The State Bar of Texas has put forth a series of proposed revisions to pending rules issued by the state supreme court, aimed at allowing non-attorneys to offer certain legal services. These recommendations seek to increase educational requirements and ban particular fee structures. For instance, the bar suggests raising the minimum education level for paraprofessionals from a high school diploma to an associate’s degree and prohibiting disbarred attorneys from obtaining paraprofessional licensure. Further, the revisions advocate for stricter continuing legal education (CLE) requirements and protocols for client communications and fee handling.
The proposed changes—which also call for additional clarification on duties to clients and disciplinary procedures—aim to bridge the justice gap for Texas residents who cannot afford an attorney. For a detailed overview of the suggested modifications, including insights from key figures such as administration committee chair Elizabeth Sandoval Cantu, more information is available here.