There’s a new option for those in need of legal services in Washington State in the area of family law.  The newly created Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT or “triple-L T”) role was designed to address the need for legal assistance for those who cannot afford a lawyer.     Washington is the first state in the country to offer this level of legal expertise, expanding access to legal assistance for our state’s citizens and making help more attainable.

LLLTs are trained and licensed to offer legal advice and assistance in family law matters, including divorce, child support, paternity, minor parenting plan modifications, and other trying family law issues that leave many people mentally, emotionally, and financially exhausted.  LLLTs are frequently compared to a nurse practitioner in the medical field.  A nurse practitioner can provide many valuable treatments that a registered or licensed practical nurse cannot – and that would be more expensive when rendered by a doctor.   Likewise, a Limited License Legal Technician is an option for those who need legal help that a paralegal is not permitted to provide, and at a lower cost than retaining a lawyer.

A LLLT cannot represent a client in the courtroom or negotiate on a client’s behalf. They can, however, help clients understand their legal options, explain the relevancy of facts, educate them on the legal process and applicable procedures, perform legal research, select and complete legal forms, and review and explain paperwork that is oftentimes voluminous and confusing.

Having taken the lead nationally on the issue of increasing access to legal services to a broader cross-section of the public, Washington State is proud to have become the home of this pioneering new frontier in legal representation.  It is an opportunity for Washington to provide a shining example by making justice a more accessible commodity. To learn more on the topic, please see What is a Legal Technician?

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jen Petersen, of Shepherd and Abbott, for becoming the first LLLT in Whatcom County and the fourth LLLT to be licensed in Washington State. We’re so proud of your accomplishment.

Well done, Jen!