Unauthorized Practice of Law: Ethics Violations

This course will address Ethics Rule 5.5 Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) concerns for lawyers who telecommute across state lines and lawyers who primarily capture or deliver legal work over the internet. Best practices will be explained to help assess and mitigate the risk of a UPL violation when delivering legal services from, or to, a state in which a lawyer is not licensed. The Ethics Rules in most states were written before telecommuting and virtual law offices became commonplace; we will explore how different states are applying pre-existing Ethics Rules to these emerging trends.

Whether you are a newly licensed or highly experienced lawyer who: practices from home without being licensed in your home state; is responsible for supervising lawyers (or non-lawyer staff) who work from home; or primarily captures or delivers legal work over the internet, you should attend this program. The course is also suitable for lawyers who currently lack expertise in UPL requirements.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the common triggers for a UPL investigation or violation
• Identify how to mitigate risk with exposure to UPL
• Understand the ramifications for a UPL violation