The Supreme Court of Texas issued an order on August 6 preliminarily approving rules governing licensed legal paraprofessionals and licensed court-access assistants and inviting public comments.
The court’s new and amended rules would allow licensed paraprofessionals to represent low-income individuals facing certain issues in the areas of family law, estate planning and probate law, and consumer debt law, as well as in justice court cases. The rules also would allow licensed court-access assistants sponsored by approved legal assistance organizations to represent low-income individuals in justice court.
Comments to the court regarding the new and amended rules should be submitted in writing to rulescomments@txcourts.gov by November 1. The court anticipates the rules will take effect on December 1.
The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors is expected to consider providing comments on the proposed rules as requested by the court at its meeting on September 27 in Lubbock. The board is accepting public comments by email at boardofdirectors@texasbar.com as it considers its recommendations on the court’s proposed rules.