The introduction of allied legal professionals into the legal profession is a response to the call for greater access to justice, particularly for people who fall between not qualifying for legal aid and not being able to afford an attorney—which is a considerable portion of the middle class. ALP programs are strategically designed to license legal professionals who are competent to handle a breadth of legal services and at a more affordable cost than attorneys.
This report summarizes the discussions at our 2022 convening, including convergence on best practices for these programs, areas of divergence between program approaches, and lessons learned from existing programs. The heart of the report details the various components of state ALP programs and high-level recommendations regarding:
Title
Practice areas
Roles and responsibilities
Attorney supervision
In-court representation
Eligibility, education, and practical training
Testing requirements
Fee-sharing and co-ownership
Regulatory requirements
Program costs
IAALS hopes this report—with its framework of national recommendations—can serve as a guide for states considering, implementing, or refining ALP programs.
Publication last updated November 28, 2023.
Learn more about IAALS' Allied Legal Professionals project, view our online Knowledge Center, and see what's to come.
