Paralegals PARALEGALS
This factsheet is intended to act as a guide to members of the Trainee Solicitors’ Group (TSG), who are considering working as a paralegal. Paralegaling is sometimes a way of earning money to pay for the LPC, whilst at other times it is done with the aim to gain legal experience, and in other instances it is a career choice.
Paralegals take the form of fee earners who are not admitted to the roll of solicitors and who are therefore not members of the Law Society unless they are LPC students or have completed their LPC and are thus, student members. The range of work undertaken by paralegals differs vastly, from career paralegals conducting their own caseload, to simple case support.
Sometimes, people view paralegaling as an alternate way into the legal profession. This includes working as a paralegal in the hopes the employer will be happy with the performance and will offer a training contract. This also includes the practice of working as a paralegal during a probationary period mandated by the firm, prior to actually being offered a training contract in itself. At this time, no regulations or guidelines exist to regulate such a branch of the profession. Even if you are working as a paralegal with the aim of obtaining a training contract, you will not have the coverage of the Training Contract Regulations. As such, there is no minimum salaries ensured, nor are there are guidelines as to the level of work or supervision to be provided. Nor the probationary period mean that there will be a Training Contract waiting for you!
The TSG’s Freephone Helpline – 08000 856131 - receives regular calls from people who have been offered a position as a paralegal within a firm with a view to commencing a training contract, similar to a test period. Whilst this happens regularly and many firms view it as a way to assess the skills and experience of the would-be trainee, it does often mean that such people are subsequently laid off, once the requisite time period has expired.
Should you find yourself facing an ethical dilemma or bad practice within a firm, please do contact the Professional Ethics Helpline on 0870 606 2577 to raise the issue and to avoid recurrence. The Law Society is keen to stamp out malpractice and all queries will be dealt with confidentially.
There is no way of ascertaining just how many paralegals there are at any given time or the range of salaries, type of work or otherwise. There is also the danger of “typecasting,” in that once the individual has worked as a paralegal for a certain time, it can become difficult to obtain alternative legal work and particularly to carry out the transition from being a paralegal to working within the regulated framework of a training contract.
For more guidance, please check out our policy page on Paralegals.
The TSG would like to see better protection afforded to those embarking on a career paralegaling. This is an area on which the TSG is vocal and wishes to represent. However, it is not only the TSG who is there to help:
The National Association of Paralegals is available to paralegals to join, as a governing body.
The Mission Statement of the NALP is as follows:
"To re-enforce and constantly increase its position as the professional organisation catering for the Career Paralegal not only within the legal profession but also within commerce, industry and the public sector and will strive to ensure the proper recognition of its Members by the quality of its qualifications, professional development and the standards of behaviour laid down for its Members. It will encourage, promote and develop the role and practice of the Paralegal and represent the best interests of its Members."
The Association's objectives, apart from those shown in its Mission Statement, are
- to provide for the qualification of its Student Members as Paralegals, to provide for the career development of its qualified Members,
- to regulate the Paralegal profession,
- to disseminate information on matters of professional interest,
- to represent, promote and express the collective interests of its Members,
- to act as a consultative body on all things concerned with Paralegalism,
- to provide a forum for all matters affecting the interests of its Members,
- to provide opportunities for social contacts amongst Paralegals.
It may be that getting involved with the NALP is something that you are interested in. In which case, contact can be made with them by emailing them direct. Please click here to send an email.
Please note that this webpage is intended to provide guidance only. The TSG would always recommend that individuals seek to obtain independent legal advice from a solicitor, should any legal problems arise. For general guidance, please contact the Helpline on 08000 856131 to gain practical advice from your peers. For details on how to get time to count towards a training contract, contact Information Services at the Law Society on 01527 5044433 or e-mail info.services@lawsociety.org.uk
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