Colorado Springs Licensed Legal Paraprofessional Services
What Is a Licensed Legal Paraprofessional?
If you have a legal issue, you now have more options for help.
In 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court approved new rules allowing qualified paralegals and non-lawyers to apply for limited licensure to practice law in certain family law matters. On July 20 2024, the first cohort of Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals (LLPs) was admitted to the Colorado bar. This licensure allows LLPs to provide specific legal services and represent clients in certain family law issues.
Much like nurse practitioners and physician assistants can treat patients within certain limitations and without the need of a physician, LLPs can advise, represent, and assist clients within a certain scope and without the supervision of an attorney. This monumental addition of LLPs to Colorado’s legal landscape fosters the creation of alternative options for legal representation and access to family courts.
Colorado LLPs have the authority to represent and assist clients in various scenarios, including:
- Contested and Uncontested Divorces with and without children
- Parental responsibility allocations (Establishing or modifying parenting time and decision-making)
- Establishing or modifying child support or maintenance
- Relocations
- Name changes
- Legal separations, Civil Unions, and Declarations of Invalidity of Marriage
- Protection orders
- Adult gender designation changes
- Remedial contempt related to these areas
- And more.
Their services extend to advising clients, preparing and filing court documents, assisting and negotiating in mediation, and, with some limitations, appearing at hearings.
This new legal service tier helps bridge a significant gap in families’ access to justice, particularly for low- and middle-income individuals and households. It also improves the average person’s capacity to address family court needs.
LLPs differ from attorneys. They don’t have the same general license to practice law as lawyers, but LLPs are seasoned legal professionals offering cost-effective legal representation. Because their qualifications include minimum requirements of time spent working in family law, LLPs already have experience working with clients and helping them navigate the legal system. To indicate their limited licensure, LLPs must clearly identify themselves with the LLP designation in all advertising and court filings.
LLPs are required to adhere to the Colorado Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct, and they must participate in continuous legal education to stay apprised of changes in the legal field and practices in family law. LLPs are held to the same professional standards and disciplinary actions as attorneys.
