Understanding Champerty

Champerty, a legal doctrine that deals with litigation financing, is front and center in a recent discussion about its relevance in contemporary law. Historically, champerty restricts the ability for parties without a vested interest in a case to finance litigation as a means of profit, raising concerns about encouraging frivolous lawsuits. The podcast elaborates on the complexities of this doctrine, including its intersection with ethics rules that prevent lawyers from sharing fees with non-lawyers, effectively creating barriers to legal financing for plaintiffs. This creates a complicated landscape where potential litigants may struggle to access necessary resources despite having valid claims, further questioning the justification for such restrictions.