You can become an Arizona Bar licensed Legal Paraprofessional in as little as one and a half years. Find your path to helping your community by providing much needed legal services.
Average LPs Bill $239 an Hour
*(source: Assessing Arizonas Legal Paraprofessionals_2024 Survey pg. 16)
Our courses specialize in the LP examination. This includes .
Find our addition pathways for your area of licensure in Family, Civil, Juvenile, Criminal, or Administrative Law
We don't just help you with the exam, we help with your Arizona law and legal studies courses. Our focus is on learning to apply your knowledge, our practice questions come from prior bar exams and other relevant materials.
Find out how to obtain your very first degree in as little as 3 months. Then, follow along as we show you the fastest paths to licensure, as short as one and a half years from start (high school diploma) to finish (all requirements needed to sit for the exam.)
With a passion for teaching and a love for justice, we saw a need to help those on the path to LP licensure obtain the knowledge they need to pass the Legal Paraprofessional examinations in Arizona. With our instructors finding their own accelerated journey to LP licensing, after decades of teaching experience, they are here to guide newcomers and seasoned professionals alike on their journey to become a licensed Legal Paraprofessional.
Like a Nurse Practitioner, a Legal Paraprofessional (LP) is a rigorous license that allows a professional to act nearly as a lawyer, including advising and representing clients in court and writing and filing legal documents, but is limited to one specific area of law in which they are licensed. There are specific restrictions for each practice area. The LP licensure addressed here is exclusively for the state of Arizona.
The program was developed to address the scarcity of legal services in Arizona, with one of the lowest legal professional to population ratios in the United States. A particular focus of the LP program is their focus on rural communities: an LP can fill a gap that would offer professional services where none now exist, and provide slightly more affordable services.
Average hourly billing rate of a J.D. holder and Bar licensed lawyer in Arizona, 2023: $266
Average hourly billing rate of a Bar licensed Legal Paraprofessional in Arizona, 2023: $239
(source: Assessing Arizonas Legal Paraprofessionals_2024 Survey -- Complete_1.pdf at 16)
Start your first course FREE - sign up at https://canvas.instructure.com/register and use the following join code: G6LKLH
There are six ways to become a licensed Legal Paraprofessional. This list is not comprehensive, see documentation linked for details. Practicing law or cosplaying as a Legal Paraprofessional without obtaining licensure is a violation of state and federal law.
All pathways are required to pass the Legal Paraprofessional examination in addition to the exam specific to their area of licensure.
All pathways require passing scores on the examinations, fingerprinting, must be a U.S. Citizen or legal resident, at least 21 years of age, and of good moral character. The potential licensee cannot have been disbarred or suspended from the practice of law unless they have successfully acquired an exemption from the Supreme Court.
LP applicants must comply with laws, court rules, and governing rules. They must complete the state bar approved course on professionalism within one year before or after licensure. There is an extensive Character and Fitness background check as well.
Pathway 1 Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies or Bachelor's and Paralegal Certificate
Either an:
1) Associate level degree in paralegal studies
or 2) a bachelor's or advanced degree in any subject plus a certificate in paralegal studies approved by the ABA
or 3) a bachelor's or advanced degree in any subject plus a min. of 24 semester units in legal specialization courses meeting min. requirements (accredited by an agency recognized by CHEA)
If a certificate in paralegal studies does not
satisfy the following minimum content requirements, the certificate may be supplemented by successfully completing the missing credit hours at one or more
institutions offering an ABA-approved certificate of paralegal studies or accredited by CHEA
AND 4) 1 year substantive law-related experience under supervision of a lawyer or legal paraprofessional in the area of practice sought to obtain licensure in.
Pathway 2 Bachelor's Degree in Law
A bachelor's degree in law from an accredited college or university approved by the Arizona Judicial Council
Pathway 3 Approved Certification Program for LPs
Complete a certification program approved by the Arizona Judicial Council offered through a regionally accredited institution - but must meet min requirements for the area of licensure
AND 1 year substantive law-related experience under supervision of a lawyer or legal paraprofessional in the area of practice sought to obtain licensure in.
Pathway 4 Master's Degree in Legal Studies
A Master's Degree in legal studies from an ABA accredited school.
Pathway 5 JD (Juris Doctor) or equivalent and an LLM
A Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school or foreign equivalent.
AND an LLM (Master of Laws degree) meeting the minimum requirements.
Pathway 6 Substantive Law-Related Experience
Establishing substantive law experience will require written certification by a lawyer or legal paraprofessional who supervises the applicant.
The certification must include:
1) The name and bar license number of all supervising lawyers and legal paraprofessionals
2) A statement that the work experience meets the requirements in the practice area the applicant is seeking licensure:
Provision of legal services must be as a law clerk, a paralegal, or a paralegal student including (but not limited to) the following:
Drafting Pleadings
Legal Documents and Correspondence
Completing Forms
Preparing Reports and Charts
Legal Research
Interviewing Clients or Witnesses
In an area of practice the applicant wishes to receive licensure.
*does not include routine clerical or admin duties nor preparation of legal documents for self-represented clients
3) The dates of the applicant's employment or service with all supervisor lawyers or supervising legal paraprofessionals.
This list is not comprehensive.
For all requirements please click here (updated 08/2024):
* 7-210 Legal Paraprofessional Amended 08-2024.pdf
Learn more about the Legal Paraprofessional Program - Start your first course FREE!
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$32
Per month
$299
Per year
$499
One time
It's not a complex process to become a licensed legal paraprofessional in Arizona. Here's how it works.
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