Utah Court OKs Pathbreaking Pilot on New Legal Service Models

Utah is moving forward with a plan that could result in broad changes in how law is practiced in the state—including allowing tech entrepreneurs and other nonlawyers to own legal operations.

The Utah Supreme Court’s unanimous vote on Thursday establishes a regulatory “sandbox” for non-traditional legal providers and services, including entities with non-lawyer investment or ownership.

Data will be collected through the sandbox, allowing for a new entity called the Office of Legal Services Innovation, to assess and recommend sandbox applicants to the court.

Proponents of reforms were spurred by the need to increase access to justice for the poor ...