Kinds of services that a Legal Document Assistant (LDA) can perform for you:
We can perform the following self-help services for you in connection with a legal matter in which you are representing yourself:

• We can type or otherwise complete, as you specifically direct, legal documents that you have selected;
• We can provide you general published factual legal information that has been written or approved by an attorney, to help you represent yourself;
• We can provide you published legal documents;
• We can file and serve legal forms and documents as you specifically direct;
• We can work in conjunction with your lawyer to provide unbundled legal services. ​

 
These are the only kinds of services that Legal Document Assistants can perform for you.  If you need additional services are needed beyond the scope of services we are able to provide, we can refer you to  an attorney.
 
Kinds of services that an Legal Document Assistants (LDAs) cannot perform for you:
LDAs cannot represent anyone in court, cannot provide advice about legal rights or the law, nor can LDAs select legal forms. Fortunately, Court websites have document packets with most commonly used legal documents free to download. Only an attorney can provide legal advice.

Services are exclusively for Pro Per litigants representing who are themselves in a legal matter and the self-help service relates to that legal matter. 
 
This firm cannot and will not engage in the practice of law.
This means that we cannot give you any kind of advice, explanation, opinion or recommendation about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, strategies or options that you may have. We cannot give you any advice, explanation, opinion or recommendation regarding selection of forms.

It can be difficult deciphering what legal advice is. Clients regularly ask legal questions not understanding they are putting the LDA in a compromising position. 
Questions related to:

• What you should do;
• What your options are;
• What's legally required of you;
• What are your legal obligations;
• What are the other party's legal obligations;
• If a law/procedure is applicable to your case;
• Any explanations of your rights
• Any explanation of the law;

are considered legal advice and should be discussed with an attorney. ​

​Legal Document Assistant (LDA) do not operate any differently than a Paralegal working under the supervision of an Attorney. Both can only render legal services at the specific direction of either the attorney or clients for the LDAs.

Operating an LDA Business is invaluable because of the first-hand experience and practical training on the front lines of pro se litigation. Just like attorneys LDAs too learn through file rejections and amended pleadings. Heck, judges and clerks review our work on a daily basis. 

Paralegal and LDA practice practical application of the law and both have a front row seat to the theoretical application of the law whether our clients be attorneys or in pro se litigants. 

It may not be common knowledge, but many of my regular clients are in fact attorneys/law firms who have one off family law cases and or who have overflow cases. This is the case for many of my LDA peers. Attorneys who see LDAs as competitors rather than potential business partners shut down revenue opportunities to render competent and affordable legal services. 

The Justice Gap Study Executive Report also tells us the gap in knowledge is the one of the key issues in access to justice. As an LDA One of the biggest challenges of working with the self-representing litigants, is they do not realize their questions are legal questions which can or should only be answered by an attorney. While we can provide litigants self-help resources or sure the litigant an research the answer themselves, but legal research is a art in of of itself which is a two semester program taught in a paralegal program. This is a systemic civics issue that transcendent socio-economic condition. How does the constitutional right to redress serve the people if they cannot navigate the legal system without paying thousands in attorney fees? Fortunately, the California State Bar is presently working on address this very issues. ​

The California Paraprofessional Program Working Group (CPPWG) is one of the many working groups established pursuant to the ATILS Taskforce (Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services) recommendations (see Final Report and Recommendations).
​
One of the more notable mandates the ATILS Taskforce was charged with was  the review of, "the prohibitions against unauthorized practice of law (UPL) as well as the impact of those prohibitions on access to legal services." This directly impact our profession as LDAs because their findings were to recommend the consideration of implementation of the new paraprofessional licensing program. It was at this juncture where LDAs should have had a voice in the outcome of these recommendations. Instead of the development of a new non-attorney professional, rather the expansion of our current profession as LDAs. But, that ship has long since sailed. The ATILS Taskforce final report was adopted in March 2020.

It is imperative that LDAs are involved in not just the Paraprofessional Working Group, but the other ancillary working groups, subcommittees and taskforces. 

Here's a link to the California Paraprofessional Program Working Group
http://www.calbar.ca.gov/About-Us/Who-We-Are/Committees/California-Paraprofessional-Program-Working-Group for more details.

Effective January 1, 2016. BPC §6402.  our registration requirement has changed. We are no longer required to register in each count where we perform business.
We can now offer business in ANY county throughout California and are only required to register in the county in which our principal place of business is located, and in which we maintain a branch office. 

"A legal document assistant or unlawful detainer assistant shall be registered pursuant to this chapter by the county clerk in the county in which their principal place of business is located, and in which they maintain a branch office..."

