KNOW, the Magazine for Paralegals Summer 2014 | Page 15

program, which is expected to launch with
its first exam next year. Washington State’s
limited legal licensed technician will serve as
a national model for more states to follow in
the implementation of increased access to
justice through providing cost-efficient and
affordable legal services by nonlawyers. This
is an exciting and promising development
in the paralegal profession and will help to
promote continued expansion of our roles
and responsibilities.

New York – the Court
Navigator Program

Stacey:
In April, 2014, New York launched a closely
watched pilot program to provide free assistance to pro se litigants in consumer debt
cases and in Housing Court in Brooklyn and
the Bronx. Dubbed Court Navigators, these
individuals, who are trained by the New York
State Courts Access to Justice Program, assist
the public in three different ways, as explained to me by Roger Maldonado and Fern
Schair, co-chairs of the Committee on NonLawyers and the Justice Gap.
The first level of assistance is via informati