Sub-Committees

The sub-committee will

• Explore how legal services are delivered by entities that employ new technologies and internet-based platforms. Assess benefits and risks to the public associated with new technology, and explore new legal technology and their potential use
• Explore how the legal profession can most effectively partner with online legal service providers, the courts, and other entities to make reliable legal forms, documents, and self-help resources readily available to the public

Goals

• Research new legal technology being utilized by courts, attorneys and consumer to address legal disputes
• Discuss challenges and opportunities posed by technology, including but not limited to consumer protection issues, cyber security, and the defining when online legal services assistance constitutes the practice of law
  
• Modernizing rules to account for the unique role of technology based solutions
  
• Recommend changes to the bench and bar to maximize the use of technological resources to assist with access to justice concerns
  
• Recommend changes to the bar and bench to address cyber security and consumer protection issues involved with the use of online legal services
  
• Recommend models for legal profession to effectively partner with online legal providers and other entities to improve access to justice and reduce legal costs.

The sub-committee will

• Explore alternative business structures (ABS), and where ABS is allowed, evidence and data regarding the risks and benefits associated with these entities
• Study the pros and cons of allowing legal paraprofessionals to assist clients and provide a variety of legal services such as community legal navigators, and evaluate what training and/or certifications such providers might require
• Recommend ways to increase collaboration with other disciplines to help to improve access to legal services.
• Look at whether the CBA should establish an innovation center to explore on an ongoing basis, the potential for the legal industry to partner with other disciplines and the public for insights about innovating the delivery of legal services.

Goals

• Define the unauthorized practice of law in Connecticut
• Explore potential roles for courts systems, community advocates, and court navigators to help the community identify and address legal issues, as well as connect with lawyers and legal services
• Explore paralegal certification programs and opportunities for paralegals to assist with certain types of matters and issues
• Explore pros and cons of alternative business structures and opportunities to leverage other professions
• Discuss different models to assist with the resolution of legal issues, including different mediation models
• Discuss whether the CBA should continue to monitor these issues by developing an Innovation Center
• Recommend changes to the Connecticut Practice Book, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and the Rules of Ethics.

The sub-committee will

• Review and assess the changes in the legal profession changing the skill set young lawyers will need to practice law successfully in the future, and propose changes to the Connecticut Bar Examination Committee and law schools

Goals

• Research national and statewide trends with respect to law school admission, graduation and bar passage rates
• Research national and statewide data on employment rates of law students and careers and professions law students are trending towards
• Review law school curriculum and Connecticut Bar Examination to determine if content should be adjusted to reflect changes in the legal market and the skills lawyers will need to be successful
• Recommend curriculum changes to law school curriculum
• Recommend changes to the Connecticut Bar Examination Committee

The sub-committee will

• Expand and improve the lawyer referral system and opportunities to connect more lawyers to paying legal consumers and each other
• Explore modernizing the rules around fees and fee petition
• Discuss ways to assist members who are in the middle of their careers with finding alternative careers and positions, and with retirement and succession planning

Goals

• Research different lawyer referral models and systems
• Identify opportunities for lawyers to connect with consumer and service them through alternative payment methods
• Identify opportunities for lawyers to connect with other lawyers to share work or create succession plans
• Identify alternative careers, roles, and positions lawyers can transition into or use to supplement their income
• Determine if rules on client matching services, fee sharing, and ownership should be adjusted, or clarified
• Discuss the streamlining of marketing and advertising rules
• Determine if rule around "alternative fees" and fee petitions need to be clarified, or adjusted
  Recommend changes to the Connecticut Practice Book, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and the Rules of Ethics

The sub-committee will

• Review and assess the professional rules of responsibility with a focus on a renewed “plain English” approach
• Assess whether the limited scope rules should be clarified, amended, or expanded
• Develop CLEs and programs to educate the public and members of the Bar on ethics rules and limited scope

Goals

• Develop Plain English translation for the rule of responsibility and ethics
• Review recommendations from other committees to determine changes that should be made to the rules
  
• Audit rules of professional responsibility and ethics to ensure they make sense in the current market, are assisting with protecting consumers, and advancing access to justice
  
• Review limited scope rules to determine if clarification, adjustments, or education is necessary
  
• Recommend CLEs and other programs to educate and encourage bench and bar use and understanding of limited scope