Understand Your Rights. Solve Your Legal Problems
If you want a lucrative, exciting, and secure job in an essential field, one of the sectors that is well worth considering is the legal sector. For those who are undecided about a career and prepared to put in some hard work and commitment, this could be a very good choice because this type of career comes with so many options. There are also many opportunities within the legal sector, which means that you can find one that is perfect for you.
When it comes to working in the legal sector, it is important that you research the different job options to work toward depending on your interests and preferences. Of course, some jobs such as working as an attorney or paralegal require a lot more training and education than others, so this is something to bear in mind. In this article, we will look at some of the top jobs to consider in the legal industry.
Of course, you need to remember that your skills, qualifications, education, and other key factors will determine the type of job you can go for in the legal sector. You need to ensure you gain the necessary skills and qualifications for the type of profession you are interested in, and you should also look at resume and cover letter examples to help you to create a professional resume. Some of the options you can consider are:
If you have a degree in law or are prepared to study for one, you can consider working toward a career as an attorney. This is a job where you can look forward to excellent pay, a wide range of benefits, job security, and the ability to specialise if you wish to.
Another option for those who have the right qualifications, or are prepared to earn them, is a profession as a paralegal. This is a varied and interesting job that requires a diverse array of duties. You can aid attorneys as well as provide valuable legal assistance to those who require legal advice and support.
If you are looking for a career more on the administrative side of the legal sector, you could consider a career as a legal secretary. Again, this does require some specialist skills and experience, so make sure you look at what is required before you start making applications. You can enjoy good pay and a rewarding and interesting career in this type of position.
You may want to consider working as a legal receptionist. In this role, you would be the first point of contact for those seeking legal assistance as well as other agencies and professionals. This job involves providing support to lawyers, paralegals, and other law professionals by ensuring calls and visitors are fielded appropriately.
These are some of the key professions to consider if you want to break into the legal field.
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When seeking a successful and enjoyable career path, it is important to try to make sure you improve upon this as much as possible. There are so many things you need to consider here when it comes time to make the most of this. You have to try to come up with some of the best ideas that will help you when it comes to improving and enhancing your career as a budding paralegal.
There are so many factors that you need to make sure you improve upon as much as possible, and this is something you need to make the most of. Focusing on the key ideas that are going to help you stand out and achieve success in your career moving forward is so important. You have to focus on the best ways of achieving this; here are 3 hacks that will help you stand out as a budding paralegal this year.
Improving your resume is so important, and one of the best ways of being able to secure successful employment as a paralegal. There are a lot of elements that you have to try to make the most of. It is important to check out paralegal resume examples so you have an idea of what it will take to help you improve your own resume, and get it looking great as much as possible. There are so many ideas that are going to help you improve upon this, and it is important to make sure you get this process right.
Being prepared to start at the bottom is one of the key things that you have to try to get right. There are so many factors that you need to make the most of right now, and this is something you have to consider moving forward right now. Starting from the bottom and working your way up is hard work, but this is definitely something that makes a huge difference to how your career unfolds, and this is something you have to make the most of.
Getting certified and being able to illustrate legal qualifications is one of the key factors involved in being able to improve your certifications. This is something that you need to try to make the most of. There are plenty of qualifications you can use in order to help you get certified right now.
There are plenty of hacks you can use that are going to help you ensure you are getting the best possible opportunities as a budding paralegal, and this is super important. When you're trying to be more successful with this, one of the next things you can do is to make sure you focus on how to stand out and make a big statement to prospective employers.
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The skills needed in your work as a paralegal, i.e. source analysis, critical reading and writing and digital know-how, are useful for any career. These office skills, essential for paralegal work, offer a promising outlook for climbing the ladder as a leading paralegal. However, lots of these skills, such as learning to use office software, writing a formal letter, and organising your own time and workload, are useful skills to have navigating life in the 2020s.
Lots of the day-to-day work of a paralegal requires working closely with other legal professionals and clients. It would be hard for a fresh paralegal to get far without picking up some useful interpersonal and communication skills. The ideal paralegal will develop the self-confidence to assert themselves at work, pursue their clients' interests and express themselves clearly.
