What Is an LLP — and Why Does It Matter for Your Divorce?

If you've been researching divorce in Colorado, you may have come across the term "Licensed Legal Paraprofessional" or "LLP." It's a relatively new designation, and most people haven't heard of it yet. But for anyone navigating a family law matter — especially those concerned about the cost of hiring an attorney — it's worth understanding.

The problem LLPs were created to solve

Here's a startling statistic: approximately 75% of people involved in Colorado family law cases don't have a lawyer. Some choose not to hire one. Many simply can't afford to.

The result is that thousands of Coloradans go through divorce, custody disputes, and child support hearings without any professional legal help. They fill out forms on their own, show up to court without representation, and try to navigate a complex system that was designed for trained legal professionals to operate within.

The Colorado Supreme Court recognized this gap and, after years of study and public input, created the LLP program to address it. The idea is straightforward: take experienced legal paraprofessionals who already know family law, give them additional training and testing, license them, and authorize them to serve clients directly.

What an LLP can do

Under Colorado Rule of Civil Procedure 207.1, LLPs are authorized to provide a wide range of legal services in family law matters. That includes:

• Advising clients on their legal options and strategy
• Preparing, drafting, and filing court documents
• Representing clients in mediation
• Appearing in court on the client's behalf
• Examining and cross-examining witnesses
• Making legal arguments and objections
• Managing cases from start to finish

In other words, for family law matters, an LLP can do most of what an attorney does. The scope covers divorce, legal separation, custody, parenting plans, child support, protective orders, name changes, and more.

What an LLP can't do

LLPs have a defined scope of practice. There are certain complex issues that require an attorney's involvement — things like disputed common law marriage claims, pre- or post-nuptial agreement litigation, trust-related disputes, and issues that cross into criminal, immigration, or bankruptcy law.

But here's the important part: if a complex issue comes up in an otherwise straightforward case, the LLP doesn't have to step aside entirely. Under the rules, an LLP can continue handling the parts of the case within their scope while the client brings in an attorney for the specific complex issue. This "team" approach can be more efficient and affordable than hiring an attorney for the whole case.

How LLPs are different from paralegals

This is a common point of confusion. A paralegal works under the supervision of an attorney and cannot independently provide legal services to clients. An LLP is independently licensed by the Colorado Supreme Court and works directly with clients — no attorney supervision required.

To become an LLP, candidates must pass comprehensive family law and ethics examinations, meet character and fitness requirements, complete a professionalism course, and demonstrate substantial practical experience in family law. Once licensed, LLPs are regulated by the same office that oversees attorneys and are subject to professional conduct rules covering everything from confidentiality to conflict of interest.

The cost advantage

Because LLPs focus exclusively on family law and operate with lower overhead than full-service law firms, their rates are typically about half of what a family law attorney charges. This isn't because the service is less thorough — it's because the model is designed to be more focused and efficient.

For many families, particularly those with moderate income and relatively straightforward cases, an LLP offers the sweet spot between going it alone and paying full attorney rates for a process that may not require that level of expense.

LLPs complement lawyers, not compete with them. Their contributions allow lawyers to focus on more complex cases that genuinely require their specialized expertise.

Is an LLP right for you?

An LLP may be a good fit if you're going through a divorce or custody matter in Colorado and want professional legal representation without the cost of a full-service attorney. It's an especially strong option if your case involves standard issues like property division, parenting plans, and support — which the vast majority of family law cases do.

The best way to find out is to have a conversation. I offer free 30-minute consultations specifically so people can ask questions, describe their situation, and get an honest assessment of whether my services are the right fit.