In some countries, like Japan, a scrivener here or clerk may fill out court forms and draft simple papers for lay persons who cannot afford or do not need attorneys, and advise them on how to manage and argue their own cases.
In others, the use of a lawyer is optional and banks, title companies, or realtors may be nearly new instead. In some civil law jurisdictions, de facto estate transactions are handled by civil law notaries. In England and Wales a special class of legal professional, the Licensed Conveyancer is also allowed to carry out conveyancing casework for reward.