As a qualified freelance paralegal, you’re free to take on as much, or as little, work as you like. If you would like to build your portfolio as a paralegal, you’re free to take on as many clients as you can handle. If you have other responsibilities, maybe you’re a parent or caregiver, the flexibility of freelance work allows you to pursue a high-powered profession while also keeping on top of your personal life. Besides the personal development provided by the job, the flexibility and freedom given to paralegals allows you to pursue any further personal development without having to choose between yourself and your career.
Alongside the opportunities for personal development that come with the role, there are also plenty of training courses provided by licensing bodies and law offices. For example, at NALP we offer training courses alongside our paralegal qualifications to help you develop soft skills that are applicable in a variety of workplaces. The potential for progression in the legal industry is fantastic, and employers are usually happy to invest in upskilling their talent.
Pursuing a career as a paralegal will expose you to a variety of people, from different backgrounds, destined for different places. The people you rub shoulders with as a paralegal could one day offer you a job, or help you find clients. More than just networking, meeting a variety of driven, capable people is a great way to make friends.
The opportunities for personal development and transferable skills afforded by a career as a paralegal are part of what makes it such an appealing career choice. You won’t leave your first job without being able to navigate your way around a bustling office, deftly use various office software platforms and speak with confidence. But most of all, at every step of the journey, working as a paralegal offers you the freedom to pursue other ways of developing yourself personally and professionally. Freedom to train remotely and, once qualified, practice in a workplace that suits you: as part of a large law firm; as your own boss; as a freelancer. Whatever way you want to see yourself develop; the paralegal profession can help you achieve it.
About the author: Amanda Hamilton is Chief Executive of the National Association of Licenced 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.
Twitter: @NALP_UK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalAssocationsofLicensedParalegals/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-hamilton-llb-hons-840a6a16/
Amanda Hamilton, CEO of the National Association of Licenced Paralegals (NALP), discusses some of these obstacles and the potential alternative offered by a career as a paralegal.
In the past, if an individual was completing a qualifying law degree, it signified that they were intending to go on and sit professional examinations to be a solicitor or barrister. This was the prerequisite qualification in order to do so. This is no longer necessarily the case today for several reasons.
Firstly, the cost of enrolment onto the post graduate professional exams has been increasing over a period of twenty years and, consequently, is out of the range of affordability for most.
Secondly, the lack of training contracts – a prerequisite to qualifying as a solicitor – due to so many graduates flooding the sector. For similar reasons, the lack of pupillages available for those wanting to qualify and practise at the Bar.
Thirdly, the introduction of the new SQE (Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam).
Fourthly, the virtual eradication of legal aid in 2013, which has resulted in limited access to justice at a reasonable cost for consumers.
Below, we will look at each element in detail.
In order to accommodate the increasing number of graduates entering the sector, the SRA permitted a number of institutions to apply for a licence to deliver the LPC (then referred to as the Solicitors’ Final Examinations). In 1980 there were four running the course, but in 2010 the number offering the LPC had increased to 42. In an effort to make this work economically, institutions started to accept applications from graduates who perhaps should not have been encouraged to apply for the professional examinations. Consequently, the numbers seeking training contracts increased exponentially. Paying for a law degree and then for their LPC with no chance of moving forward due to the lack of training contracts quite rightly caused grave concern to those who had been encouraged to take this route.
Meanwhile, instead of a decrease in the cost of the LPC, which would be a logical course of action, given the number and choice of institutions running the same, the cost of the LPC was increasing year-on-year. The crucial time came around 2013 when, after much debate and discussion, the LETR (Legal Education and Training Review) was published. In that review, it was admitted that the cost and time factor to qualify was inaccessible and unacceptable for many, and that changes to the route to qualification were recommended.
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Even then, it took the SRA five years or so before announcing its intention to create the new SQE (Solicitors’ Qualifying Examinations), and a further three years before finally announcing when the first examinations would take place. We have yet to see whether this new route to qualification – described as being a ‘more accessible’ route to qualifying as a solicitor – is, in fact, just that.
