In my column this week at Above the Law, I report on a vote scheduled for this Friday that could lead to sweeping changes in the delivery of legal services in California, including allowing private businesses to deliver legal services without regard to whether the businesses have lawyer ownership or management.

The meeting of the Task Force on Access through Innovation of Legal Services (ATILS) of the State Bar of California is just a first step in what is likely to be a drawn-out process of consideration and debate over the proposed changes. Three subcommittees tasked with studying changes to California’s professional regulations will present their recommendations for approval by the task force’s full membership.

If the task force approves the proposals — which it is expected to do — it will then put them out for a period of public comment before presenting a final report to the State Bar by the end of the year.

Read my full report at Above the Law:  California Task Force to Vote This Week on Sweeping Changes to Legal Services Delivery.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.