A: Per UCJA Rule 14-802, LPPs may practice law in the following areas:

1. Family Law areas: temporary separation, divorce, parentage (paternity), cohabitant abuse, civil stalking, custody and support, name or gender change, and petitions to recognize a relationship as a marriage.
2. Landlord Tenant Law areas: forcible entry and detainer.
3. Debt Collection: debt collection matters in which the dollar amount in issue does not exceed the statutory limit for small claims cases.

A:

1. Be at least 21 years old.
2. Of good moral character and satisfies the requirements of UCJA Rule 15-708. Character and fitness.
3. Have a proven record of ethical, civil, and professional behavior.

4. Educational Requirement.
5. Specialized Course of Instruction Requirement (exemption for applicants with J.D. from ABA-approved law school).
6. Substantive Law-Related Requirement of 1500 Hours.

7. Submit application to take the LPP Ethics Exam and at least one other LPP Exam (limited family law, limited landlord tenant, and limited debt collection) per UCJA Rule 15-707, and pay prescribed fees.
8. Pass LPP Exams.
9. Pay licensing fees and be sworn in.

See UCJA Rule 15-703. Qualifications for Licensure as a Licensed Paralegal Practitioner.

A: Currently, a prospective LPP must have at least one of the following:

1. First Professional Degree (e.g., juris doctorate) from an ABA-Approved Law School.
2. An Associate’s Degree in paralegal studies from an Accredited School or Accredited Program.
3. A Bachelor’s Degree in paralegal studies from an Accredited School or Accredited Program.
4. A Master’s Degree in Legal Studies or the equivalent from an ABA-Approved Law School.
5. Obtain one of the following National Certification within a year of passing the LPP Exam:
   1. Certified Paralegal (CP or CLA) credential from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA);
   2. the Professional Paralegal (PP) credential from the National Association of Legal Professionals (NALS); or
   3. the Registered Paralegal (RP) credential from the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).

A: “‘Specialized Course of Instruction’ means a course that has been approved by the Board to provide instruction in professional ethics or the subject areas for which LPP’s are licensed.” See UCJA Rule 15-701(ee).

Currently, the Specialized Course of Instruction is offered through Utah Valley University’s Professional Education program. All prospective LPPs must take the Ethics/Professional Responsibility Exam and therefore must take UVU’s Ethics/Professional Responsibility course. Depending on which LPP Exams the prospective LPP applies for, they will also need to take the corresponding UVU classes:

Family Law areas

Landlord Tenant Law areas

Debt Collection

A: Per UCJA Rule 15-701(ff):

“Substantive Law-Related Experience” means the provision of legal services as a Paralegal, paralegal student or law student including, but not limited to, drafting pleadings, legal documents, or correspondence, completing forms, preparing reports or charts, legal research, and interviewing clients or witnesses. Substantive Law-Related Experience does not include routine clerical or administrative duties. Substantive Law-Related Experience for licensure in landlord-tenant and debt collection includes, but is not limited to, legal services provided in the areas of bankruptcy, real estate, mortgage and/or banking law.

These hours must be supervised by a licensed Utah attorney who must fill out and sign the Certification of Substantive Law-Related Experience form to verify these hours.

If I went to a non-ABA/Unapproved Law School, may I use that to satisfy my educational requirement?

Currently, a non-ABA approved law school or Unapproved Law School may not be used to fulfill the educational requirement to become an LPP. You would need to qualify under one of the sections in UCJA Rule 15-703(a)(3).

If I went to a foreign law school, may I use that to satisfy my educational requirement?

Currently, a foreign law degree does not fulfill the educational requirement to become an LPP. You would need to qualify under one of the sections in UCJA Rule 15-703(a)(3).