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Legal Paraprofessional Conrad Simon (BA ’18, MLS ’22) recently invited a group of BA in Law and Masters of Legal Studies students in the Family Law Default Clinic to a trial of one of his cases in family court. In this Q&A, he shared with us about being an LP and the court visit.
What interested you in a legal career and in the University of Arizona?
I started my legal career as a Corrections Officer with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. I was promoted to an administrative position writing policy and procedure for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department Corrections Bureau. My wife told me about a new degree in law that the University of Arizona was offering to undergrads. I changed degree paths and schools so that I could learn about the law and be better equipped to perform the functions of my job. I fell in love with the law and began to look at how the world operated from a very different point of view. I eventually left the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and chose to continue pursuing a career practicing law.
Tell us about what you do as a Legal Paraprofessional.
Rather than starting out working with a law firm I chose to open my own practice. My practice is solely focused on family law where I represent clients in matters related to divorce, child and spousal support, parenting time, legal decision-making and paternity. While I prefer to reach agreements between parties, on occasion I do need to go to court. Essentially, as a Legal Paraprofessional I conduct business in the same manner as an attorney, except my focus and scope of practice is limited to family law.
The LP designation is relatively new. Is there anything you’d like readers to know about it?
First, it is necessary to educate the public, attorneys, judges, and ancillary businesses (e.g., LexisNexis, insurance carriers, etc.) what Legal Paraprofessionals are, their scope of practice, the limitations of these practitioners and the benefits of having these practitioners.
Second, it is extremely important to understand that due to the newness of this type of practitioner those who become LPs will need to have thick skin. Not all conventional practitioners are necessarily fans of the LP designation and some take measures to undercut your abilities, qualifications and authority to practice.
Third, considering the newness of this designation, it is incumbent upon those who choose to practice law as LPs to take measures to comport themselves in a way that honors the practice of law, promotes the fairness of law and develops trust in LPs’ position as legal practitioners.
Tell us about the case you invited students to see in family court.
The case was a dissolution of marriage with children in which I represented the Respondent. Shortly after the couple adopted a child, the Petitioner filed for divorce. He sold the marital residence and left the child and Respondent, taking the bulk of the money from the sale of the home. The Respondent and Petitioner agreed on some points, but not child support, spousal maintenance and a fair division of the proceeds from the sale of the home.
During the trial, evidence was presented that showed the Petitioner had willfully and intentionally withheld a fair distribution of the marital assets. The judge awarded the Respondent approximately $48,000 and took child support, spousal maintenance and attorney’s fees under advisement.
After the court visit, a student requested time with me to sit and discuss becoming a Legal Paraprofessional. Based on his comments, I believe that the court visit experience was a positive one for the students. I hope that they were able to see that an LP is, for all intents and purposes, practicing in the same capacity as a conventional attorney.
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