Empowering Access To Justice: The LLP Program In Colorado

Ami: An LLP is a licensed legal paraprofessional. LLPs have significantly more training and expertise than paralegals, and they can represent clients in family law matters, and provide many, but not all, of the same services that licensed attorneys provide.

Ami: To practice, an LLP must first become licensed by meeting the minimum education and/or work requirements, demonstrating completion of at least 1,500 hours of substantive law-related practical experience, including 500 hours of recent experience in Colorado family law, taking a legal ethics class, and passing both a family law exam and a legal ethics exam administered by the Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of LLP Admissions. Additionally, all LLPs must satisfy character and fitness requirements and take the professionalism course from the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. To maintain licensure, LLPs will be required to complete continuing legal education courses and uphold all applicable ethical and legal standards.

Ami: The duties of LLPs and attorneys overlap in many respects. Some differences include that LLPs may only use court-approved forms whereas attorneys may draft their own pleadings. LLPs can represent clients in court proceedings, but unlike attorneys, they are not authorized to question or cross-examine witnesses. In most relatively straightforward cases, and/or cases with issues that are agreed to by the parties, LLPs can provide complete legal representation to a client throughout the process from start to finish, including alternative dispute resolution when appropriate.

Ami: In addition to knowing substantive family law, understanding how the court process works, and being a skilled advocate, a good LLP should be a conscientious, compassionate, and kind person, who is good at listening and communicating, and genuinely enjoys helping people.

Ami: I am on the steering committee that has been working to develop the program logistics within our firm. I also support our LLPs by assisting them in studying for the licensure exams, answering their questions, providing ongoing training, and working directly with them to develop and improve their advocacy, negotiation, and courtroom skills.

Caroline: What do you think of the program?

Ami: I think the program offers a significant improvement to the way legal services are provided, and it will benefit clients by allowing them to select their level of representation according to their own needs and the needs of their case.

Ami: I hope to see the LLP role evolve to become the standard means of legal representation for those who have straightforward and/or undisputed cases that don’t require an attorney. In those cases, an LLP can effectively guide, negotiate, and advocate for clients, while ensuring that proper procedures are followed, and costly mistakes are avoided.

Ami: LLPs are highly experienced and skilled professionals who are required to uphold exacting ethical standards, and whose fitness and character has been vetted by the licensing authority. The same confidentiality, conflict of interest, and other ethical standards apply to LLPs as licensed attorneys. In appropriate cases, an LLP may be able to provide necessary legal services more economically than a licensed attorney. And, because Modern Family Law has both LLPs and licensed attorneys available, even complex matters can be seamlessly and efficiently handled by joint representation from an LLP and attorney when necessary.