To date, the Department of Consumer Affairs has yet to update our statutory contract to conform with BPC §6402. 
​
Current Contract
7. As required by law, I have filed a bond or made a cash deposit and have registered as a legal document assistant in each county where I will perform services on your behalf.
Proposed Revision
7. As required by law, I have filed a bond or made a cash deposit and have registered as a legal document assistant in the county where my principal place of business is located, and in any counties in which this business maintains a branch office.
https://govt.westlaw.com/calregs/Document/I3356854BB1E74FDB8181ECEA71C00C39?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)

​Notarizing online will change your life and more importantly how you do business!  

I recently started eNotarizing Marital Settlement Agreements with Notary Live. Clients love it, especially with COVID restrictions. The fee is $25 per signature. If both signers are in the same place they can sign during the same session for $30. There is even a feature to have clients pay directly. There are no monthly fees! Nada, Zip, Zilch. The notarized document comes right back to you so there's no tracking down docs from clients. 

Enjoy!

The major difference is Paralegals can only perform legal services for attorneys whereas a Legal Document Assistant can perform limited self-help legal services for the general public, like yourself.
 
Paralegals:
In the state of California, a "Paralegal" is a legal professional, who is qualified by education, training, or work experience, who performs substantial legal work under the direction and supervision of an attorney.
 
Legal Document Assistants (LDAs):
Formerly known as "Independent Paralegals," Legal Document Assistants are bonded and registered legal professionals, who are qualified by education, training, or work experience, to provides limited legal services for self-representing litigants. LDAs can provide self-help services at clients' specific direction.

What’s your split? The biggest motivator for going into business for yourself is getting 100% of sales. The flip side is you also take 100% of the risk. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to have an attorney by your side along the way? 

By investing in a LegalShield Small Business Plan I make calculated business decisions avoiding unnecessary risk. Custom business legal plans starting at $39.00 per month give you access to a huge variety of legal services to help you rest easy knowing you’re protected. Speak to a lawyer as often as you’d like, get contracts & documents reviewed before you sign and much more. Protect and grow your business with a LegalShield Small Business Plan.

Dear Legal Document Preparers community,
Here's the latest news from the Sacramento Superior Court:
As you know, "many court operations have been curtailed and understandably, have adversely impacted the civil legal community.

The Court is developing and are implementing an operational plan that will increased civil, family law and probate operations. It is very important that you check the court’s website for updates and additional orders.

Missed Hearings: Hearings missed during the court closure period (March 20, 2020 through May 15, 2020) will be continued by minute order and posted to the Public Case Access System (https://services.saccourt.ca.gov/PublicCaseAccess/) . The posted minute order will provide new hearings dates, extend temporary orders if applicable, and provide instructions for appearing using Zoom. Continuance dates could be set as early as May 11, 2020.

Missed FCS Return Hearings: Hearings on the return from mediation will be reset, noticed via the Public Case Access System (https://services.saccourt.ca.gov/PublicCaseAccess/) to be heard commencing the week of May 25, 2020.

Missed FCS Mediation Appointments: All mediations missed since the court closure on March 20, 2020, will be rescheduled with notification sent to parties by US Mail, by the anticipated date of May 27, 2020. Mediations conducted via telephone or Zoom could begin as early as May 1, 2020.

FCS 10-Page Input Letters: A designated email address will be contained within the FCS notification sent out to parties.

FCS Mediation Reports: All reports for mediations conducted in early March will be issued by May 11, 2020, and posted on the Public Case Access System (https://services.saccourt.ca.gov/PublicCaseAccess/) .

Retroactive Modification of Support: Child and Spousal support are statutorily retroactive to date of filing. See Judicial Council web link at courts.ca.gov/doc…/2020-04-19-rules-effective-04-20-2020.pdf (http://www.courts.ca.gov/…/2020-04-19-rules-effective-04-20…) .

Probate: Probate Court will accept and process ex parte applications beyond those limited to temporary
conservatorship and guardianship. See Probate Court Closure Mitigation Plan saccourt.ca.gov/…/extended-court-closure-mitigation-planfor… (https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/…/extended-court-closure-mitiga…)

For more details, please visit the Court's COVID-19 website: https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/general/coronavirus.aspx
If you’re looking for more ways to protect yourself and your loved ones, check out the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) website.

We look forward to supporting each other during these challenging times.

How best to protect your notary business from vexatious litigants and unscrupulous individuals looking to make a quick buck from our Notary bonds?

