*What is a Legal Document Assistant? (LDA)
Legal Document Assistants were
once commonly known as Independent Paralegals. However, as of January
1st, 2000, only those Paralegals working directly for attorneys may now
be referred to as Paralegals. Those formerly known as Independent
Paralegals are now officially known as Legal Document Assistants (LDA's). ((B&PC Section 6400), California SB 1418)
LDA's have the same educational
background as a paralegal and are REQUIRED by law to be registered and
bonded in the county in which they have their principal place of
business.
Please Note:
A Legal Document Assistant is NOT a Lawyer. By law, they cannot give you legal advice or
represent you in the courts in any matter. If you need to consult with
an attorney, your LDA will be able to provide you with a referral.
CALDA - The California Association of Legal Document Assistants (www.CALDA.org)
always suggests that you be sure to ask the LDA you are thinking of
retaining if he or she is bonded and registered in their county. This
is for your protection. All LDA's listed on this Search Engine
website are registered and bonded by their counties. If a person is
acting as an LDA but is not registered and bonded, then they are
operating illegally in California. The Bond is for your protection!
What does an LDA do?
An LDA is an experienced professional who is authorized to prepare legal documents for a client, but only at the direction of the client.
In other words, an LDA is there to assist the "self-help" client handle
their own legal matters without the cost of an attorney.
What is the advantage of hiring an LDA?
- LDA's provide a low-cost alterative to hiring an attorney for routine paperwork.
- In many cases, one visit will usually be sufficient for you to be able to handle most matters.
- LDAs will provide you with top-quality legal typing assistance.






