A paralegal student poses for a photo in a suit in a Pima West campus courtyard

Legal Paraprofessional

What is a Legal Paraprofessional (LP)?

An individual licensed pursuant to ACJA Section 7-210 to provide legal services without the supervision of an attorney in limited areas of law and scopes of practice.

What is the difference between a Paralegal and a Licensed Legal Paraprofessional?

Paralegals work under the supervision of a licensed attorney
Paralegals are not licensed by the State of Arizona
Paralegals may perform the following under the supervision of a licensed attorney:
- Draft legal documents for the attorney’s signature
- Interview clients and witnesses
- Perform legal research
- Prepare for trial
LPs work independently in the area they are licensed in as an LP
LPs must pass examinations and meet other requirements to become licensed and are regulated and disciplined (like attorneys) by the Arizona Supreme court
LP services may include:
- Drafting, signing, and filing legal documents;
- Providing advice, opinions, or recommendations about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options or strategies;
- Appearing before a court or tribunal; and
- Negotiating on behalf of a client in the areas or practices that are authorized by the law and if the LP has received a license and endorsement for that area of law.

Where do students obtain the required degree and coursework?

The ABA approved Paralegal Program at PCC offers the necessary degrees and courses.

Who qualifies for the license?

Students currently taking PCC’s paralegal classes and pursuing the Paralegal - AAS Degree or Paralegal - Post-Degree Certificate OR graduates with one of those degrees.

What are the educational requirements?

An associate-level degree in paralegal studies or an associate-level, bachelor’s, or advanced degree in any subject plus a certificate in paralegal studies approved by the American Bar Association (both options offered at PCC) or offered by an institution that is accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and that requires successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester units, or the clock hour equivalent, in legal specialization courses including a minimum of:

For the family law and civil practice area:

3 credit hours in family law (PAR 208) and
6 credit hours in civil procedures (PAR 102 and 202),
3 credit hours in evidence (PAR 106),
3 credit hours each of legal research and writing (PAR 105 (formerly PAR 103) and PAR 211)

For the criminal law practice area:

3 credit hours in criminal law (PAR 206 and 207),
3 credit hours in evidence (PAR 106),
3 credit hours each of legal research and writing (PAR 105 (formerly PAR 103) and 211)

For the administrative law practice area:

3 credit hours in administrative law (PAR 218, 219 and 220)
3 credit hours in evidence (PAR 106)
3 credit hours each of legal research and writing (PAR 105 (formerly PAR 103) and 211)

For the juvenile law practice area:

3 credit hours in dependency law or completion of the Attorney General’s Office internal employee dependency training program for potential Legal Paraprofessionals employed by the Attorney General’s office
3 credit hours in evidence (PAR 106)
3 credit hours of legal research and writing (PAR 105 (formerly PAR 103) and 211)

For all practice areas:

A minimum of 3 credit hours in professional responsibility (PAR 104) and
A minimum of 120 hours or 3 credit hours of experiential learning, supervised by a licensed attorney or legal paraprofessional, that includes content on advocacy; (PAR 290-Paralegal Internship and UPAR-111 Trial Advocacy)

and

One (1) year of substantive law-related experience under the supervision of a lawyer or legal paraprofessional in the area of practice in which licensure is sought.