In April 2013, a few months before the LETR was published, legal aid was drastically changed. It had been an important element of consumers’ access to justice: the ability to offer free, or reduced cost, legal advice and assistance that had been in place since 1949. The reason given for the change was to reduce the legal aid bill by introducing strict restrictions on those who would be able to apply for legal aid. This has had the effect of excluding all save those involved in urgent cases, such as being made homeless or losing one’s liberty.
Without a shadow of a doubt, this change has put consumers’ access to justice at stark risk, since without legal aid they are unable to afford the fees of solicitors and barristers. With solicitors charging between £250-£600 per hour for their services and barristers £200-£400 per hour, it is no wonder. As a result, a gap opened in the provision of legal assistance for consumers at a reasonable cost. It is true to say that there are currently many more solicitors and barristers offering their services on a pro-bono basis to try to counteract the deficiency, but the profession is unable to sustain this indefinitely.
The consequence of all this is that the paralegal profession has developed to fill that gap. Until now, paralegals were seen as low-paid assistants for solicitors and nothing more than law graduates seeking that ever-elusive training contract to qualify as solicitors. In other words, ‘wannabe’ solicitors. In practice, this is certainly not the case. Many law graduates have since discovered that, with a little further training and several years’ experience, they can offer their services to consumers at a vastly reduced cost. Most paralegal practitioners may charge anywhere between £30-£80 per hour depending on the nature of services required. Many will offer a fixed fees for certain other services.
Without a shadow of a doubt, this change has put consumers’ access to justice at stark risk
The fact is that paralegals do not just work with solicitors. Paralegal roles are available in every organisation as long as there is a legal requirement to be fulfilled. Even premiership football clubs have paralegals working in their in-house legal departments!
The conventional legal professions may argue that these individuals are not fully trained and are not regulated like solicitors and barristers are. It is true to say that paralegals are not statutorily regulated, but their route to qualification is either very similar to that of the two regulated professions or, in some cases, exactly the same. Furthermore, there is a voluntary regulatory body that encourages membership for those that wish to practise. It also issues Licences to Practise, but only after strict eligibility criteria are adhered to. Advice is offered to consumers about how to check the status of any person claiming to be a paralegal before instructing them.
Furthermore, solicitors do not hold the monopoly on good practice just because they are statutorily regulated. This is clearly evidenced by looking at the annual statistics from the Legal Ombudsman.
Paralegals are trained and educated to perform legal tasks and offer advice and assistance to consumers. Many have law degrees, and some are even ex-solicitors or non-practising barristers. Others may have qualified by successfully completing nationally recognised paralegal qualifications. The point is that with a law degree, graduates now have another career pathway into the legal sector. Paralegals are now the fastest-growing sector within the legal profession.
Of course, there are some activities that paralegals cannot perform, and these remain the monopoly of solicitors. These are the reserved activities as defined by the Legal Services Act 2007. The two most relevant are that there is no automatic right of audience and that paralegals cannot conduct litigation. However, in practice, some of these reserved activities are being eroded by the courts in order to allow access to justice. Every paralegal that joins the voluntary regulatory body NALP (National Association of Licensed Paralegals) is very much aware of these restrictions.
From a consumer’s perspective, it is a bit of a minefield to know whether the person who offers legal assistance is bona fide. Anyone can call themselves a ‘paralegal’ since the profession is not statutorily regulated. It is, therefore, imperative that a consumer checks the paralegal’s credentials and status before instructing them. Knowing that a paralegal is a member of NALP is a benchmark for this, since due diligence is undertaken on all members from Associate membership and Graduate membership and above. Certainly, when it comes to granting a licence to practise, strict criteria are imposed – including the requirement to have PII in place before making a licence application.
Amanda Hamilton, Chief Executive
National Association of Licenced Paralegals (NALP)
Brixton Rd, Vassal, London SW9 6DE
Tel: +44 0207-112-8034
Twitter: @NALP_UK
Amanda Hamilton is Chief Executive of the National Association of Licenced 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.
