
6 minute read
Legal paraprofessionals will be able to represent some clients
Goes into e ect July 1
BY PAOLO ZIALCITA COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
e Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that licensed legal paraprofessionals without law degrees will be able to represent clients in certain cases.
Starting July 1, licensed legal paraprofessionals may le court documents and represent their clients in mediation during domestic cases involving divorce proceedings and child custody hearings. LLPs will also be able to accompany clients to court and answer a judge’s questions, but will be unable to present oral arguments or question wit-
Expired
FROM PAGE 12 most. But for Kyle Spence, it took six months. nesses. e state Supreme Court’s decision was done in the hopes of making legal representation more widely available and more a ordable.
“As soon as I actually purchased the car and left with it, that’s when everything started falling to pieces,” Spence said.
When his rst set of temporary tags expired in November, he called his dealership, a national chain, in orton which told him they hadn’t submitted any documents to the state.
“ ey never really gave me a reason for it,” he said.
By January, Spence’s second set of temporary tags were due to expire, and he hadn’t received the Title Complete Notice from the DMV. So, he took matters into his own hands.
“ ere’s a way that you can look up your VIN number of your vehicle, [and] whether or not you have a title number,” he said. Spence took the title number to the tax collector’s o ce without his Title Complete Notice and eventually got his permanent plate. He acknowledged, however, that persuading the o ce to go through the process without the notice was di cult.
“Making it easier for people to secure legal representation in these often difficult matters has been a long-term goal of our commitment to ensuring access to justice for all Coloradans,” Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright said in a statement.
“Allowing non-lawyers to provide limited legal representation for people who otherwise couldn’t afford it will not only help those litigants, but it will help the courts efficiently and effectively handle their cases.”
According to Colorado’s Judi-
For Kate McElhaney, the road to permanent plates has been similarly rocky. In November, she bought an electric vehicle and by February, she was still waiting to obtain permanent plates.
“I don’t know where the holdup is. Is it with the dealership? Is it with the DMV? I’m not really sure,” she said.
Neither her dealership nor the DMV have answered her questions. And with the tax deadline quickly approaching, she isn’t sure how to le to get the state’s electric vehicle tax credit.
“If I don’t get my car registered until after April 15, what does that mean?” she asked. “Do I just surrender my tax credit or can I go for it in this calendar year? I don’t know and I can’t really nd any information on that.”
But what about people driving around with long-expired temporary plates, or cars with no plates?
Until recently, Colorado only penalized people with expired vehicle registration. But earlier this month, a new law went into e ect that aims to reduce the number of cars with expired temporary license plates by introducing new nes to people late with the registration of their temporary plates, as well as perma- cial Branch, 74 percent of parties involved in domestic-related cases between July 2021 and June 2022 represented themselves.
Prospective legal paraprofessionals will be subject to similar educational requirements as lawyers before they’re able to represent clients, as outlined by the new Rule 207 of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
First, applicants must either work the equivalent of three fulltime years in family law, or obtain certification, such as an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, or a paralegal certificate while completing a four-year degree program. Those who pursue their license through obtaining a degree must also work 1,500 hours nent ones. e Denver Police Department, however, signaled that unregistered vehicles are low on their priority list. at division — the Right of Way Enforcement — issued about 92,000 citations in 2022 to cars breaking municipal code 54-62, which in “law-related practical experience,” including 500 hours of experience in Colorado family law.
In response to the DMV’s renewed hard stance on all unregistered vehicles, some state law enforcement agencies said they would take more consistent action against cars with expired plates or no plates.
Colorado State Patrol, the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce, and other police departments recently said they will begin pulling over people for unregistered vehicles.
“Consistent with our commitment to Vision Zero, Denver Police O cers generally focus on safety violations when conducting tra c enforcement. When they are not responding to reports of crime, ofcers are encouraged to engage in proactive e orts, to include enforcing tra c and parking violations,” DPD said in a statement.
Police departments aren’t the only entity with the authority to enforce registration laws. In Denver, a division of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure handles parking violations and citations around the city.
Applicants also have to pass several courses, including ones on ethics and professional conduct.
After those requirements are met, applicants have to pass a written exam administered by the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. The first LLPs could receive their licenses in July 2024. Colorado will be one of five states who allow non-lawyers to practice limited law, joining Arizona, Minnesota, Oregon, and Utah.
This story is from CPR News, a nonprofit news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org prohibits having either an expired license plate or no front license plate. at’s about 7,000 more citations than were issued in 2019.
John LeDrew has received several of those tickets.
About a year ago, he began leasing a plug-in hybrid and has been driving with expired temporary license plates since they rst expired. He wasn’t told by his dealership or the DMV that he could obtain more temporary license plates.
“I did the calculation, the fees were like $600. I went [to the DMV] to register and get those tags, but it turned out to be closer to $1,400,” LeDrew said. “I couldn’t afford that at the time. So, I asked what my options were and he said, ‘you just drive around with expired tags.’ I said, ‘alright, cool.’ And I just left.” by
LeDrew has been trying to save up to afford his permanent plates, but owning a small business and having a commission-based salary makes his finances difficult to predict. He believes he’s close, but more tickets could set him back.
“It’s just one of the constant battles we have to manage,” he said.
This story is from CPR News, a nonprofit news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.
Thu 4/13
Kælan Mikla
@ 7pm Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver
Featured
AJ Finney Fan Page: Late Night Comedy @ Grandma's House @ 9pm Grandma's House, 1710 S Broadway, Den‐ver
Kyle Watson @ 10pm Temple Nightclub Denver, 1136 Broadway, Denver
Sun 4/16
Featured
Oakum @ 8pm Globe Hall, 4483 Lo‐gan St, Denver


