ABA and MDPs.

• Author: Laffie, Lesli S.
• Position: Multidisciplinary law practice

Recently, the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates, in a vote to "preserve the core values of the profession," overwhelmingly (75%) voted against the creation of multidisciplinary practices (MDPs).

According to Resolution 10F, lawyers should be subject only to laws that govern lawyers; thus, they should not share legal fees with nonlawyers, nor permit nonlawyers to own or control entities practicing law. The resolution urges state bar associations--as enforcers of attorney discipline--to define the practice of' law and to retain and enforce laws barring law practice by "entities other than law firms." (For a list of state and...