Keeva chose to pursue a career in the legal industry, after discovering that Law touches every part of a person’s life, which she found fascinating and enticed her to want to enter the industry and learn more.
As an undergraduate student, Keeva has worked as a paralegal alongside her studies, she revealed that especially during her exam periods it can be a challenge to fit everything in, often waking up at 5 am to get her university work completed. Overall Keeva stated she hasn’t faced too many challenges at this early stage of her study and legal career.
Many students, in general, can relate to the difficulty of managing a budget, when asked how she best manages her finances, Keeva shared that she ensures to prioritise the necessities such as food, bills, and petrol, then everything else secondary. She also noted having a part-time job as a junior paralegal means she does not have to struggle as much as those who are not working alongside their studies.
Currently in her second year of study Keeva has begun classes such as Tort, Property Law, Eu Law, and Commercial law, with the average day consisting of several seminar preps and sessions.
Tip from a law student: “Choose your A Level subjects wisely!”
In her role as a junior paralegal, she has legal administration responsibilities such as writing and drafting court orders, preparation of client care, and attending hearings, giving her great hands-on work-experience in the legal industry.
Keeva’s goal is to become a barrister and specialise in corporate and commercial law, when asked what is one tip she would give to someone hoping to apply as a law student she noted it is very important to choose your A-Level subjects wisely!
After choosing to do Politics and English literature she was glad to have chosen Politics specifically as the majority of content learned at A Level is relevant to year 1 study of law.
Follow Keeva for more legal industry insights – LinkedIn
This article was originally published on our Jobs partner website: simplylawjobs.co.uk
These days, however, prompted by several different factors, many are seeking out this fast-growing sector because it is perceived to be an independent profession in its own right. Amanda Hamilton, chief executive of the National Association of Licenced Paralegals (NALP), provides a comprehensive beginner's guide to the paralegal profession below.
This very much depends on what experience and qualifications you already have. You may already be a paralegal without realising it. For example, you may already be involved in some kind of legal task in your current working life. On the other hand, you may have just completed a legal course and don’t know where to go from there.
Whatever the situation you find yourself in, there are a few tips to follow. Firstly, if you haven’t already done so, gain knowledge of academic and procedural law. Just because you may have been involved personally in some legal matter (be it a divorce, or defending a claim made against you) this does not give you carte blanche to advise or assist others.
The paralegal profession is currently unregulated, and that means that anyone can refer to themselves as a ‘paralegal’, whether or not they have legal qualifications or competency. Therefore, it’s important to distinguish yourself from others by gaining a recognised legal or paralegal qualification.
Secondly, become a member of a professional paralegal body. Such an organisation can advise and support you through your career, but be discerning about which to join. Do your research.
Thirdly, gain as much experience as possible.
You may already be a paralegal without realising it.
Many paralegal jobs advertised state that experience is required. But how can you gain experience if you can’t get a job? The answer to that is, don’t apply for jobs that are advertised through recruitment companies since they will only get their commission by providing exactly what their clients want.
However, most paralegal jobs that you find are through agencies, so what can you do? Be clever by going directly to the law firms or companies. Once social distancing allows, visit the firms as face to face contact is always the best option. It will have much more impact than sending out your CV or emailing. I know it sounds old fashioned, but these days everyone (and I mean everyone) uses technology. Person to person contact seems to have gone out the window, so if you show initiative, such as physically visiting a firm or company, they will most definitely remember you! Just be aware of social distancing and other hygiene measures in place to protect you, and the firms you visit, from the virus.
The Law is so vast and covers every legal concept imaginable. You therefore have to be particular not only about what areas of law you wish to practise, but also which sector to work in. The best advice is to think about what it is you enjoy. What are your hobbies? This seems like an odd question but every single organisation will have an element of legality to what they do. This includes sectors such as sport (premier league football clubs, athletic associations, etc.), and fashion (retail companies, fashion design etc.), cars (car manufacturers, distributors, outlets, etc.) Wouldn’t it be great if you could work within a company that reflects your hobby?
