Licensing Information
Similar to other licensees, such as "Appraisers" or "Real Estate Agents", a "Legal Document Assistant" is a license status issued by the County Recorder after meeting the requirements below.
Like any licensee, we are liable for the work we produce. As such, Legal Document Assistants must submit a bond at the start and renewal of every licensing period.
Ian B Simons DBA Thunder Stone Documents LLC
State of California, Riverside County: Legal Document Assistant License No. 000 - 489
Expiration: 02/2025
Riverside County: Principal Place of Business.
Educational/Experience of Legal Document Assistants:
Under this BPC 6401 a legal document assistant shall possess at least one of the following:
A a minimum of two years of law-related experience under the supervision of a licensed attorney, or a minimum of two years experience, prior to January 1, 1999, providing self-help service.
A baccalaureate degree in any field and either a minimum of one year of law-related experience under the supervision of a licensed attorney, or a minimum of one year of experience, prior to January 1, 1999, providing self-help service.
A certificate of completion from a paralegal program that is institutionally accredited but not approved by the American Bar Association, that requires successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester units, or the equivalent, in legal specialization courses.
A certificate of completion from a paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association.
What is an Legal Document Assistant?
In California a Legal Document Assistant is an independent paralegal licensed and qualified by the state. The primary aspect of a Legal Document Assistant is to expand the affordability of judicial access. We have been conditioned to believe we need to hire an attorney to handle all legal matters. However, besides criminal cases where one's freedom is at jeopardy, California has encouraged self representation in many forms through the California Judicial Branch. As such, Legal Document Assistants are permitted to perform many of the same functions of attorneys in the absence of providing legal advice. When planning to use a Legal Document assistant, it's beneficial to know what you need before you enlist one. Just in case you're unsure, here is a comprehensive list of some of the most common requests.