Learn what the future holds for non-lawyer ownership of firms—and why the legal industry could benefit from this progressive approach.
Jurisdictions across the globe are starting to embrace non-lawyer ownership of firms—striving to reduce the access to justice gap, promote a more affordable and innovative legal industry, and champion a more client-centered approach.
The panel will feature Allen Rodriguez, Founder of ONE400, and Lynda Shely, Owner of The Shely Firm PC—who are both driving forces in the area of non-lawyer ownership of firms. The panellists will discuss the outlook and impact of non-traditional legal providers—and address questions on the following topics:
- What’s the compelling motivation for state bars considering ABS and non-attorney ownership
- What are some of the concerns of people who oppose these changes
- What non-lawyer ownership means for law firms—and why it’s not as scary as it seems
- Advice for non-lawyers wanting to start a practice, and lawyers wanting to partner with a professional of a different expertise
Meetup Overview:
- A virtual platform for learning and engagement among legal professionals
- Hosted by Joshua Lenon, Lawyer in Residence at Clio, featuring Allen Rodriguez, Founder of ONE400 and Lynda Shely, Owner of The Shely Firm PC
- Duration: 45-minute panel discussion
- Submit questions for the panelists here for a chance to win a Clio Cloud Conference pass
- This session is part of a series: Are Alternative Legal Services Right for Your Firm?
Watch the Recording
Speakers
Lynda Shely
Owner/Attorney
The Shely Firm PC
Lynda C. Shely, of The Shely Firm, PC, Scottsdale, Arizona, provides ethics advice to law firms in Arizona and the District of Columbia. Prior to opening her own firm, she was the Director of Lawyer Ethics for the State Bar of Arizona. Prior to moving to Arizona, Lynda was an attorney with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius in Washington, DC. Lynda received her BA from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA and her JD from Catholic University in Washington, DC. Lynda is a past president of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers and the Scottsdale Bar Association. She is chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, an Arizona Delegate in the ABA House of Delegates, and volunteers with several groups involved in legal ethics matters, including as a member of the Arizona Supreme Court’s Board of Nonlawyer Legal Service Providers and a national advisor to the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Task Force on the Sustainable Practice of Law & Innovation. She has been an adjunct professor at all Arizona law schools, teaching professional responsibility.
Hosts
Joshua Lenon
Lawyer in Residence
Clio
Joshua Lenon is the Lawyer in Residence at Clio. An attorney admitted to the New York Bar, Joshua brings legal scholarship to the conversations happening both within Clio and with its customers. Joshua has worked extensively to educate lawyers on technology’s capability to enhance their practice, while also teaching tech companies about the unique needs of the legal system.
Allen Rodriguez
Founder
ONE400
Allen Rodriguez is a national speaker, product development strategist and legal innovator who has been serving the legal industry for 19 years. Over the course of his career, Allen has built a reputation for creating innovative legal services products as well as developing highly effective law firm business models and marketing strategies. Allen is a valued speaker on the topics of legal services product development, design thinking in law and future of law issues. He has provided consulting and engineering services for such companies as McKinsey & Co., Fastcase, Gavelytics, LexisNexis, and Littler.