A New Report from the D.C. Courts
Many people in D.C. go to court without a lawyer, making it hard to understand legal papers, fill out forms, or know what to do. This report explores a new idea: training trusted community members to give basic legal help in civil cases like housing, family, or money matters. Most people in these cases don’t have a lawyer. Other states are testing new ways to help. This report looks at whether D.C. should do the same.
What is the Civil Legal Regulatory Reform Task Force?
In July 2023, the District of Columbia Courts established the Civil Legal Regulatory Reform Task Force to investigate the idea of allowing nonlawyers who have sufficient qualifications and training to provide certain kinds of legal help in civil cases to people whose important interests are involved. Current rules only allow licensed lawyers to provide legal assistance.
The Courts asked the task force to get broad input from the legal community and relevant stakeholders about this idea and to prepare a report for the DC Courts summarizing that feedback.
Purpose and Process
The task force was asked to obtain input from the Courts and other key stakeholders on the draft report of the Specially Licensed Legal Professional Working Group of the Innovations in Legal Practice Committee (formerly the Global Legal Practice Committee) of the DC Bar, and to prepare a report:
- Describing how the task force received input from the Courts and other stakeholders
- Summarizing the input received and addressing issues raised by stakeholders
- Proposing any revisions to the initial recommendations in the draft report of the Specially Licensed Legal Professional Working Group of the DC Bar’s Innovations in Legal Practice Committee
- Proposing an implementation plan if the recommendations are adopted by the DC Courts
The task force established a series of committees to conduct its work, which included the examination of similar efforts established or being considered in other states to:
• Identify successes and best practices
• Explore the scope of any potential efforts in DC
• Plan to ensure valuable feedback from stakeholders is solicited and received
The task force’s April 2024 status report details the work of these committees. The task force met bimonthly to share findings and to discuss potential recommendations.
Members of the Task Force
Roy W. McLeese III, Associate Judge, DC Court of Appeals, Co-chair
Alfred S. Irving Jr., Senior Judge, DC Superior Court, Co-chair
Laura A. Cordero, Associate Judge, DC Superior Court
Darlene M. Soltys, Associate Judge, DC Superior Court
Herbert Rouson Jr., Executive Officer, DC Courts
Julio Castillo, Clerk of the Court, DC Court of Appeals
WonKee Moon, Special Counsel (Former) to the Chief Judge, DC Court of Appeals
Willa Obel, Special Counsel to the Chief Judge, DC Superior Court
Erin Larkin, Director, Access to Justice Unit, DC Courts
James Sandman, Vice Chair, DC Access to Justice Commission, Chair, External Outreach Committee
Nancy Drane, Executive Director, DC Access to Justice Commission, Chair, Outreach Committee
Charles (Rick) Talisman, Chair (Former), Innovations in Legal Practice Committee, DC Bar
Amy Neuhardt, Chair, Innovations in Legal Practice Committee, DC Bar
Carla Freudenburg, Director, Regulation Counsel, DC Bar
Kirra Jarratt, Chief Executive Officer, DC Bar Foundation
Sharon Goodie, Administrative Law Judge, DC Office of Administrative Hearings
Toni Marsh, President, American Association for Paralegal Education, Chair, Scope and Qualifications Committee