Questions? +1 (202) 335-3939 Login
Trusted News Since 1995
A service for global professionals · Thursday, March 28, 2024 · 699,422,079 Articles · 3+ Million Readers

Ayn Traylor-Sadberry, Esq. publishes article on Paralegals & Paraprofessionals, continuing series of articles

Website of Lawyer Ayn Traylor Sadberry

Website of Lawyer Ayn Traylor Sadberry

News about Ayn Traylor Sadberry at Hype News

News about Ayn Traylor Sadberry at Hype News

Attorney Ayn Traylor Sadberry, attorney in Alabama

Attorney Ayn Traylor Sadberry, attorney in Alabama

Blog of attorney Ayn Traylor Sadberry

Blog of attorney Ayn Traylor Sadberry

Ayn Traylor Sadberry, Profile at SolomonLawGuild

Ayn Traylor Sadberry, Profile at SolomonLawGuild

As for civil law cases, there are proposals to address the day-to-day legal need of those people unable or unwilling to hire an Attorney.

Law Offices of Ayn Traylor-Sadberry, P.C. (N/A:N/A)

this access-to-justice disparity has prompted State Bars and court systems to promote other forms of nonlawyer assistance to pro se parties, including courthouse navigators and facilitators”
— Ayn Traylor-Sadberry, attorney in Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, UNITED STATES, December 15, 2018 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Continuing a four-part series of articles, in her newest published article Alabama Family Law Attorney Ayn Traylor-Sadberry discusses the emerging "paraprofessionals." The complete articles will be published on the Blog of Ms. Traylor-Sadberry at https://AynTraylorSadberryBlog.blogspot.com

“Paraprofessionals” such as Licensed Legal Technicians or “Limited License Legal Technicians”

There may be an evolving group of Paralegals that ascend the ranks to act almost like attorneys, similar to Nurse Practitioners who in many cases diagnose and treat health conditions. In civil law cases, there are proposals pending (or already implemented in certain States, as explained below) to address the day-to-day legal need of those unable or unwilling to hire a full-fledged Attorney. This includes the commonplace legal needs of low to moderate-income people by authorizing limited practice by licensed non-lawyers, now known as “paraprofessionals.” This is easy to understand. Many procedures or applications are difficult to understand for “normal” people who are not exposed to them on a daily basis. For example, even forms provided by Courts to make certain filings simpler and possibly enable people to file the forms or applications themselves without the assistance of an Attorney are quite difficult to understand that at least some explanation is still required. This concept has been gradually gaining acceptance. Unlike Paralegals, such paraprofessionals provide services without the direct supervision of an attorney. At this point, two state supreme courts have embraced the “licensed legal technician” concept, and other jurisdictions are closely monitoring its viability.

Given the high percentage of self-represented parties in courtrooms around the country, some advocates believe regulated legal paraprofessionals (charging lower fees) can help narrow the access-to-justice gap. That may one day be the case, but the paraprofessional model and its efficacy in addressing this disparity remain unproven, and ethical rules prevent such a system at least at present.

Washington State pioneered the “limited license” model. In 2013, after years of study, the Washington State Supreme Court adopted the concept of the “Limited License Legal Technician” (LLLT) to perform specific legal services in the area of domestic relations. LLLTs are subject to stringent requirements, which include obtaining an Associate’s degree or higher and completing additional specified coursework; performing 3,000 hours of Paralegal work; passing three law and ethics exams, as well as a character and fitness review. Further, they must also complete a licensing program, satisfy financial responsibility requirements, as well as continuing legal education, and meet malpractice insurance requirements. LLLTs are subject to rules of professional conduct and a disciplinary process similar to those that apply to attorneys. The Board that oversees the LLLT program is now considering expanding the subject matter areas in which paraprofessionals may practice to include consumer debt law.

Several other U.S. States are now following this example. The scope of permissible work for “limited license” paraprofessionals differs under these various models that have been proposed. It generally includes assistance to clients in understanding legal proceedings and completing court forms and other form documents, but does not include appearing for a client in court or at depositions, or taking on complex legal matters. For example, LLLTs in Washington currently may not represent a client in mediated negotiations, but they may do so in Utah.

One of the main reasons for this development is the realization that there is massive need for some form of representation in civil law areas for vast numbers of the population that are attempting self-representation due to limited access to attorneys (mostly due to financial restraints). This is in spite of legal aid societies as well as significant pro bono attorney services. A large number of individuals continue to represent themselves in these areas and could benefit from paraprofessionals.

Ms. Traylor-Sadberry notes that this access-to-justice disparity has prompted State Bars and court systems to promote other forms of nonlawyer assistance to pro se parties, including courthouse navigators and facilitators (examples are Arizona, New York, California, and Washington), and legal document preparers (Arizona, California, and Nevada). Many other States are looking into other forms of permissible assistance (“judicially-authorized-and-regulated legal service providers”) to help address the problem of unmet legal needs.

The complete articles will be published on the Blog of Ms. Traylor-Sadberry at https://AynTraylorSadberryBlog.blogspot.com

About Ayn Traylor-Sadberry

Ayn Traylor-Sadberry is a domestic relations & family law attorney in Birmingham, Alabama. Ms. Traylor Sadberry received her B.A. degree in 1966 from the University of Oklahoma, her M.A. in 1973 from the Oklahoma City University, and her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law in 1981. She was admitted as an attorney in Alabama in 1989.

References

Law Firm Website: http://www.traylorsadberry.com
News at: https://hype.news/ayn-traylor-sadberry-attorney-in-alabama-usa/n-026efe87-ae37-4957-9673-81d146a5bde6/stories
Attorney Profile https://solomonlawguild.com/ayn-traylor-sadberry
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayn-traylor-sadberry-28a168169/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ayn.traylorsadberry.1
Blog at https://AynTraylorSadberryBlog.blogspot.com

Ayn Traylor-Sadberry, Esq
Law Offices of Ayn Traylor-Sadberry, P.C.
(205) 791-2571
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Facebook
LinkedIn

Paralegals and Legal Assistants Job Description

Powered by EIN Presswire


EIN Presswire does not exercise editorial control over third-party content provided, uploaded, published, or distributed by users of EIN Presswire. We are a distributor, not a publisher, of 3rd party content. Such content may contain the views, opinions, statements, offers, and other material of the respective users, suppliers, participants, or authors.

Submit your press release