What Is a Legal Document Assistant?
Though not federally recognized, a legal document assistant (LDA) is comparable to a paralegal. California law, specifically, outlines the functions and responsibilities of the legal document assistant; however, most other states consider the LDA to be the same as a paralegal.
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Paralegal Comparison
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In California, legal document assistants, unlike paralegals, are allowed to provide legal document services to consumers without the direct supervision of an attorney. Because of their close similarity, LDAs were once referred to as "independent paralegals" in California and still are in other parts of the country.
Function
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The primary function of the LDA is to provide legal document services to a client under the direction of the client instead of under the direction of an attorney. By utilizing the services of an LDA, the client is able to receive legal assistance without paying attorney prices.
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Unapproved Activities
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Though LDAs can provide certain legal services, specifically in document preparation, they are forbidden from giving legal advice, representing clients in court or interpreting documents.
Benefits
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Because of their educational backgrounds and experience, LDAs will typically provide high-quality services to their clients after only one visit. Additionally, they provide document services comparable to those typically received and paid for at high-priced law offices.
Qualifications
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According to California law, in order to become an LDA, one must have at least a high school diploma with a minimum of two years of law experience under a supervising attorney, a four-year college degree and at least one year of law experience under a supervising attorney, or a paralegal certification from an accredited university. Qualified LDAs will also typically have experience in providing independent services.
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