NC Limited Law License Requirements Survey
Please read carefully:

On Jan. 22, 2021, the North Carolina Justice for All Project (JFAP) team submitted a proposal to the North Carolina State Bar and the North Carolina Supreme Court seeking changes to N.C.G.S. § 84 (Unauthorized Practice of Law) to allow certain non-lawyers to provide limited legal services to low- and moderate-income North Carolinians. The proposal contemplates completing specific requirements (e.g., examination, certification, education, experience) before licensing.

Our proposal is an evolving concept. As an organization, we have learned a great deal since the 2021 Civil Legal Needs Assessment was published, since S.M. Kernodle-Hodges and Alicia Mitchell-Mercer had the benefit of sitting on the State Bar Regulatory Subcommittee to explore access to justice issues, and after hearing from other stakeholders in our legal and public communities.

The January 2021 proposal was the first step.  We are working on an updated draft of the proposal and, ultimately, a legislative brief. 

Completing this survey will help us develop an updated proposal and bill. Please keep in mind as you answer this survey that to meet the needs of those in the access to justice gap and attract those who might be interested in holding a limited law license, we need to have high standards but not so high that the barrier to entry becomes an impediment as seen in Washington State. If you'd like to learn more about What Happened in Washington before completing this survey, click on the hyperlink. 

January 2021 Proposal Documents:


Your responses are voluntary and will be confidential. While responses may be shared with state leadership, responses will never be identified by individuals outside of our organization. All responses will be compiled together, anonymized, and analyzed as a group. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact justiceforallproject@gmail.com.
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First Name *
Last Name *
Email *
Your State of Residence *
Your Role/Certification/License (Select All that Apply) *
*Note: Please note that a paralegal certificate from an education program (university, trade school) is not the same as certification by a state bar or other association/organization. Please see the American Bar Association's definition here.
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What is the highest level of education you have completed? *
Do you support the idea of a limited law license in North Carolina? *
Check all areas which you think should be requirements for a limited law license in North Carolina. *
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Proposed Areas of Limited Law Practice:

Researchers from the University of North Carolina Greensboro in partnership with the North Carolina Equal Justice Alliance and North Carolina Access to Justice Commission conducted a Legal Needs Assessment by analyzing all data collected from leaders in the legal services field (including professionals, clients, and potential clients).

They identified multiple types of civil legal cases (pp. 11-12) with a high need for legal services. 

The list below is from UNCG's findings and the list that the NC State Bar Reg Subcommittee voted on in 2022 (page 6). 

Note, some attorneys have argued that certain areas may be too complicated for limited law license holders. We argue that even in complex areas like tax law, there are tax preparers who help with simple tax returns every tax season and they have minimal training. Please consider these types of issues as you make your selections. 

Check all areas of law in which you think someone holding a limited law license should be able to offer at least limited legal services.
 *
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Court Appearances:

How should those with a limited law license be permitted to interact with the courts?
 *
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Attorney Supervision:

Should those holding a limited law license in North Carolina be permitted to practice without the supervision of a licensed attorney?
 *
Education Standards:

What education standards should qualify an individual to hold a limited law license in North Carolina? (Select all that apply) *
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Education Standards:

Which of the following foundational courses or equivalent should be required for a limited law license holder? (Select all that apply) *
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Education Standards:  

What other courses should be required?
 *
Type N/A if no additional response.
Work Experience:

In general, how many hours of work experience should be required to qualify for a limited law license in North Carolina?
 *
Work Experience: 

Please explain your answer in the question above, if necessary. *
Type N/A if no additional explanation is desired.
Work Experience:

Should someone applying for a limited law license be required to have prior work experience in that specific area of law? Keep in mind that some attorneys who practice family law did not have to take any family law courses in law school or have field experience before being licensed. This may not change your answer but it's something to consider. 
 *
Work Experience: 

Please explain your answer in the question above, if necessary. *
Type N/A if no additional explanation is desired.
Certification Requirements:

Select which paralegal certifications should be considered as a prerequisite to qualifying for a limited  law license  in North Carolina. (Select all that apply) *
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Ownership and Autonomy:

Select your opinions below regarding limited law license holders in North Carolina. (Choose all that apply.) *
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Exam Requirements:

Should limited law license holders in North Carolina be required to take a licensing exam in addition to any certifications they already possess?
 *
Practice Area Limitations:

Should limited law license holders be allowed to practice law in any legal area within the scope of the limited license or should they be required to take specialty exams for each area of law?
 *
Explain your answer to the previous question, if necessary. *
Type N/A if no additional explanation is desired.
Continuing Legal Education:

How many hours of Continuing Legal Education should limited law license holders in North Carolina be required to take every year?
 *
Professional References:

Should an individual be required to provide two legal professional references to ensure good moral character to qualify a limited law license in North Carolina? *
Engagement Agreements:

Check all that you think limited law license holders' engagement agreements should require. *
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What other requirements should there be for limited law license engagement agreements? *
Type N/A if no additional explanation is desired.
Check below all that you think should be required to qualify for a limited-time waiver to be a limited law license holder. 

**A limited-time waiver is designed to create the first cohort of licensed professionals as the licensing program is beginning.*
 *
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What other requirements should there be to qualify for a limited-time waiver to be a limited law license holder? *
Type N/A if no additional explanation is desired.
The North Carolina Board of Law Examiners issues law licenses and the North Carolina State Bar regulates law licenses. 

Do you think that a new and separate regulatory board (not the North Carolina State Bar) should be formed to regulate limited law licenses?
 *
Explain your answer above.  *
Type N/A if no additional explanation is desired.
Would you be interested in any of the following: *
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What name would you like to call someone with a limited law license? *
Type N/A if no preference.
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Other Comments *
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