OPINION 96-103

SUBJECT: Independent paralegal organization.

It is the OPINION of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee that an organization of paralegals who form for the sole purpose of providing services only to legal counsel admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is not in violation of the Unauthorized Practice of Law statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

It is the further OPINION of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee that if those paralegals at any time offer their services to the general consumer public with regard to the preparation of legal documents or with regard to providing legal advice or representation, the organization and the individual members thereof would be in violation of 42 Pa. C.S.A. Section 2524, which violation would constitute a Misdemeanor of the Third Degree.