Working within such an organisation can be diverse too. You may have enjoyed studying employment law, in which case you join the human resource department, drafting employment contracts for professional footballers. Alternatively, you may be involved in drawing up or scrutinising commercial contracts.
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Since COVID-19, our working lives have changed drastically, with most who have retained their employment, working remotely. As a paralegal you may have recently been released from employment, but don’t despair! There are several other working methods to consider. As stated above, you could find employment in a variety of different employment settings, but you can also work as a freelance and a contractor.
In an effort to get back on their feet, many law firms will be thinking about the most cost effective method of utilising resources. This may include outsourcing work to an independent paralegal or paralegal firm, rather than employing paralegals or solicitors full time to do the job. This can be on a freelance (job-by-job) basis or as a contractor (a contract for a set period of time). The beauty of working in this way is that from your point of view, you become self-employed and are able to negotiate your own hourly, daily or contract rate. From the firm’s viewpoint, whatever they negotiate with you will mean that they are better off as they do not have to pay out for your PAYE and National Insurance contributions, or your pension.
It’s a win-win scenario for all concerned.
As we all know Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown has forced many law firms into hardship and although we are gradually coming out of lockdown, that does not mean there aren’t any challenges still ahead.
As lockdown is slowly lifted, law firms will be looking to get back into business and onto an even keel as swiftly as possible. However, they will also probably be looking to cut costs to do so.
This needs to be balanced with the knowledge that certain types of work are likely to be more abundant than others in the immediate aftermath of lockdown, such as commercial leases and contracts, tenancy agreements, general contractual disputes, divorce and family law, probate, will writing, employment contract, and company mergers and acquisitions, etc. These are areas you want to be sure you can serve effectively and profitably from the minute your doors open again for business.
However, some of these areas are at the lower end of the fee scale and may not be work you generally focus on. Perhaps in the past they have not been profitable enough to form a key part of the business, but with demand likely to be high, now might be the time to reconsider.
So, what can you do if your firm does not employ (or is unable financially to employ) sufficient experienced individuals in these areas? This is where outsourcing to a local licenced paralegal may solve the problem. NALP licenced paralegals specialise in one or two legal areas and will not be as costly to employ on a contractual basis as a qualified solicitor. As many have their own paralegal practice, it’s possible either to outsource or sub-contract the work to them, while keeping the management (and profits) in-house.
Over the next few months, there is likely to be a rush of small low-end legal matters, such as small claims, contractual disputes and tribunal matters. Access to legal advice and help may be too costly via conventional routes, i.e. paying a fee to a solicitor for matters such as general contractual advice, matrimonial assistance, hiring and firing staff (employment contracts), renting or leasing private accommodation or commercial units, collection of debts or minor civil disputes. All of these can be dealt with, at a much lower rate, by a NALP Licenced Paralegal Practitioner.
It, therefore, makes sense to utilise the services of a NALP paralegal, as by offering these services at an affordable rate and then outsourcing to a paralegal, you can increase your profits without the risk of taking on more staff or making a long-term commitment. The rest of your team can then continue to earn the bigger fees while the smaller jobs tick along and pay the bills. In addition, these new lower paying clients today may well be tomorrow’s higher paying business.
As a law firm, if you’re looking to use the services of a paralegal there are a few things to look out for:
There is no doubt that paralegals can play a big part in getting the legal sector back on its feet quickly and helping to ensure it’s in a position where they can thrive once more.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda Hamilton is Chief Executive of the National Association of Licenced 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, accredited recognised professional paralegal qualifications are offered for a career as a paralegal professional.
See: http://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk
To find a paralegal with the qualifications and experience your practice requires visit: https://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk/paralegal-register
While the legal world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the full impact of Brexit has yet to be fully assessed. Amanda Hamilton, CEO of National Association of Licenced Paralegals (NALP), offers Lawyer Monthly her take on the likely outcomes for the paralegal profession.
