The Unauthorized Practice of Law and Remote Work: Ethics, Regulation, and Innovation in 2025

Amy E. Richardson
Amy E. Richardson
HWG LLP

Amy Richardson is a partner with HWG LLP, where she serves as Chair of the Legal Ethics and Malpractice group. Ms. Richardson counsels and represents lawyers and law firms in disciplinary investigations and prosecutions and malpractice matters. She counsels and advises lawyers and law firms in partner admissions and departures, and law firm dissolutions. She teaches ethics and professional responsibility at Duke University School of Law.

Jessica Bednarz
Jessica Bednarz
IAALS, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System

Jessica Bednarz is the Director of Legal Services and the Profession at IAALS. In this role, Jessica is responsible for leading the vision and strategy of IAALS’ work around innovation, regulation, reform, and evolution in the areas of delivery of legal services and the legal profession more generally.

On-Demand: September 26, 2025

2 hour CLE

Tuition: $195.00
Subscribe to myLawCLEs All-Acces Pass...
Get this course, plus over 1,000+ of live webinars.
Learn More
Training 5 or more people?

Sign-up for a law firm subscription plan and each attorney in the firm receives free access to all CLE Programs

Program Summary

This program will provide a comprehensive synopsis of regulatory innovation initiatives emerging across the United States, including developments such as regulatory sandboxes, alternative business structures, allied legal professionals, and community justice workers. It will highlight key research findings and data collected to date, with a particular focus on consumer-oriented legal services. It will explore how these innovations and insights can inform and benefit a wide range of stakeholders, practitioners, ethics attorneys, regulators, and others by enhancing access to justice, improving delivery models, and navigating evolving ethical and regulatory frameworks. The program will also explore whether attorneys can work remotely without committing the unauthorized practice of law. Attorneys will learn about ABA Model Rule 5.5, exceptions to the unauthorized practice of law, and recent opinions regarding unauthorized practice of law, including ABA Formal Opinion 495, ABA Formal Opinion 498, and state opinions.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • UPL in a remote practice environment
  • Relevant ABA and state opinions on remote work
  • Regulatory innovation and sandbox learnings
  • Multijurisdictional risks and policy trends
  • Evidence from IAALS on consumer-oriented legal services

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Amy-Richardson_Harris,-Wiltshire-&-Grannis_myLawCLEAmy E. Richardson | HWG LLP

Amy Richardson is a partner with HWG LLP, where she serves as Chair of the Legal Ethics and Malpractice group. Ms. Richardson counsels and represents lawyers and law firms in disciplinary investigations and prosecutions and malpractice matters. She counsels and advises lawyers and law firms in partner admissions and departures, and law firm dissolutions. She teaches ethics and professional responsibility at Duke University School of Law. Ms. Richardson has also successfully represented companies and individuals before federal and state regulatory agencies and Offices of Inspector General. Ms. Richardson’s extensive white collar criminal defense experience includes preparing clients for grand jury appearances and trial work. Ms. Richardson has received Chambers USA’s top ranking for white collar crime and government investigations lawyers in North Carolina.

 

Jessica Bednarz | IAALS, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System

Jessica Bednarz is the Director of Legal Services and the Profession at IAALS. In this role, Jessica is responsible for leading the vision and strategy of IAALS’ work around innovation, regulation, reform, and evolution in the areas of delivery of legal services and the legal profession more generally.

Jessica joined IAALS in 2023 after working at The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF). During her eight years with the CBF, Jessica worked on a wide range of access to justice issues. Her most recent work includes overseeing the CBF’s legal incubator program called the Justice Entrepreneurs Project, launching Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice in Colorado, staffing the Chicago Bar Association & Chicago Bar Foundation Task Force on the Sustainable Practice of Law and Innovation focused on regulatory reform, and creating practice resources such as the CBF Pricing and Limited Scope Representation Toolkits.

Prior to working at the CBF, Jessica was in private practice specializing in family law, both as a solo practitioner and as an associate at O’Connor Family Law, P.C. She later served as the MCLE Coordinator for The Chicago Bar Association and served as a consultant for the Colorado Bar Association.

Jessica received her JD and family law certificate, cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law and a BS from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She currently serves on the Colorado Access to Justice Commission Delivery of Legal Services Committee, the ABA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services, and the Legal Services Corporation Emerging Leaders Council. Jessica is originally from Fishers, Indiana. In her free time, she enjoys exploring, traveling, and community gardening.