What many Notaries do not understand is that the bond only protects the public, not the notary. The bonding agency have to interest in denying claims against our bonds. Afterall, any claims paid out on the notary's behalf can and will be recuperated from the notary. I don’t know about anyone else but I certainly don’t have $25k to burn.

This is why Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O) is SO important. E&O Insurance protects the notary against claims. That said... not all E&O policies are created equal. Read and understanding the arduous clauses written in legalese can be frustrating for anyone.

As a benefit of the LegalShield Small Business Plan members can submit insurance policies to an attorneys specializes in insurance law to review before signing! It also helps that LegalShield offers Trial Defense benefits.

It would be great if LSS counseled Notaries on how to limit liability where bonds and insurance policies may fall short.

Are you struggling to pay your commercial lease? Put your LegalShield Small Business Plan to work for you! Have a lawyer review your commercial lease for a Force Majeure Clause then guide you how to navigate rent negotiations amid the COVID-19 epidemic.

Is your landlord unresponsive? Have a lawyer write a letter on your behalf.  
​
Benefits include:
LEGAL CONSULTATIONS

• Speak with your attorney on an unlimited number of business legal issues.
• One hour of legal research on each matter is included at no additional charge.

LETTERS & CALLS

• Your attorney can make phone calls or write letters on your behalf.
• Debt collection letters are included at no additional charge.

DOCUMENTS & CONTRACTS

• Have your attorney review documents and draft contracts.
• Legal forms are included at no additional charge.

TRIAL DEFENSE

• Your attorney can defend you in covered civil lawsuits.
• Pre-trial hours included at no additional charge.

Keeping track of the relief rollouts amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) is difficult to say the least. Tracking down the forms needed to apply for relief can be nearly impossible. We've started a webpage dedicated COVID-19 legal resources for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. As the situation continues to develop, we continue to upload forms and other resources to the COVID-19 Legal Resource page.  

All Legal Document Assistant-Client communications should contain the following:
CA BPC 6408

• Registrants Name
• Fictitious Business Name (DBA), if applicable
• Business Address
• Telephone Number
• County of Registration
• Expiration Date, if electronic correspondence such as emails

​
​CA PBC 6408.5
I am not a lawyer. I cannot give legal advice. [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] is not a law firm. I can only provide self-help services at your specific direction.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak we be providing virtual assistance for the safety of our clients and staff. We will remain open during regular business hours and reachable by phone, text, and email.

We will continue to provide essential legal services necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities and limited emergency matters. This includes:
• Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse Restraining Order
• Family Emergency Temporary Restraining Order
• Emergency Family Law Ex Partes

We'll continue to provide virtual assistance; however, filings will be delayed as a result of the Temporary Court Closures.

At the direction of government officials in Sacramento County, our building will comply by operating under reduced hours temporarily beginning this afternoon through at least May 31, 2020. A precise end date has not yet been determined by local government officials.  

Stay safe and healthy!

Innovate the document digitizing and organization process using Clio with a click of the ScanSnap button. With the ScanSnap-Clio Launcher integration you can scan documents directly into Clio Matters.

The ScanSnap-Clio Launcher integration cuts down time by eliminating steps in the digitizing and document organization process. Instead of having to go through the eight-step process of scanning the document: scanning, coding, searching for the matter, open the matter, selecting documents tab, uploading the document, then categorize it, now it can be done in three easy steps. After adding Clio Launcher to the ScanSnap Application, just scan the document, select the matter and code it directly into the Clio Matter. ¡Voilà! The document is digitized and organized.

To add Clio Launcher to ScanSnap Manager Application follow steps laid out in the following article:
https://support.clio.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037982634

Take a bight out of the big Apple and register your business for Apple Business Chat. Give clients with using Apple products an integrative experience. Clients can easily schedule appointments, and complete purchases with Apple Pay, when and where it’s convenient right from within iMessages.

The best part is it seemly integrates with RingCentral. Try it out for yourself.

register.apple.com/business-chat
​

Great news! Legal Document Preparers is glad to offer Clio Connect to clients.
Clio Connect allows our clients access to their files in a secure virtual portal where our they can actively participate and monitor their cases. With Clio Connect clients can:

• View documents and your court filings
• Collaborate and comment on drafts of your documents
• Upload documents
• View and complete tasks your attorney has assigned to you
• View upcoming court dates and meetings
• Access and securely pay your invoices
• Send/Receive secure messages without email

​Clio Connect’s bank-grade security technology is a safe way for clients to stay actively involved with their matters, and it creates a more efficient attorney-client relationship.

