to help navigate the process of hiring legal help. The AlphaLawgics Freelance Marketplace connects businesses & individuals with on-demand legal services providers throughout the US.

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In a growing movement among state bar associations throughout the US, the Oregon State Bar’s board of governors has approved progressive recommendations to change rules around paraprofessional licensing and to authorize individuals without law degrees to sit for the bar exam.

On Sept. 27, the board approved recommendations from two bar task forces with the goal of increasing access to justice in Oregon. The first notable recommendation is for a paraprofessional licensing program which would authorize licensed professionals to provide limited legal advice without attorney supervision, according to the board of governor’s agenda. Variations of a paraprofessional program currently exist in Utah and Washington, with California considering a similar proposal.

“The most compelling argument for licensing paraprofessionals is that the bar’s other efforts to close the access-to-justice gap have continued to fall short. We must broaden the options available for persons seeking to obtain legal services, while continuing to strive for full funding of legal aid and championing pro bono representation by lawyers.”

Oregon State Bar’s Futures Task Force 2017 Executive Summary report

The second notable recommendation approved by the board would authorize applicants to take the bar exam without having first completed a juris doctorate degree at an ABA accredited law school, as long as the applicant meets specific requirements.

The proposal suggests allowing individuals to sit for the bar and be licensed in the state as long as the applicant has at least a bachelor’s degree, good moral character, and has completed a four-year mentorship/tutelage program in a law office, legal department or court.

The Oregon State Bar’s Alternative Pathways Taskforce Committee persuades that lower costs of entry to a license could lead to a more diverse practicing bar in Oregon. The committee states that participation in the four-year program would be significantly lower than the costs of law school, estimating the costs of the program to be between $12,000 and $18,000, significantly lower than then $35,000 per year residents would pay at the University of Oregon School of Law.

California, Maine, New York, Washington, Vermont and Virginia currently allow individuals without three-year law degrees to sit for their state bar exams.

“The next step will be to create detailed proposals and regulations relating to each of the two above recommendations. All proposals must be approved by the Oregon Supreme Court before going into effect.”

Jason Tashea – ABA Journal

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