LEGAL DOCUMENT ASSISTANT

What is an LDA?

An LDA is an experienced professional who is authorized to prepare legal documents for a client, but only at the direction of the client.

As of January 1, 2000, a new California law known as SB1418 authorizes non-lawyers to prepare legal documents for people doing their own legal tasks, and creating a new formal title, Legal Document Assistant. Today, the legal document assistant profession is governed by Business and Professions Code Sections 6400 to 6415.

A legal document assistant is an experienced professional authorized under California law to prepare legal documents for consumers at the direction of the client. In other words, an LDA is there to support the “self-help” client handling their own legal matters without the cost of an attorney. A legal document assistant can:

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• Distribute to their customers legal materials that have been published or approved by a lawyer

• Prepare the customers’ legal documents under the direction of their clients

• File the client’s legal documents in the appropriate courts

Note that legal document assistants must meet strict educational requirements and be registered and bonded in the county where their primary office is located.

Paralegal vs Legal Document Assistant

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• An LDA is NOT an attorney and cannot give legal advice or represent people in court.

• Likewise, a paralegal is NOT an LDA!

Specifically, a paralegal cannot offer legal document preparation services directly to consumers and can only work and be paid by the attorney who employs them. Only registered legal document assistants can offer these types of services.

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