Agenda

I. UPL in a remote practice environment | 2:00pm – 2:20pm

II. Relevant ABA and state opinions on remote work | 2:20pm – 2:40pm

III. Regulatory innovation and sandbox learnings | 2:40pm – 3:00pm

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

IV. Multijurisdictional risks and policy trends | 3:10pm – 3:40pm

V. Evidence from IAALS on consumer-oriented legal services | 3:40pm – 4:10pm

Credits

Alaska

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Our programs are CLE-eligible through Alaska’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity.
Alabama

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Arkansas

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Arizona

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Professional Responsibility/Ethics

California

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Colorado

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

Connecticut

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics / Professionalism

District of Columbia

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Delaware

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Florida

Approved for CLE Credits
2.5 Ethics

Receive CLE credit in Florida via attorney submission.
Georgia

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Hawaii

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics / Professionalism

Iowa

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Idaho

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

Illinois

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics, Civility, Professionalism

Indiana

Approved For On-Demand Credits
2 Ethics

Kansas

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics / Professionalism

Kentucky

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Louisiana

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics

Massachusetts

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maryland

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Maine

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics / Professionalism

Michigan

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Minnesota

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

Missouri

Pending CLE Approval
2.4 Ethics

Mississippi

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

Montana

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Professional Fitness and Integrity

North Carolina

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

North Dakota

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Our programs are CLE-eligible through North Dakota’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity. Section 1, Policy 1.14
Nebraska

Pending CLE Approval
2 Professional Responsibility

myLawCLE reports attendance to Nebraska on each attorney’s behalf for all programs. Please do not self-report.
New Hampshire

Approved for CLE Credits
120 Ethics / Professionalism minutes

As of July 1, 2014, the NHMCLE Board no longer provides pre- or post-approval of courses. Attendees must self-determine whether a program is eligible for credit, and self-report their attendance online at www.nhbar.org, based on qualification provisions of Rule 53.
New Jersey

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 Ethics / Professionalism

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New Jersey’s recognition of multi-jurisdictional reciprocity, except for the courses required under BCLE Reg. 201:2
New Mexico

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

Nevada

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

New York

Approved for CLE Credits
2.4 Ethics / Professionalism

Our programs are CLE-eligible through New York’s Approved Jurisdiction Group “B”.
Ohio

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Professional Conduct

Oklahoma

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2.5 Ethics

Oregon

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

Pennsylvania

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

Rhode Island

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

South Carolina

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

South Dakota

No MCLE Required
2 CLE Hour(s)

Tennessee

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Dual

Texas

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Utah

Pending CLE Approval
2 Ethics / Professionalism

Virginia

Not Eligible
2 Ethics / Professionalism Hours

Vermont

Approved for CLE Credits
2 Ethics

Washington

Approved via Attorney Submission
2 Ethics Hours

Receive CLE credit in Washington via Attorney Submission. myLawCLE will supply Washington state attorneys with instructions on how to gain credit.
Wisconsin

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 General

West Virginia

Pending CLE Approval
2.4 Ethics / Professionalism

Wyoming

Approved for Self-Study Credits
2 Ethics

#1 CLE Access Program

  • Over 1,000 Live CLE Webinars each year
  • All CLE webinars broadcasted in last 12 months
  • Programs covering over 35 practice areas
  • Hot topics & changes in the law
  • All formats: Live, Replay, and On-demand
  • Accreditation in every state

Access every CLE webinar,
every format, all year long!

myLawCLE All-Access Pass

only $395 yearly


Register Now

#1 CLE Access Program

  • Over 1,000 Live CLE Webinars each year
  • All CLE webinars broadcasted in last 12 months
  • Programs covering over 35 practice areas
  • Hot topics & changes in the law
  • All formats: Live, Replay, and On-demand
  • Accreditation in every state

Access every CLE webinar,
every format, all year long!

myLawCLE All-Access Pass

only $395 yearly


Preview
More CLE Webinars
Upcoming CLE Webinars
iPad for Lawyers: The Complete Mobile Practice Toolkit
iPad for Lawyers: The Complete Mobile Practice Toolkit Wed, February 18, 2026
Live Webcast
Playing Defense at 30(b)(6) Depositions (2026 Edition)
Playing Defense at 30(b)(6) Depositions (2026 Edition) Mon, February 23, 2026
On-Demand
Live Replay
Creating a Trial Notebook: From A-Z (2025 Edition)
Creating a Trial Notebook: From A-Z (2025 Edition) Wed, February 25, 2026
On-Demand
Live Replay
Security Clearances: Completing the Standard Form 86
Security Clearances: Completing the Standard Form 86 Wed, February 25, 2026
On-Demand
Live Replay