California Lawmakers OK Bill to Keep Bar from Expanding Access

California lawmakers again smacked down the state bar under a bill that would restrict the attorney regulatory agency from advancing any initiative to increase scope of practice for paralegals or explore corporate ownership of law firms.

The California Assembly voted 59-0 to concur in Senate amendments to the bill (A.B. 2958) to prohibit the State Bar of California from spending any funds on the so-called regulatory sandbox initiative without the Legislature’s approval.

It also would require the bar to report to lawmakers by next Jan. 15 the total spent since 2018 to study creating a sandbox or the ...