We Need to Talk About Lawyers' Behind-the-Scenes Help to Pro Se Clients
"It's a rule that's still in its infancy," ethics lawyer Andrew Berman said. "It's still trying to find its equilibrium.”
March 09, 2018 at 02:59 PM
5 minute read
It's not working out well for Ice Legal, but ethics lawyers say there's nothing wrong with attorneys ghostwriting court pleadings for pro se litigants.
The Royal Palm Beach law firm offers “unbundled” and “as-needed” services to litigants who represent themselves in court. Its attorneys doesn't attend hearings or sign any of the pro se court filings, but the foreclosure defense firm does everything else for clients paying a flat fee of about $200 per month.
That's good news for clients, who would otherwise spend four times as much, according to firm founder Thomas Ice. But it's bad for Ice Legal — now in hot water with judges who sanctioned at least one of its clients and demanded its attorneys show their face for litigation involving their “ghostwritten” pleadings.
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