Editors Note: This article was originally published in the July 19, 2023 issue of the Chronicle Progress. Some information may be outdated.
More legal services are available to Millard County.
Angela Willoughby has opened the doors of her legal practice, Oasis Legal Services, LLC.
Willoughby has been working in law for the past 15 years as a paralegal at Salt Lake-based firm Cook and Monahan, LLC, but made the decision to open her own practice as an LPP in October 2020.
Now, as a licensed paralegal practitioner—LPP—Willoughby has the ability to represent clients without the supervision or interaction with an attorney. She went into law after a personal experience in the courtroom, and decided to pursue a career as a paralegal.
As an LPP, Willoughby is licensed to represent clients in specific areas of the law, such as divorce, parentage, civil stalking, debt collection, landlord-tenant disputes, and others. She is fully certified in the three areas LPPs are allowed to practice: family She cannot, however, represent a client on a criminal matter, or may recommend a client see an attorney for extremely complex cases.
Additionally, as an LPP, Willoughby can only represent a client in court by asking or answering factual questions on her client’s behalf. She could not cross examine a witness, for example.
LPPS are a fairly new program, meant to provide accessible legal assistance for those who may not be able to afford an attorney’s fees, like those on a fixed or little to no income. This demographic tends to fall between the gaps of those qualifying for free legal help, and those able to afford the high legal fees of an attorney.
The LPP program was introduced in Utah after the Utah Supreme Court reviewed a backlog of cases, and realized more citizens needed “access to justice,” Willoughby said.
Since it’s introduction, the LPP program has caught on quickly. The program originated in Washington state, but failed. Utah, however, followed suit, but has since spearheaded the program. Within the three years of being introduced, 26 LPPs in Utah have opened their own practices.
Willoughby was recently invited to attend a conference New Orleans at an American Bar Association to speak on the LPP program and its rise among the legal profession.
While some attorneys express concern, or outright disdain at the thought of their clients being “taken,” by LPPs, Willoughby states that is not the case—LPPs are simply trying to help those in need of legal representation, especially those unable to afford attorney fees.
For those interested in contacting Willoughby for representation, or more information she can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 801-300-5324.
