Fall is officially here. You can tell by eyeing the fall foliage, feeling the cooler temperatures, and observing the uptick in activity. Last week, IAALS published the first two Utah Sandbox Interim Evaluation Reports. The third and fourth reports will be published in November 2025 and January 2026. Washington is still on track to start accepting applications for its Entity Regulation Pilot Project this fall. And the ABS Program in Arizona continues to gain momentum.

In Colorado, the Colorado Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Practice of Law recently approved a UPL non-prosecution policy for AI-powered, consumer-facing legal tools, which will soon be published on the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel website. Building off the Colorado model, IAALS and the Duke Center on Law & Tech have been hosting workshops for regulators and other leaders to develop a toolkit that will help other jurisdictions create similar policies for their local jurisdictions. 

Also in Colorado, the Advisory Committee on the Practice of Law and LLP Committee have proposed revisions to LLPs’ scope of practice, including authorization for more in-court practice. If approved by the Colorado Supreme Court, LLPs will now be able to make offers of proof, examine all witnesses, and make arguments and objections. Other proposed revisions involve broadening the pathways for admission, which will open the doors for more people to become LLPs. While the written public comment period has passed, a public hearing before the Colorado Supreme Court is scheduled for October 21, 2025.

We experienced both a high and a low in the community justice worker space recently. The high is the Illinois Supreme Court’s approval of a community justice worker program and the low is the recent decision in the Upsolve free speech case.

Finally, two public comment periods in Washington, D.C. and Tennessee remain open (see details below).
Recent News & Updates

Public Comment
    WASHINGTON, D.C.
    In 2023, the D.C. Courts created the Civil Legal Regulatory Reform Task Force to explore ways that nonlawyers could help close the legal services gap in D.C. by providing civil legal services. Last month, the task force published a report recommending that the D.C. Court establish a framework for Community Justice Worker programs, direct further study of the Licensed Legal Practitioners model, and encourage organizations to develop and seek approval of innovative approaches to allow people who are not members of the D.C. Bar, including nonlawyers, to provide legal services, pursuant to Rule 49©(10) of the Rules of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
     
    The task force is currently seeking comment on its recommendations through October 31, 2025. Comments can be submitted via email to clrrtaskforce@dccsystem.gov or by mail to: Executive Office of the D.C. Courts, ATTN: CLRRTF, 500 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.
     
    TENNESSEE
    On September 16, 2025, the Supreme Court of Tennessee entered an administrative order establishing its interest in reassessing its approach to regulation of the legal profession to ensure that all Tennesseans have access to affordable quality legal services and is seeking public comment on the following regulatory innovation issues:

    • Whether any legal services currently provided by lawyers could be competently provided by paraprofessionals and, if so, what qualifications, limitations, or subject matter restrictions the Court should consider imposing. 
    • Whether the Court should modify, reduce, or eliminate regulations prohibiting non-lawyer ownership of law firms or fee sharing with nonlawyers.

    Comments should take into consideration the Court’s goals of lowering barriers to entry into the legal profession and ensuring the availability of affordable legal services to Tennesseans, while also upholding the competency of Tennessee’s attorneys and safeguarding the public. The deadline for submitting written comments is March 16, 2026. Written comments may be submitted either by email to appellatecourtclerk@tncourts.gov or by mail addressed to:

    James Hivner, Clerk
    Re: Regulatory Reform 100 Supreme Court Building
    401 7th Avenue North
    Nashville, TN 37219-1307

    Comments should reference the docket number: ADM2025-01403.

    Please share this information with anyone else you think might be interested! 
Resources
Upcoming Events
From the Sandbox
Some highlights from the latest activity report out of Utah's Office of Legal Services Innovation: 
12 regulated entities 
8 moderate risk (one of these has two subsidiaries)
4 high risk/provisional
45 applicants since reopening in February 2024
2 applicants recommended for entry since reopening
21 applicants denied entry since reopening
0 applicants on hold
20 cumulative number of consumer complaints
Visit our Knowledge Center to track what's happening around the country and the world when it comes to legal regulation, as well as submit information and sign up for notifications.
IAALS is a national, independent research organization that innovates and advances solutions that make our civil justice system more just.

Would you like to forward this email to a friend? Click here.

Share This Email: Facebook   X   Linked In  

IAALS - Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System
University of Denver
John Moye Hall
2060 S. Gaylord Way
Denver, CO 80208

Unsubscribe