Bowing to substantial criticism, a state bar committee considering the creation of a paraprofessional program will not recommend that nonlawyers be allowed to own a stake in law firms.

The proposal had been under review for months as the Paraprofessional Program Working Group considered possible structures for allowing a new class of licensed nonlawyer professionals to offer limited legal services in California. But the idea was overwhelmingly panned in a wave of public comments recently submitted to the bar.