The ABA Commission on the Future of Legal Services has released this draft resolution and report, which proposes the creation of ABA Model Regulatory Objectives. The Commission’s cover memo offers the following explanation:
As one part of its work, the Commission is seeking comments on a draft resolution and report, which recommends that each state’s highest court, and those of each territory and tribe, use clearly identified regulatory objectives to help (1) assess the court’s existing regulatory framework and (2) identify and implement regulatory innovations related to legal services beyond the traditional regulation of the legal profession. The ABA Model Regulatory Objectives are intended to advance these important goals.
The Commission’s final resolution and report will be submitted for consideration by the House of Delegates at the 2016 Midyear Meeting. The comment deadline is October 30.
The Commission is also studying other regulatory issues and may propose additional resolutions in 2016.
The Commission was established in 2014 by then-ABA President William Hubbard. Its mandate is to examine how legal services are delivered today and recommend new approaches that “improve the delivery of, and the public’s access to, those services.” (Disclosure: I am the Commission’s vice chair.)