Amanda Hamilton
Amanda, you are the patron of NALP (National Association of Licensed Paralegals). Tell us more about your organisation…
NALP is the foremost professional paralegal membership body in the UK, established in 1987. Since 2009, NALP is qualifications awarding body regulated by Ofqual and in the last few years NALP has become an end point assessor for paralegal apprenticeships. NALP is a non-profit organisation.
What exactly does a paralegal do?
A paralegal is trained and educated to perform legal tasks and offer legal assistance and can do almost everything that a solicitor does except they are not permitted to perform ‘reserved activities’ which remain the monopoly of solicitors. This means amongst others, that they cannot ‘conduct litigation’ i.e. act as agents for clients, by receiving and signing court documents on their behalf. Neither can they advocate on the client’s behalf in courts generally (i.e. present the client’s case to the court), although they are allowed to represent clients in the small claims court and most tribunals
Do you consider it to be a viable career option for a freelancer or contractor?
Yes. Provided an individual has the right training and experience, working as a freelance paralegal or a contractor is something we actively encourage.
Who should consider a career as a paralegal?
Anyone who has an interest in law whether they be school leavers or career changers.
What sort of income can a contractor make, and is there sufficient client demand?
The level of income depends total on the area of law and the company/organisation offering the contract. Some contracts may be very general e.g. being part of a team dealing with a complicated court project/case requiring many hands to assist research or compiling documents. In that case, the level of income may be lower than a contract requiring specialist knowledge in a bespoke area of law like ‘AI’. There is plenty of demand out there for those wanting to find it.
What is the best method to secure repeat contracts for work or new clients?
Again this is dependent on several things. An experienced paralegal can apply for a Licence to Practise and set up their own business utilising website and marketing strategies similar to any other business. However, it depends on the nature of their business as some may only wish to gain new work or contracts by word of mouth.
What are the qualifications and experience required to be a paralegal?
It should be made clear that the Paralegal Profession is not statutorily regulated like solicitors and barristers are. That means that NALP is the voluntary regulatory body for paralegals in England & Wales, and as such NALP encourages those that wish to work in the sector to gain relevant paralegal qualifications and gain as much experience as they can, or at the very least join NALP as a member.
As far as the qualifications NALP offers there is currently a Level 3 Certificate for Paralegal Technicians (Level 3 is equivalent to an A ‘Level), Level 4 certificate and a Level 7 Diploma in Paralegal Practice (for law graduates). NALP will be introducing a new Level 5, Level 6 and a Level 7 within the next 18 months.
Experience is the key to gaining work as a paralegal within an organisation but how much experience is up to the organisation offering the job. For those who wish to run their own business offering paralegal services, NALP’s policy is to grant a Licence to Practise only to those who have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in the areas in which they wish to practise
What areas of law would a paralegal find themselves working in?
Any and every area of law you can think of! You just need to look on the ‘legal expertise’ drop down menu on the NPR (National Paralegal Register) to see what possibilities there are: https://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk/national-paralegal-register/
Would they be helpful in alternative dispute resolution?
Yes. ADR is one of those areas!
What should small businesses consider when using a paralegal?
Small businesses should check the credentials of any paralegal they are thinking of using to ensure that they are associated with an appropriate membership body (NALP) and check their qualifications and experience. It’s always useful to get a recommendation from someone that has used the paralegal’s services. Also, small business should be aware of the paralegal’s limitations in what they can and cannot do. The burden should be on the part of the paralegal to make this clear.
Are they a more cost-effective way of accessing legal services?
Certainly. With legal aid virtually being eradicated some twelve years’ ago, except for the most urgent cases, the only way a consumer can gain access to justice at a reasonable cost these days is by using the services of a paralegal. Not everyone can afford to pay solicitor’s rates which can be anywhere from £200 – £600 per hour. A paralegal practitioner may charge £30-£90 per hour depending what the job entails.
Are paralegals able to represent you in arbitration or legal hearings?
Yes. Paralegals can represent a client in the Small Claims Court (which is a civil court relating to small claims) and some Magistrates Court hearings and arbitration hearings. They can also represent a client in most tribunals – employment tribunals being the most common – but not on immigration appeals nor tribunals relating to benefit claims.
What made you get involved with the NALP?
In 1996 I started up a paralegal training programme and was introduced to the then CEO of NALP, John Stacey-Hibbert. I asked him whether NALP would accredit my course and it did and I became friends with John. We both had the same vision for the paralegal sector and a passion to promote it. When he retired in 2008, he asked me whether I would succeed him and I jumped at the chance. I stepped down as CEO of NALP two years ago and was asked to become the Patron and here I am, still promoting NALP and the sector generally!
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The variety of the work I do currently: writing articles, being interviewed for radio and podcasts, but most of all, the career consultations we offer NALP members as a benefit, which is my job, and I love the interaction.
What are some of the tips you can advise small business owners when forming contracts?
Ensure you know exactly what you want and check every clause in a contract. If you are unsure about anything, consult a specialist contract paralegal who will be able to advise and support you through the process.
Are paralegals able to assist small business owners in drafting contracts?
Absolutely – see answer to the last question.
Are there any business leaders that you find a source of inspiration?
I am a great admirer of Richard Branson and in particular his view on his success. He basically said: ‘if you look after your employees, they will look after you’. It seems quite logical to look after your staff and employees but in my experience, not every business owner believes in this fundamental principle to succeed.
How do you see AI influencing the paralegal industry over the next few years?
That’s a tough one. I don’t think we can stop the momentum of AI so we should embrace it as much as we can. I am unsure how it may influence the paralegal sector specifically but it most certainly has started influencing the legal profession as a whole.
What are some of the challenges of running a not-for-profit organisation?
Capital and cash flow. It’s a constant balancing act.
Lastly, where do you see the paralegal industry developing over the next decade?
I see the paralegal profession growing exponentially, and being fully recognised as a branch of the legal sector offering valuable legal services to consumers thereby ensuring they have access to justice at a reasonable cost.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda Hamilton is the Patron of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), a non-profit membership body and the only paralegal body that is recognised as an awarding organisation by Ofqual (the regulator of qualifications in England). Through its Centres around the country, accredited and recognised professional paralegal qualifications are offered for those looking for a career as a paralegal professional.
Web: http://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk
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