https://www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/join-the-legal-profession-in-wa/limited-license-legal-technicians
This article seems pretty relevant to what we were discussing last class…
A Unique Option for Affordable Legal Services
Washington is the first state in the country to offer an affordable legal support option to help meet the needs of those unable to afford the services of an attorney. Legal technicians, also known as limited license legal technicians (LLLT), are currently trained through education and practice experience requirements and are licensed by the Washington Supreme Court to advise and assist people going through divorce, child custody, and other family-law matters in Washington. Legal technicians consult with and advise clients, complete and file necessary court documents, help with court scheduling, and support clients in navigating the often confusing maze of the legal system.
Think of them as being similar to nurse practitioners who can treat patients and prescribe medication but not do everything that a doctor can. LLLTs are well trained, qualified, and competent professionals who can provide you with the help you need.
Look for other practice areas to be approved in the future.
This article was interesting. At first, the LLLT role reminded me of the the work that a paralegal would do, however, the more I read about the LLLT education and qualifications the more I noticed the differences. A paralegal, like an LLLT, is a person trained in legal matters who performs tasks requiring knowledge of the law and legal procedures. However, a paralegal is not allowed to offer legal services directly to the public on their own and they must perform their work under an attorney or law firm. Typically, paralegals are working as an enhancement of an attorney and what he or she does is due to instruction by the attorney and the attorney is ultimately responsible. The LLLT role seems like the new position in between being a paralegal and a fully licensed attorney. While they are given more responsibility than paralegals and not working under the supervision/advisement of an attorney, they are still limited in what legal work they can do. To be licensed as a LLLT, you must have an associates degree or higher, 45 credits at an approved paralegal program, pass three exams and have at least 3,000 hours working as a paralegal or legal assistant doing substantive legal work supervised by a licensed attorney. It seems to me that if this idea takes off, the number of people who intend to be a paralegal as a permanent position will dramatically decrease and the new role of a paralegal will simply be a stepping stone in the training to become an LLLT.
Jacob, interesting article. We discussed LLLTs in Professional Responsibility and our professor described the field as a paralegal plus. I am definitely in support of having something in between a lawyer and a paralegal. With all of their requirements and the limited legal work that they are allowed to conduct, I think LLLTs are very beneficial.