MARCH 2026 | 61 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL Referral Sources. Requests for investigations of the unauthorized practice of law come from multiple sources. In 2025, the Office of the General Counsel received more than 40% of UPL complaints from judges and licensed lawyers. Respondents. In 2025, most requests for investigation into allegations of the unauthorized practice of law complained about non-lawyers holding themselves out as having specific training in the law. Enforcement. In 2025, the Office of the General Counsel took formal action in eight matters. Formal action included issuing cease and desist letters, initiating formal investigations through the lawyer discipline process, referring a case to an appropriate state and/or federal enforcement agency, or filing the appropriate district court action. Ten matters were closed after corrective action was taken, and the remainder of the matters remain under investigation. CLIENTS’ SECURITY FUND The Clients’ Security Fund was established in 1965 by Court Rules of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The Fund is administered by the Clients’ Security Fund Committee, which is comprised of 14 lawyer members and 3 non-lawyer members. The Committee members are appointed in staggered three-year terms by the OBA President with approval from the Board of Governors. In 2025, the Committee was chaired by lawyer member Micheal Salem, Norman. Chairman Salem has served as Chair for the Clients’ Security Fund Committee since 2006. The Fund furnishes a means of reimbursement to clients for financial losses occasioned by dishonest acts of lawyers. It is also intended to protect the reputation of lawyers in general from the consequences of dishonest acts of a very few. The Board of Governors budgets and appropriates $175,000.00 each year to the Clients’ Security Fund for payment of approved claims. In years when the approved amount exceeds the appropriated amount, the amount approved for each claimant will be reduced in proportion on a pro rata basis until the total amount paid for all claims in that year is $175,000.00. The Office of the General Counsel reviews, investigates, and presents the claims to the committee. In 2025, the Office of the General Counsel presented 27 claims to the Committee. The Committee approved 10 claims, denied 12 claims, and continued five claims into the following year for further investigation. In 2025, the Clients’ Security Fund paid a total of $146,845.00 on 10 approved claims.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTk3MQ==