Effective January 01, 2000, and for the first time, a new California law known as SB1418 authorizes non-lawyers to prepare legal documents for people doing their own legal tasks and representing themselves in courts.  These non-lawyers are called Legal Document Assistants [LDAs].

LDA may prepare legal documents in a ministerial manner; provide attorney-authored general information and published legal documents; and file and serve documents at the direction of the client.

As for Registration Procedures: The registrant LDA shall complete 15 hours of continuing legal education courses, which meet the requirements of Section 6070, during the two-year period preceding renewal and is not required to complete legal ethics education as part of the required 15 hours of continuing legal education courses.

What is the advantage of hiring an LDA?