President-Elect
Deborah Reheard has identified as one of her
initiatives for 2011 a study of the unauthorized practice
of law. The initial meeting of the UPL Special
Committee was held recently comprised of members of the Professional
Responsibility Commission and other attorneys
and judges from across the state who have expressed an
interest in dealing with UPL issues.
“It
has been about 20 years since the Association has taken
a real good look at this issue. The Oklahoma Supreme
Court has charged the OBA through the Professional
Responsibility Commission and the General Counsel?s
office with the regulatation and prosecution of the unauthorized
practice of law. During the time I was running for President, many attorneys
and members of the public expressed concern that this
was an area which needed to be addressed by OBA leadership. Our
General Counsel?s office is currently
seeking civil remedies in several of these cases.
Greater awareness of the scope and extent of the problem can only
result in us doing a better job protecting the public from unscrupulous
unlicensed persons preying on the unsuspecting,”
Reheard said.
The
special committee works closely with the PRC which has
the responsibility to review complaints and authorize litigation when
protecting the public becomes necessary. PRC members and past OBA Presidents Melissa
Delacerda and Bill Grimm are co-chairing the UPL Special Committee.
Committee members are:
- Deborah Reheard
- Cathy Christensen
- Doug Stump
- Julie Bays
- Judge Mary Fitzgerald
- Judge James Croy
- Judge Rick Bozarth
- Chad Locke
- Bill Nunn
- Michelle Nelson
- David Tracy
- Julie Strong
- Mark Hixson
- David Poarch
- Stephen Beam
- Tony Blasier
- Gina Hendryx
- Katie Ogden
- John Williams
Look for further stories and details
as the special committee continues its work.
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