BARBARA

ESSELSTROM

BARBARA G. ESSELSTROM, WSBA LLLT 105

LIMITED LICENSED LEGAL TECHNICIAN

LICENSED IN FAMILY LAW (DOMESTIC RELATIONS)

LLLT’S ARE NOT LAWYERS AND MAY ONLY PERFORM

LIMITED LEGAL SERVICES.

 

Barbara has been employed with David Gates Law Firm since March of 2015. She graduated from Tacoma Community College with a Paralegal Associate of Applied Science Degree.

She has been in the legal profession since 2008.

Barbara has experience working with law firms. She was also employed at the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings for two years before working for David Gates Law. She assisted Administrative Law Judges with hearings involving Unemployment and Child Support.

She successfully completed the Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT) Program at the University of Washington School of Law in June of 2015. She was the 5th LLLT to become licensed in the State of Washington on the 13th of November 2015.

Washington is the first state to license nonlawyers to provide limited legal advice.

What is the difference between a Legal Technician and an attorney?

Legal Technicians are limited in performing the role of an attorney in three primary ways:

(1) They cannot represent clients in court,

(2) They cannot negotiate on behalf of a client, and

(3) They can only prepare legal documents that have been approved by a Washington lawyer or approved by the LLLT Board.  LLLTs advise the client of the significance of the selected documents to the client’s case.

LLLTs are specifically trained and tested to practice in the

area of law in which they are licensed.

Because Washington is the first state to authorize Legal Technicians, their practice is limited to this state; however other states are considering similar limited license legal technician programs.

Barbara volunteers with the Pro Se docket for Mason County Superior Court. Helping pro se parties fill out and helping the parties make sure they have all the pleadings needed for their matter. She does not give legal advice to the pro se parties in this volunteer position.

She volunteers for the Thurston County Legal Clinic for the Mason County matters. She is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the Mason County Bar

Practice Areas in Domestic Relations LLLT's can assist with are:

DISSOLUTION • LEGAL SEPARATION • CHILD SUPPORT

CHILD SUPPORT MODIFICATIONS

MINOR PARENTING PLAN MODIFICATIONS

MAJOR PARENTING PLAN MODIFICATION IF THE PARTIES ARE IN AGREEMENT

PARENTING AND SUPPORT ISSUES • PATERNITY • AGREED RELOCATIONS

COMMITTED INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS - THAT PERTAIN TO PARENTING AND SUPPORT ISSUES