Paralegal Services
Did you know that in 2023, Oregon created a new type of legal licensure to help meet the civil legal needs of Oregonians? The license is for designated legal work in housing and family law, the two areas of greatest unmet need by Oregonians.
Everybody deserves legal help, but unfortunately, not everybody can afford it. Fortunately, in addition to the paralegal licensure program, the Oregon Courts website has made navigating the online self-help center easy-to-use, with many forms readily available to print at home or pick-up at the courthouse.
If you still need help beyond what you find online, there are a few other resources to consider, including Lawyer in the Library, Legal Aide, or you could consider hiring a paralegal.
A paralegal can do many of the duties that attorneys do for your family law or housing matter, however, they cannot represent a client directly during evidentiary hearings or other similar court appearances. For example, a paralegal may do all of the tasks associated with getting you to a court appearance, including preparing and filing court documents, issuing subpoenas, and helping you and your witnesses prepare for testimony, however, a Paralegal may not appear in court with you (other than for support), and may not make evidentiary objections, offer exhibits, or question witnesses. A paralegal may not assist with obtaining a protective or stalking order, with modifications on foreign judgments, and cannot assist with appeals or contempt matters.
It is nice to bear in mind that 90% of family law matters end up settling outside of court. Most people are able to reach an agreement through mediation—a service that I also offer. When it comes to what is in the best interest of the children, no one knows that best than the parents themselves. A court can often makes judgments that are not in favor of one parent, but it sometimes happens that a judgm makes a decision that is not in favor of either parent. Mediation is a way out of putting those important decisions in the hands of someone other than the parents.
