Nothing contained in these rules shall affect the right of any person who is not admitted to the practice of law to do anything that he or she might lawfully do prior to their adoption, nor shall they enlarge the rights of persons, not members of the bar or legal interns covered by these rules, to engage in activities customarily considered to be the practice of law.
Section 3-20.—Unauthorized Practice
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis section makes clear that the rules on lawyers and legal interns don't take away any right a non-lawyer already had to represent themselves or handle their own affairs, and don't expand what counts as the practice of law for anyone outside those rules.
Full Text of Section 3-20
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 74.)
Plain-English Summary
This section is a savings clause for Chapter 3. It says the rules on appearances, attorneys, and legal interns don’t change what a person who isn’t admitted to practice law could already lawfully do before these rules existed. A self-represented party, for example, keeps whatever rights they had to handle their own case.
The section also closes the door the other way: it doesn’t give anyone outside the bar or the legal intern program new authority to do things that count as practicing law. It preserves the status quo on both sides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this section let non-lawyers practice law?
No. It only preserves whatever rights a non-lawyer already had before these rules took effect; it does not create any new authority to practice law.
How does this section relate to legal interns?
It clarifies that the legal intern rules in Sections 3-14 through 3-18 don’t expand what people outside that certified program may do, and don’t take away rights self-represented parties already have.
Can a self-represented party still handle their own case under this rule?
Yes. The section confirms that nothing in the appearance rules limits a person’s pre-existing right to act for themselves without a lawyer.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 3-20). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: unauthorized practice of law Connecticutself-represented party rights CTlegal intern rule limitsnon-lawyer representation Connecticut