The prevalence of LDA's is an American phenomenon created in response to the most strict licensing laws for attorneys in the world. The job was created by using the doctrine of "pro se" to enable someone to help another prepare a legal document. Except for Louisiana and Puerto Rico, in the United States only an attorney can advise and draft a legal document for another. With the self-help "pro se" concept and stock legal forms the Legal Document Preparer profession was born.