New York Bar association explores stock holding ownership to introduce non lawyer partners

This model has been tried in Australia and is now in the UK.To my surprise the New York bar is introducing the idea. Not as radical as what has been suggested before which may mean it has a chance. This could be great news for specialist law firms who can now have all the expertise in house. This means if a client seeks professional help in a specific area such as carbon monoxide all the work can be done in house. Lets not get too carried away however because this type of arrangement has been allowed in DC for sometime, however those law firm firms are unable to practice law out side of DC. So for a company wanting to offer a national service — and there aren't many of those,-the new initiative, if taken up would preclude any cases out side of NY. Good to see the debate opened though and I hope that those lawyers wanting to get involved with the debate, will shine a light rather than raise the heat on the subject. My fear is that lawyers my not see the bigger picture will be protectionist rather than opening up to progressive new  methodology.