Arizona ABS Law Firms Face New Limits on Out-of-State Business

The policy-making body for Arizona’s court system voted to update two rules to its “alternative business structure” program, placing some restrictions on out-of-state operations.

ABS law firms now must provide legal services—not just make referrals to other lawyers—and devote at least part of their business to serving people in Arizona. The program, which allows firms to take outside investment and have owners who are not lawyers, was launched in part as an effort to reduce the cost of legal services for consumers in the state

The changes, approved by the Arizona Judicial Council, don’t alter the scope of the ABS ...