Valienta @ 8pm The Black Buzzard, 1624 Market St, Den‐ver
Shift @ 8:30pm Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver
Fri 4/14
State 38 Distilling - 10th
Anniversary Party @ 4pm Apr 14th - Apr 15th State 38 Distilling, 400 Corporate Circle, Suite B, Golden. don@state38.com, 720242-7219
Hunter James @ 8pm Cervantes' Master‐piece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Wel‐ton St, Denver


Deva Yoder @ 6pm Roxy Broadway, 554 S Broadway, Denver

Blink 90210/hellocentral/Radio
Fluke @ 8pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver
Coastless Creatives Presents: Redamancy and Friends @ 9:30pm Broadway Roxy, 554 S Broadway, Denver
NoizeyxFLO @ 11:45pm







Mile High Spirits Craft Cocktails + Live Mu‐sic, 2201, Lawrence Street, Denver
Sat 4/15
Paramount Theatre Club Seating: Samantha Bee @ 7pm / $59.50




Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm, Denver
Featured Featured
Sprig of That @ 4pm Enigma Bazaar, 4923 W 38th Ave, Denver
Fleetmac Wood presents Night Wonders DiscoDenver (Night 2) @ 9pm Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station, 1338 1st St, Denver

Mae Krell: Sofar Sounds @ 7pm Sofar Sounds Denver, Denver

Mon 4/17
Colorado Rockies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates @ 6:40pm / $5-$300
Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Denver
Featured Featured
Nikki Lane @ 8pm Bluebird Theatre, 3317 E. Colfax Av‐enue, Denver
Strawberry Girls @ 6pm Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station, 1338 1st St, Denver
Amelia Moore @ 7pm
Cervantes' Master‐piece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Wel‐ton St, Denver
PIXY - KARMA IS A B 2023 USA TOUR [Denver] @ 7pm / $20-$450


Oriental Theater, 4335 W 44th Ave, Denver
Tue 4/18 Wed 4/19
Standards @ 7pm Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station, 1338 1st St, Denver
Boundaries @ 6pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver
Shadow of Intent @ 6pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver
Jeff Ruby at Lion's Lair @ 8pm Lion's Lair, 2022 E Colfax Ave, Denver Crow Cavalier @ 8pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver
Featured Featured
Freddy Todd @ 9pm Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station, 1338 1st St, Denver