THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 72 | OCTOBER 2025 Law Practice Tips By Julie Bays Bridging the Justice Gap: Creative Legal Services for Underserved Oklahomans OCTOBER IS RECOGNIZED nationally as Pro Bono Month, a time to celebrate the legal profession’s longstanding tradition of service and encourage lawyers to step forward in meeting unmet legal needs. For Oklahoma lawyers, this month offers not only an opportunity to give back but also to consider innovative approaches to closing the justice gap in our state. THE JUSTICE GAP AND LEGAL DESERTS Legal Services Corp.’s most recent justice gap report found that a staggering 80% of individuals across all income levels did not seek legal help for the issues they faced.1 For low-income households, the most common barrier is cost – or even the perception of cost. Only 45% of low-income individuals felt confident they could find a lawyer they could afford. Even among moderate-income individuals, defined as up to 400% of the federal poverty line, that number only rises to 59%. For Oklahomans living in rural communities, the challenges are even more acute. Some counties have only a handful of practicing lawyers. These “legal deserts” leave residents to navigate family law, housing disputes and consumer issues on their own, often without even the possibility of local representation. The result is more self-represented litigants in court and an increased strain on the judicial system. LIMITED SCOPE SERVICES AS A SOLUTION One model to help bridge this gap is limited scope representation (LSR), sometimes called “unbundled services.” Instead of taking on every aspect of a case, lawyers offering LSR step in where their help will make the biggest difference. That might mean explaining the court process, drafting a pleading or preparing a client for a hearing while the client handles the rest of the case. This model breaks legal work into smaller, affordable pieces, giving clients access to the guidance they need most without the cost of full-service representation. For lawyers, it’s a way to extend services to more Oklahomans, especially in communities with limited resources. LSR improves court efficiency and makes the justice system less intimidating for people who might otherwise try to go at it alone. Rule 1.2(c) of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct expressly permits this type of representation, as long as the limitation is reasonable under the circumstances and the client gives informed consent.2 In 2017, Oklahoma also adopted District Court Rule 33, which authorizes lawyers to draft pleadings and other documents for pro se litigants without formally entering an appearance, provided the lawyer’s limited role is disclosed on the document.3 These rules provide clear authority and structure for Oklahoma lawyers to offer LSR safely and ethically. For clients, LSR can mean the difference between going to court completely unassisted or having professional guidance that helps them better navigate the system. For lawyers, it can be a way to expand services to those who cannot afford full representation while still running a sustainable practice. WHY LAWYERS SHOULD CONSIDER LIMITED SCOPE REPRESENTATION LSR offers practical advantages for both clients and attorneys facing the realities of Oklahoma’s
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