There’s no doubt that Brexit will have a knock-on effect for many different professions. I have friends and acquaintances involved in architectural design, architectural photography and construction and who have indicated that their business is already suffering. Many of their clients are EU nationals and they’re holding back work to see what will happen as a result of the UK leaving the EU. They may have a long time to wait since changes won’t happen immediately. Clearly, this will seriously endanger the survival of many such businesses.
Will there be a similar effect within the legal profession? That’s yet to be seen. Since we have a unique legal system in England and Wales, it’s probable that on a day-to-day level, Lawyers (and I include Paralegal Lawyers) will not be affected in the same way as other professionals mentioned above, since generally, they are dealing with matters relating to English Common Law. Of course, some law firms are multi-national and may have offices in EU locations and therefore, in such instances, there will obviously be changes to their daily operations.
As for the Paralegal Profession, it is likely that it will be business as usual, although in respect of EU nationals requiring assistance on immigration matters, these types of cases may increase. We have no idea at this particular moment in time what changes will be made and how soon they will be actioned.
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Since Paralegal Practitioners tend to take up the slack left by the virtual eradication of legal aid, and therefore, tend to handle the lower end claims and matters that solicitors are not able, or indeed not financially viable to deal with, it is more likely that they will not be affected.
At this stage we can only conjecture what may happen and since there will be EU nationals based in the UK who may be the recipients of negative attitudes and actions towards them as time passes, we could see an increase in the number of cases relating to racist behaviour, assaults and criminal activity, all of which may impact on the paralegal sector, requiring more qualified paralegals to step up to the plate to assist such individuals.
Of course, for those paralegals working in law firms which may have connections with the EU, there could be more of an impact. If such firms are going to be affected, then it is likely that the first victims of any economic consequences may well be paralegal jobs.
The difficulty that we find ourselves in within the legal sector is the same as everyone else in most sectors: we don’t actually know how Brexit will impact on us and how quickly or slowly the changes, if there are any, may occur.
Since Paralegal Practitioners tend to take up the slack left by the virtual eradication of legal aid [...] it is more likely that they will not be affected.
Within the legal process itself and the court system in England and Wales, we are self-contained in that we have our own appeal hierarchy which will not change. As we currently stand, the European Court decisions still bind all British courts on matters relating to European Community Law.
However, a statute first proposed as The Great Repeal Bill in 2016, was given Royal Assent in June 2018 and is known as the ‘European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018’. The statute will do several things: firstly, it will repeal the European Communities Act 1972 which provided legal authority for EU law to have effect as national law in the UK. Secondly, it brings all EU law onto the UK books meaning that all EU law implemented over the last 40 years or so while the UK was an EU member will continue to apply after Brexit, making it ‘EU retained law’.
EU law has covered such areas as worker’s rights, environmental regulations and the regulation of financial services. These have already been integrated into our legal system and so to withdraw them would cause uncertainty and confusion.
It is becoming apparent that many areas of our legal system and daily lives have been positively affected by being a part of the EU. Our working lives have become better through human rights legislation and employment rights and we cannot ignore the input that the EU has provided over this long period of time.
What will be telling, is where we go from here. The question we need to ask is: Will we completely ignore elements of legislation coming from and implemented by the EU and do our own thing, or will we be guided and look to the EU and implement similar legislation but in our own way?
Speaking to independent paralegal Christa Centolella, she addresses how law firms can better utilize paralegals and the services they offer.
What is the role of a paralegal?
Paralegals, depending on experience and tasks needed, are often hired to deal with the customer service side of the practice, often being a spokesperson for the attorney. They gather all information, facts and proofs, engage in client conversations, communicate with courts and other legal firms and often provide office administration tasks. Paralegals are often highly skilled individuals with specific knowledge sets to support and assist lawyers with their practice at all stages, from intake to resolution, however, they are limited in scope over what they can and cannot do on their own and in a law practice. Often, they are given the task to assess a case at intake and collect information to help decide whether it’s a case that would require legal advice and attorney representation.
Why would clients hire a paralegal over a lawyer?
