Frequently Asked Questions About Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals (LLPs)

Licensed legal paraprofessionals (“LLPs”) in Colorado are a new legal profession. Under court rules approved by the Colorado Supreme Court in March 2023, November 2023, and October 2025, paralegals and other legal paraprofessionals can apply for licensure to provide certain legal services in certain type of family law matters.

The Colorado Supreme Court’s lengthy process for determining the scope and details of the LLP program involved years of planning, a written public comment period, and a public hearing. The details of that process can be found here.

C.R.C.P. 207.1 governs the scope of an LLP’s practice of law in Colorado. LLPs can represent clients in: a legal separation, declaration of invalidity of marriage, or dissolution of a marriage/civil union, whether pre-decree or post-decree; establishing, enforcing and modifying child support; remedial contempt associated with that scope of practice; name changes; protective orders; adult gender designation changes; an initial allocation or modification of parental responsibilities; and two-party parentage cases. The rule’s text provides additional details about scope of practice. LLPs are able to advise those clients, prepare, draft and file documents in court, assist clients in mediation, appear at and fully represent clients in hearings, and fulfill steps ordinarily taken in such matters that are consistent with the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure. Civil and ethical rules requiring lawyers to have a good-faith basis for their filings and statements apply to LLPs as well.

Yes. There are no longer limitations on an LLP’s scope of practice in C.R.C.P. 207.1 specific to expert witnesses.

C.R.C.P. 207.1 has certain exclusions to an LLP’s scope of practice relating to complex legal issues. Also, Colo. LLP RPC 1.1 requires an LLP to ensure they are competent to represent the client on the matter at hand. Therefore, if an LLP is not competent to represent their client regarding a complex issue, the LLP is required to advise their client to seek advice or assistance from an attorney. Even if an LLP cannot handle a complex issue within a matter, C.R.C.P. 207.1(i) allows an LLP to continue to represent the client with respect to services an LLP is authorized to offer. A client may decide to retain an attorney for issues outside the scope of what an LLP can offer, and attorneys and LLP may work in tandem. If there are tasks or issues in the case that the LLP cannot address, the party’s options are to: (1) hire an attorney to address those issues while continuing to be represented by the LLP; (2) hire an attorney to replace the LLP; or (3) proceed by self-representation on the matters that are beyond the LLP’s allowable scope of practice, with or without the continued assistance of the LLP, as authorized.

Yes. C.R.C.P. 207.1 no longer restricts an LLP’s ability to elicit testimony from any witness. An LLP’s permissible activities include, under C.R.C.P. 207.1(g)(xiii) “standing or sitting at counsel table with the client during a court proceeding, communicating with the client during the proceeding, making statements, making offers of proof, examining any witness, making arguments and objections in court, answering questions posed by the court, addressing the court, taking notes, and assisting the client in understanding the proceeding and relevant orders[.]” While C.R.C.P. 207.1 does not specifically address depositions, LLPs’ ability to examine witnesses is not confined to courtrooms. Rule 207.1 also includes this Comment: “Descriptions of an LLP’s authorized scope of practice within this rule should be liberally construed to include all ordinary and reasonable actions within an authorized scope of practice, including procedural steps that are permitted by the Rules of Civil Procedure and are not expressly prohibited under this rule.”

Yes. C.R.C.P. 207.1(g)(iv) includes “preparing and completing documents using forms or templates approved by the Judicial Department or the Supreme Court or generally accepted by Colorado courts having jurisdiction over the matter, including proposed parenting plans, separation agreements, motions or stipulations for establishing or modifying child support, child support worksheets, proposed orders, nonappearance affidavits, discovery requests and answers to discovery requests, trial management certificates, pretrial submissions, and exhibit and witness lists…”  While a good practice is for an LLP to use JDF forms to ensure they will be accepted by the court, an LLP also can draft or rely on templates that have been previously accepted by courts which have the necessary elements for acceptance. 

Yes. The Comment to C.R.C.P. 207.1 states: “Descriptions of an LLP’s authorized scope of practice within this rule should be liberally construed to include all ordinary and reasonable actions within an authorized scope of practice, including procedural steps that are permitted by the Rules of Civil Procedure and are not expressly prohibited under this rule.” 

C.R.C.P. 207.1 lists the types of discrete issues that an LLP cannot handle by themselves, and for those situations, a client needs to obtain the services of a licensed attorney or must handle the matter by themselves. An LLP still can assist in such situations under the supervision of a licensed attorney.

Here is the list of discrete issues outside the authorized scope of an LLP’s practice of law:

1. The registration of foreign orders;
2. Motions for or orders regarding punitive contempt citations under C.R.C.P. 107;
3. An allegation of common law marriage in which either party disputes the existence of a common law marriage or the date when the common law marriage formed;
4. Disputed parentage where there are more than two parents or alleged parents asserting or denying legal parentage;
5. A non-parent’s request for decision-making authority or parenting time is contested by at least one parent and the court has determined that the Indian Child Welfare Act applies to the proceeding, except as otherwise provided by law;
6. Preparation of or litigation regarding pre- or post-nuptial agreements;
7. Matters in which a party is a beneficiary of a trust and information about the trust will be relevant to resolution of the matter;
8. A dispute about the value of or income associated with a trust in which a party is a beneficiary;
9. The preparation by the LLP of documents, other than an agreement addressing underlying property division, needed to effectuate the sale or distribution of assets of a business entity or commercial property; and,
10. Issues collateral to, but directly affecting, a matter which falls within the LLP’s scope of practice when such issues require analysis and advice outside that scope of practice, such as immigration, criminal, and bankruptcy issues or the preparation of a qualified domestic relations order (“QDRO”) or other similar document implementing the division of retirement assets that could directly affect the resolution of the matter.