Starting January 1, 2020, Judicial Council of California the California Court Interpreter Credential Review Procedures will take effect creating a complaint guidelines for alleging professional misconduct or malfeasance against California certified or registered interpreter.

As of January 1, 2019, Small Claims Court interpreters are no longer exempt from the requirement that they be court certified in the language they interpret. See GOV §68560.5. Interpreters whose compliance status set to expire on December 31, 2019 will be removed from the Judicial Council Master List

The California Courts have developed a Court Interpreters Program become a certified court or registered
California interpreter. Court interpreters play a key role in insure access to justice at trial courts by interpreting for defendants, litigants and witnesses.

Source: https://www.courts.ca.gov/7996.htm; https://www.courts.ca.gov/programs-interpreters.htm; https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/CIP_CRProcedures.pdf

Well... there are a few ways to look at it. You can set your prices based on:

• Cost of doing business = First, figure out how much money you need to charge per in order to make the numbers work, i.e. cover overhead and pay yourself for time spent away from your family. How much money to do you need to make each month to cover your bills?
• What people are willing to pay (Let the market set your prices) = Set your prices based on what the market will bear. What are people willing to pay? How much can they afford to pay? How much is your work worth to them? If they didn't pay you, would they have to take a day off work to get it done? Are they willing to pay you to keep from dealing with the stress? 
• Match/Undercut Competitor pricing = check out your competitors; what’s the going rate in your area? How low are you willing to go? If you undercut your competitors will you undercut yourself? Can you do things more efficiently than your competitors? Careful, that could be a quick race to the bottom.

Personally, I do a little of everything. We have lengthy discussions about pricing in chapter meetings. Most LDAs find a niche then specialize in it or stick to one area of practice. Everyone is different. Not all motions are created equally.

• Do you prepare the declaration or does the client?
• Is there a page limit on the declaration you're willing to prepare?
• Do you charge based on issues. For example, motions for support required an updated Income and Expense Declaration.
• Will you prepare that as well or charge a separate fee.
  
• Do you including filing fees?
  
• Is service or court filing included, etc.?

These are all factors that must be taken into consideration. Each required additional time and efforts. I prefer to not only prepare the documents, but also filing with the court and serve by mail. It saves more time to do it myself, then explaining how to follow the court's instructions.  

Pricing is not set in stone. You can always raise their prices annually. The average fee is $450 for a Request for Order (Motion) and goes up depending on case complexity. You can always run a promotion to test the market too. Test the market then adapt. 

The implications of AB 5 are far reaching beyond the intended gig business targets. We’ll see what the new year brings for independent contractors in the legal services industry. California Assembly Bill 5 (2019) took effect January 1, 2020. The bill was introduced by California assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez then was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 18, 2019. 

Many California Freelance Paralegals have already felt AB5's impacts. While Lawyers are exempt from Labor Code §2750.3, Paralegals are not. What does this mean? In scenarios where the ABC Test (which is based on Dynamex) would be used to determine whether a Paralegal is an independent contractor or employee instead Borello would be considered which is far more complex.

Both the Borello test and the ABC test assume that the worker is an employee and the hiring entity must prove that the worker is an independent contractor. 
Under Borello, no single factor determines whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. So to say doing business as a sole proprietor would be enough to rebut the presumption based on a B2B exemption is not solid enough for me. More importantly, would it be enough for the lawyer you’re hope to contract with.
An inescapable factor considered under Borello is the degree of control and direction required in the Lawyer-Paralegal relationship. BPC §6450 et seq. clearly spelled out, Paralegals perform all services under the direction and supervision of an attorney.
Another factor is whether the work is a regular or integral part of the employer’s [lawyer’s] business, which obviously it is.
Remember, the point of AB5 is to impose an employer-employee relationship. Borello is a “multifactor” test which requires consideration of all potentially relevant facts in the determination whether an exemption exists. No single factor controls.  
It is my humble recommendation that LDAs support Freelance Paralegals.

According to Forbes, California Paralegals average salary in 2018 was $61,240. Apparently, California Paralegals earn $6,740 more per year than the national average annual wage of a paralegal at $54,500.

I would say this article  doesn't account for factors such as areas of law, size of the first along with other critical demographics. For example, a California Paralegal working in San Francisco for a firm practicing in technology transactions is going to very significantly from that of one in Woodland handling family law.
​
Read more and decided for yourself.
​Source:  ​https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewdepietro/2020/01/16/paralegal-salary-state/?fbclid=IwAR0lGuHnDOeAOTxOcgb23MQBLVWtgGOicllpv-jnNz4mACXVoCaZ6HqA8XI#3236d0d8e874