Arizona Weighs Role of Non-Lawyers in Boosting Access to Justice

Arizona may soon redefine the limitations of legal document preparers under the recommendations of a task force looking at the larger issue of how empowering non-lawyers can help increase access to justice.

The state’s Task Force on Delivery of Legal Services—formed under an Arizona Supreme Court administrative order late last year—during an Aug. 14 meeting in Phoenix endorsed several conceptual changes to the state’s legal document preparer program.

Currently, the certified professionals can offer some assistance to people who aren’t represented by an attorney, but can’t give legal advice. How far those services can go anchored the debate on ...