In addition to entering an appearance and filing pleadings and other documents in a court proceeding, LLPs are allowed to represent their clients in court hearings just like an attorney. They are able to speak in court, explain their client’s position, and tender exhibits. LLPs can examine and cross-examine witnesses, make offers of proof, object to the testimony of witnesses, and make legal arguments.

Under the LLP ethics rules, LLPs are required to advise their clients about the limitations on their scope of practice.

Under the LLP ethics rules, LLPs are required to identify themselves as such, including that they have only a limited license, in all advertising. LLPs also need to use the LLP designation in all court filings.  LLPs have six-digit registration numbers beginning with the number 6 (attorneys have five-digit registration numbers).

LLPs need to complete annual registration and comply with applicable continuing legal education requirements. Failure to do so will result in an administrative suspension of their licenses.

Pursuant to Colo. LLP RPC 7.1(b), an LLP in a firm without lawyers must use the words “Licensed Legal Paraprofessional(s)” in the firm name.   LLPs also must not make a false or misleading communication about the LLP or the LLP’s services, which may require the assertion or disclosure of facts or statements to avoid materially misleading the public.  See Colo. LLP RPC 7.1(a).  Therefore, an LLP could use the phrase “Licensed Legal Paraprofessional” or “Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals” in the firm name, but may need to disclose whether the LLP practices alone or with others on the LLP’s website or other advertising materials in order to avoid misleading the public if the number of practitioners appears to be inconsistent with the firm name.  While an LLP-only firm must include “Licensed Legal Paraprofessional(s)” in the business name, those precise words are not required to be included within the firm’s website URL or email address.

C.R.C.P. 207.8 sets forth the requirements for licensure. All applicants must pass a family law exam and a legal ethics exam administered by the Office of LLP Admissions of the Colorado Supreme Court after having taken a legal ethics class. The legal ethics class may be taken within a degree program or as a stand-alone class. Please note that most professional responsibility courses taken as part of a paralegal degree or certification do not meet the requirements of the rule. The Community College of Denver is offering an LLP-specific ethics class, which can be taken remotely – please click here for more information. Applicants also must satisfy character and fitness requirements and take the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel professionalism course.

There is a set of educational options as well as an experience option for an interested person to become eligible to sit for the exams. There are six different types of degrees set forth at C.R.C.P. 207.8(3) that can qualify. Regardless of whether applying via the education or work-experience path, all Colorado LLP applicants must demonstrate substantive law-related practical experience, including experience in Colorado family law, within the three years immediately preceding the date of submitting the LLP application. The LLP Committee has issued eligibility guidance as to how applicants can demonstrate that their work experience qualifies. A certification from a licensed attorney as to applicants’ completion of work experience is necessary.

Under the program, LLPs are required to abide by the LLP Rules of Professional Conduct, modeled after those that apply to licensed attorneys. For example, LLPs must comply with confidentiality rules, conflict rules, court conduct rules, and money-handling rules just like licensed attorneys do.

If anyone believes that misconduct under those rules has occurred, that person can file a complaint with the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, which would follow attorney discipline and disability procedural rules to review the complaint. Serious misconduct could result in suspension or disbarment just as it would for licensed attorneys.

The exams are based on core competencies that a competent LLP is expected to know. Sample exam questions and more information on format are available on the LLP Admissions website.

The Office of LLP Admissions, housed within the Office of Attorney Admissions, has made an application available and publicizes deadlines at its website. Interested individuals may wish to assemble academic and employment records so they will be available during the application process. Interested individuals also may wish to review the core competencies a working group developed to establish competency standards for LLPs.

There is not any cap on the fees LLPs charge clients, or any income or asset restrictions on the type of client LLPs serve. However, limitations on an LLP’s scope of practice are likely to lead to LLPs serving mostly moderate income rather than higher income clients. Higher income or higher asset clients generally often have more complex matters that need the assistance of an attorney. As with attorneys, market forces will be the most significant factor in the rates LLPs charge clients. In states with similar programs, LLPs typically charge hourly rates ranging from a quarter to a half that of attorneys.

The cost to become an LLP will depend in part on an individual’s educational path and whether they can meet the eligibility requirements through experience alone. Most applicants will need to take an ethics course for LLPs that is a prerequisite to being allowed to sit for the LLP exam; currently the only approved LLP ethics course is through Denver Community College. All applicants are charged an application fee to help cover the cost of the exam, and once admitted LLPs will have to pay an annual registration fee and certain costs associated with continuing legal education. The timely exam application fee is $710; that does not include the state fingerprint fee for obtaining a criminal history.  The annual registration fee currently is set at $190 a year for the first three years of practice and $395 each year after that.

LLPs are not required to carry malpractice insurance, since Colorado licensed attorneys are currently not required to have malpractice insurance. However, LLPs are required to publicly disclose whether they carry malpractice insurance as part of their annual registration.

Judicial officers are receiving training at the statewide judicial conference, the statewide domestic relations and probate judicial conference and other virtual training to learn about the LLPs program. There is also an LLP chapter included in the Colorado Bar Association 2025 Bench Bar Book.