A notario publico functions more like an American paralegal. They are individuals who went to college to obtain a law degree and are licensed as lawyers. They cannot be the leader of a church, and they must not have a criminal record. They must take a written exam and must study under another notario for at least six months. In many Latin American countries, a notario publico must be a minimum age (usually 35 years old) and must be a lawyer with a minimum amount of experience (typically five years or more).