HALT Testimony

In 2009, HALT submitted comments urging the Washington State Supreme Court to adopt a proposal that created a new class of non-lawyer legal service providers called “legal technicians.” On June 15th, 2012 the Washington State Supreme Court adopted APR 28, a rule which will allow non-lawyers, or “legal technicians,” with a certain degree of training to assist people by providing technical help on simple legal matters. The rule will go into effect September 1, 2012. 

 Read the Rule here.

 Click here to read HALT’s comments.

HALT submitted comments to the California Office of Professional Competence to support a proposed formal opinion of the State Bar Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (COPRAC).  The advisory opinion (Formal Opinion Interim No. 09-0001A), if passed, will prohibit lawyers from seeking out a client's agreement to not file a State Bar complaint against the attorney, as a condition in a settlement agreement. 

HALT filed written testimony with a blue ribbon commission of the Kansas judiciary to increase access to the state’s small claims court system. Appointed by the Kansas Supreme Court, the 24-member panel is conducting an intensive review of state court operations. HALT advised the commission to ensure that its review included the procedures at work in its deteriorating small claims court system.

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 Read the full HALT comments here

HALT was a key force in getting two proposals in California passed to protect legal consumers.  Fueled by our testimony before the State Bar, California is now required to post online consumer alerts on the profile pages of lawyers accused of misappropriating client funds.  And similar warnings are going up for attorneys who are charged with misconduct in loan modification cases. 

Read More: 

 HALT Comments: Proposed Consumer Alert for Major Misappropriation of Client Funds
 HALT Comments: Proposed Consumer Alert for Misconduct Related to Loan Modifications

In a move that will please legal consumers and legal document preparers, the Supreme Court of Hawaii has decided not to adopt a new definition of the practice of law.  On July 2, 2009 Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon issued a one-page letter saying that “the justices have decided to table the proposal with no immediate plans for further consideration.” The fight to pass a narrower definition of the practice of law began in late 2007, when consumer groups, nonlawyer providers and members of the business community voiced their opposition to a bar-authored definition that was overly broad. 

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 Click here to read HALT’s initial testimony.

 Click here to read HALT’s additional follow up testimony.

HALT submitted its second round of comments to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin on a court rule that would broaden the definition of the practice of law.  We urged the Court to retain key new language added to the original proposal that defines the attorney-client relationship as one where there is a client relationship of trust or reliance.  "By being absolutely clear that it is regulating only activities that require an attorney-client relationship, the Court can allow innovative approaches by non-traditional legal service providers that meet consumers' needs in Wisconsin," HALT argued. 

 Click here to read HALT’s comments.