KNOW, the Magazine for Paralegals Summer 2014 | Page 14

Former WSBA President Stephen R.
Crossland and Chair of the LLLTB has
been instrumental in developing the
rules and definitions for limited license
technicians and in launching the first
class with a family law specialization.
Rules of conduct and discipline for
technicians are also key components in
the regulation of this new class of legal
practitioners.

2.
45 credits of core education requirements in legal studies (Civil Procedure, Contracts, Interviewing and Investigation Techniques, Intro to Law & Legal Procedure, Law
Office Procedures and Technology, Legal Research, Writing & Analysis and Professional Responsibility) at an ABA-approved law school
or ABA-approved paralegal program; and
3.
Practice area courses in each practice
area in which the applicant wants to be licensed (at this time, 15 credits in family law).

The LLLTB derives its authority from the
Washington State Supreme Court under
Rule 28 of the Admission Practice Rules
adopted on September 1, 2012, which
authorizes nonlawyers who meet certain educational requirements to advise
and assist clients in specific areas of law.
Three months later, the first LLLT Board
was appointed by the Washington State
Supreme Court to develop the components of the program which encompasses education and continuing education requirements, a testing mechanism
along with ethical requirements and
governance procedures.

A limited time waiver (application for waiver
must be made by December 31, 2016) of an
associate-level degree and core education
is available if an applicant has: (1) passed the
NFPA PACE Exam or NALA Certified Paralegal
Exam or NALS Professional Paralegal Exam and
has active certification and (2) has 10 years of
substantive law-related work experience under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
In addition, an applicant must have 3,000 hours
of substantive law-related work experience to
qualify for a limited legal technician license,
which is approximately 18 months of full-time
work under the supervision of a lawyer within
three years before or after passing the examination.

2013 kicked off the work of the LLLTB,
composed of lawyers, nonlawyers and
legal educators, which recommended
family law as the initial practice area in
which to license LLLTs. The Supreme
Court approved this recommendation in
March 2013. Changes to the education
and experience requirements for limited
licensure were proposed and approved
by the Supreme Court in July of last year.

In August, 2013, Regulations to APR 28 were
also approved by the Washington State Supreme Court, which set forth application procedures, education and work experience requirements, financial responsibilities, annual
license fees, and ethical requirements as stated in the Oath for Limited Legal License Legal
Technicians.

In order to apply to take the LLLT exam,
applicants must have completed:
1.

Washington State has soundly and meticulously considered and developed the LLLT

An associate level degree;
14