DESCRIPTION
The Unauthorized Practice of Law: New Frontiers
In an era of increasing automation and legal technology, the boundaries of what constitutes the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) are rapidly shifting. This session explores emerging UPL issues, including the rise of non-lawyer legal service providers, AI-driven legal tools, and the ethical and regulatory challenges they present. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how these developments are reshaping the legal profession and what steps you can take to protect your practice and clients.
Highlights:
- The impact of legal technology and AI tools on UPL regulations.
- Case studies on UPL enforcement actions and their outcomes.
- Ethical pitfalls and how to address them in your own practice.
- An analysis of state-specific UPL rules and trends.
- Practical steps to mitigate risk when collaborating with non-lawyer service providers.
Speakers:
Thomas E. Spahn is a partner in the McLean, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, LLP, where he has a substantial practice advising clients on properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections. For more than 30 years he has lectured extensively on legal ethics and professionalism and has written “The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine: A Practitioner’s Guide,” a 750 page treatise published by the Virginia Law Foundation. Mr. Spahn has served as a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and as a member of the Virginia State Bar's Legal Ethics Committee.
Disclaimer: All views or opinions expressed by any presenter during the course of this CLE is that of the presenter alone and not an opinion of the Oklahoma Bar Association, the employers, or affiliates of the presenters unless specifically stated. Additionally, any materials, including the legal research, are the product of the individual contributor, not the Oklahoma Bar Association. The Oklahoma Bar Association makes no warranty, express or implied, relating to the accuracy or content of these materials.