A newer credential is opening a career path that sits between “paralegal” and “attorney”: the licensed legal paraprofessional, sometimes called a Legal Paraprofessional (LP) or Licensed Paralegal Practitioner (LPP) depending on the state.
How it works in practice
Arizona’s program, created by the Arizona Supreme Court, currently allows Legal Paraprofessionals to provide direct legal services — including appearing on a client’s behalf in limited circumstances — in four areas: family law, limited-jurisdiction civil matters, criminal law, and administrative law. Utah runs a similar Licensed Paralegal Practitioner program.
A growing list of states
The number of states running some form of non-lawyer licensing program has grown from two to six in recent years, with Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Oregon joining Utah, and more states reportedly considering similar programs. The driving motivation cited by state bar associations is closing the access-to-justice gap — giving people with straightforward legal needs an affordable alternative to hiring a full attorney.
For paralegals already working in family law, landlord-tenant, or other high-volume practice areas, this is worth watching: it is a credentialed path to more autonomy and higher earning potential without going to law school.
Sources: American Bar Association, How States Are Using Non-Lawyers to Address the Access to Justice Gap · University of Arizona Law, Legal Paraprofessional Program
