A California Legal Document Assistant — or LDA — is a registered, bonded, non-attorney professional authorized to prepare legal documents for self-represented parties at the client's direction. Created by the California Legislature in 1998, the LDA scheme aims to give the public access to affordable document help without crossing the line into the unauthorized practice of law.
What an LDA can do
Under Business & Professions Code §6400(d), an LDA may, at the client's direction:
- Type or assemble legal documents the client has already decided to file
- Provide pre-printed, attorney-prepared legal forms
- Provide legal-information publications from a state-published source
- File documents at the courthouse for the client
- Provide translation of documents (with translator certification under 8 C.F.R. §103.2(b)(3) for USCIS filings)
- Help organize and assemble supporting documents into a filing-ready package
What an LDA cannot do
Under Business & Professions Code §6411 an LDA may not:
- Give legal advice
- Make any kind of legal opinion or recommendation
- Select forms for the client (the client must decide which forms to file)
- Choose a course of action or legal strategy
- Represent the client in court or in any agency proceeding
- Hold themselves out as an attorney
Crossing the §6411 line is treated as the unauthorized practice of law under §6125 — a misdemeanor with civil exposure for the LDA. The strict separation is the consumer protection that makes the LDA scheme work.
What an LDA is required to do
- Register with the county clerk. Each county where the LDA does business. Public registry searchable by anyone.
- Post a $25,000 bond. Per §6405. Protects clients in the event of LDA misconduct.
- Meet education or experience requirements. Per §6402.1. Two years of law-related experience, paralegal certificate, J.D., or other qualifying paths.
- Provide a written contract. Per §6410. States the services, the flat fee, the LDA's registration number, and the §6411 notice that the LDA is not an attorney.
- Display required disclosures. Per §6408. Office signage stating "I am NOT an attorney."
- Renew the registration every two years.
LDA vs. attorney — which one do you need?
Use an LDA when you know what you want to file and need someone to prepare the documents accurately — uncontested divorce, small claims, USCIS forms with a clear filing path, probate, restraining orders, business filings, unlawful detainer. Flat fee, typically 60-90% less than an attorney would charge for the same paperwork.
Hire an attorney when the case is contested or involves strategy — custody disputes with high conflict, complex community-property characterization, criminal exposure related to the immigration filing, removal proceedings, novel legal questions, or any situation where you need someone to advise you on what to do rather than just prepare the papers you have decided to file.
How Imverica fits
Imverica Legal Solutions is a California registered LDA and Immigration Consultant. We serve clients across California and remotely worldwide for the USCIS / federal pieces. All our intake is multilingual (English, Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish) with the §6410 written contract before we start, flat-fee pricing disclosed in advance, and the standard §6411 notice that we are not a law firm and cannot give legal advice. We maintain referral relationships with licensed California attorneys for matters that need legal counsel.
Statutory authority: California Business & Professions Code §§6400-6415 (Legal Document Assistant Act), especially §6400(d) (definition), §6402.1 (qualifications), §6405 (bond), §6408 (required disclosures and signage), §6410 (written contract), §6411 (prohibited acts); §6125 (unauthorized practice of law). For immigration: §§22440-22448 (Immigration Consultant Act).