Rule 86.Licensed paralegal practitioners

Rule 86 extends the civil rules to licensed paralegal practitioners (LPPs), treating them the same as attorneys wherever that's consistent with their limited license. Where a rule lets or requires an attorney to sign or file something, an LPP can do the same, but only if an applicable court-approved form exists and the filing falls within the scope of their license. Wherever the civil rules use the words "attorney," "lawyer," or "counsel," those terms reach LPPs practicing within the areas their license authorizes, as set out in the special practice rule governing licensed paralegal practitioners.

A few specific rules get spelled out. LPPs can prepare and serve initial, supplemental, and pretrial disclosures under Rules 26, 26.1, and 26.3. On fees, wherever the civil rules mention attorney fees, that includes LPP fees; an LPP can recover fees under Rule 73 with a supporting affidavit, though the added procedural requirements that apply to attorney fee awards under Rule 73(f)(1) through (3) don't apply to them. On appearances, an LPP whose role is limited to preparing — but not filing — a pleading or paper doesn't need to enter an appearance under Rule 75. But once an LPP enters a general appearance, they have to keep the client informed of everything filed in the case, even filings outside the scope of what they were hired to do.