Paralegal training and courses

We are often asked about the best way to become a paralegal.  There are no fixed methods of entry, but some ideas are outlined below.


What is a paralegal?

Paralegal is a relatively new term, which means someone who works in a legal environment or to do with the law, but who is not either a barrister or solicitor.
Paralegals may carry out legal work (as opposed to just administrative tasks) in court systems (civil or criminal), or may apply the law, or use, interpret, monitor it etc.  Or, they may advise on the law or certain aspects of it in other environments.
Paralegals do not necessarily have a job title that says "paralegal".  They could for example be called a:
• Caseworker
• Claims assessor
• Contracts manager
• Company secretary
• Enforcement officer
• Health & safety officer
• Human Resources administrator
• Insurance claims administrator
• Investigator
• Law clerk
• Probation worker
• Prosecution clerk
• Trading standards officer
• Etc.

Paralegals are trained to perform legal work, or they have a legal qualification.  Alternatively, they have gained work experience that has showed them how to carry out this type of work.  They have an understanding of the legal system, processes and concepts.

Currently, anyone can call themselves a paralegal, but most employers recognise that the best paralegals have a mixture of education (which may include some legal training) and relevant and appropriate experience.

The work of a paralegal

Paralegal work in the UK has increased significantly in recent years, as had the importance of this type of work.  More and more UK companies are providing paralegal career paths which can ultimately lead to a paralegal acting in effect rather like a junior solicitor, even dealing with clients. 
Most paralegals start by gaining experience and learning on the job (OTJ).  However, as its popularity grows, it is likely that qualifications will be required in future, or that the government may seek in future to regulate this type of work.
A paralegal does legal work, although they are not a fully-qualified solicitor or barrister.  Types of organisations where you might find paralegals include:

• Law forms, supporting solicitors.  A paralegal in a law firm might specialise in a particular area such as family law, or probate.
• Public Sector or organisations such as charities, trade unions, public bodies or CAB (Citizens Advice Bureaux).  A paralegal in one of these organisations may be an adviser, or caseworker.
• Court or enforcement organisations and structures, such as courts (criminal and civil), police forces or other enforcement bodies (e.g. Trading Standards or Environmental Health).
• Commercial companies.  Paralegals in companies may be advisers on contracts or business law, e.g. handling complaints, or contract queries.
The duties of a paralegal will therefore vary enormously, depending on which type of organisation they are employed in.  Typical work may involve:

• Advising people or the company/organisation, or giving information on legal matters
• Attending court
• General clerical work
• Handling a legal caseload
• Handling complaints
• Interviewing witnesses, clients and complainants
• Keeping a business or organisation informed of legislative changes
• Preparing legal papers and documents
• Research

It is entirely possible that a senior paralegal in a law firm may actually be doing the vast majority of the type of work carried out by a qualified solicitor. 
For senior paralegals, there may in large organisations be a team of temporary paralegals who work on specific projects, with a permanent 'career paralegal' employed to manage the team.  Junior paralegals may well get involved in routine administration such as filing, drafting documents, research and note-taking.

 
Paralegal hours are typically Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, although there may well be a requirement to work longer hours to meet workload deadlines. For example, paralegals that do police representation work or criminal work may well find that there is a requirement for them to be "on call" and to work weekends.  Most roles are largely office-based.  However, regular attendance at court or at external meetings is also possible.  Jobs can be found for paralegals on a part-time, flexitime or job sharing basis.  There are also temporary opportunities. 
Requirements of the role

Unlike barristers or solicitors, paralegals do not need to obtain any formal qualifications or accreditations. 

A paralegal needs:

• Administrative and computer skills
• Attention to detail
• Confidentiality – much legal information is sensitive and confidential
• Flexibility – the ability to deal with may different types of people
• Good organisation skills to deal with heavy workloads
• Research skills
• Spoken and written communication skills -to an extremely high standard
• Tact and patience – to deal with distressed and irate clients
• The ability to take in large amounts of information which may be complex
• The ability to work well under pressure
• Time management skills to work to deadlines

Career paths to and from paralegal work

There are no set qualifications for becoming a paralegal, and entry requirements can vary greatly.  To be a paralegal, typical background and qualifications might be:
• Legal Practice Course (LPC)
• Bar Vocational Course (BVC)
• Lawyer status  overseas – where the UK Qualified Lawyers Trabnsfer test has not been undertaken
• Law degree (foundation degree in law or legal studies)
• HNC/HND in law or legal studies
• Work experience that is relevant and in a legal framework
There are qualifications for paralegals.  These include:
• Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) Paralegal Programmes (City and Guilds):
o Level 2 Certificate in Vocational Paralegal Studies 
o Level 3 Diploma in Vocational Paralegal Studies.
• National Association of Licensed Paralegals:
o Higher Certificate in Paralegal Studies 
o Post Graduate Diploma in Paralegal Practice (PPC)
• Some colleges and universities offer relevant foundation degrees in law or legal studies.
• BTEC is launching a range of BTEC Paralegal Awards in September 2007 (subject to Edexcel approval)

The PPC course in particular is aimed at law graduates who choose a career as a paralegal, and have decided not to go on and qualify as a solicitor or as a barrister.
Ilex's remit includes establishing a recognised educational and skills framework for paralegal work as a profession.