Washington State has become the first state to allow paralegals with additional training and certifications to dispense legal advice on some limited topics at a fraction of what full lawyers generally charge.
In cities like Seattle, for many residents with lower means, this can mean the difference between having proper legal advice or not.
The paralegals are referred to as limited-license legal-technicians, or 3LTs. So far, the only area in which they are able to operate is family law. The Seattle Times refers to them as the “nurse practitioners” of the legal world. They can draft legal documents, perform research, and advise clients. They cannot represent clients in court or negotiate for them or on their behalf.
Washington hopes the program will help to address the 1.6 million Washingtonians who navigate the legal system on their own every year. Seven states have considered launching similar programs. Washington’s program has also pondered offering help in the fields of elder law, immigration cases, and landlord-tenant disputes.
How these 3LTs will advertise their services has also not been determined. The one tech who has completed licensing, Michelle Cummings, has not had any clients yet. She told the Seattle Times that this was because few people have heard about the program. Some states might choose to use methods such as Direct Mail printing to remind the potential audience for these services that they are out there.
Lawyers have opposed the legal tech program for many years, concerned that it would create “second class legal advice” for poorer residents. Get a Free Quote for Direct Mail