Most often, those that hire me, do so for notary/signing agent services, process serving, document typing, research, referrals, document preparation and getting them the right forms and other support services that do not require legal advice and cost much less to administer. As an independent provider, I cannot give legal advice or represent the general public, so in such cases, they would not hire me over a lawyer. However, I can gather information and point someone in the right direction by giving them referrals, suggestions for resolutions or help them get their case facts in order better so they can hire an attorney, if needed.
Having paralegals can be key to the success of every attorney’s firm whether it is a solo practice, a partner practice or a large firm.
People will often seek my assistance first because their initial motivation is that they think they will save on money and think we are cheaper in fees. That is not always the case. I get a lot of calls for legal aid services, but I don’t provide free or pro bono services. They would not hire me instead of an attorney because I am providing support services, not direct legal services. There is a big difference between the two. I am often hired by attorneys to provide administrative or certain tasks that assist them with their client’s case, not mine. I don’t have a legal practice; I have a legal support and financial practice.
Often, people possess a great amount of business and legal knowledge and decide to represent themselves (if rules allow). On those cases, they usually need a little extra manpower on tasks such as research, making sure they have the right forms and notary information, or assistance with organizing information. The only other time I think someone would hire me over an attorney would be for notary services, as you don’t have to be an attorney to be a notary public.
What aid can paralegals offer?
Having paralegals can be key to the success of every attorney’s firm whether it is a solo practice, a partner practice or a large firm. They can assist you greatly in your daily practice needs and tasks depending on your business model and area of law. Sometimes paralegal fees may be higher than traditional legal support staff, but often that comes with experience and vast knowledge of certain subjects and areas of law. You are paying for higher knowledge and skills sets. It’s the same for why someone would hire an attorney. Paralegals to attorneys are like physician assistants to doctors.
What are common misconceptions people have regarding paralegals?
You should hire those that carry knowledge sets in different areas and surround your practice with such supporting and knowledgeable individuals.
I get requests I can’t fulfil and the responses I get are that they think paralegals are really the ones that do all the work. This is not generally the case. As it can be true, we do perform many types of tasks and carry a higher vast of knowledge than, for example, a legal secretary, but we don’t do all the work. Paralegals in New York don’t carry the license to be in fiduciary duty and do not counsel on the laws and how they apply. We are limited in scope. Usually, individuals or businesses seeking paralegals are seeking a more affordable way to get certain tasks done, usually due to budget constraints or affordability factors. They don’t realize they still should invest in getting the legal advice regarding their situation, even if the attorney does not carry out the administrative tasks.
As an independent paralegal, what advice would you offer law firms, to better utilize paralegal staff?
If you’re an attorney and overwhelmed with your workload, seek a quality independent paralegal service provider to help you expand or maintain your practice duties.
Paralegals are usually entrusted with certain tasks due to their performance, experience and knowledge. You should hire those that carry knowledge sets in different areas and surround your practice with such supporting and knowledgeable individuals. The hiring attorney still takes full responsibility for the paralegal’s actions. It’s important to have good communication skills and a close relationship with your paralegal to ensure the tasks you assign are in accordance with your wishes and that they won’t jeopardize your practice and license. Attorneys also need to recognize that paralegals are their support line and should value their role and treat them well and accordingly. Often, I hear that paralegals leave a practice for the way they are treated and/or viewed. An attorney’s attitude and manners toward their support staff is of utmost importance and often is the key to a successful practice.
The reasons for when others seek an independent paralegal as opposed to the attorney is usually according to the misconception they conclude from the experiences they have encountered. If attorneys would pay close attention to the customer service provided to their clientele and not only to the income factors, they will increase their success rates. A legal practice thrives not only on its knowledge power, but word of mouth on the experiences of those who hire them.
If you’re an attorney and overwhelmed with your workload, seek a quality independent paralegal service provider to help you expand or maintain your practice duties. The benefits are: 1) that you can write off them as a vendor expense, 2) change service providers at your choice and upon need without the hiring repercussions 3) build an additional referral source for your practice that costs less than some attorney advertising models and 4) increases the ability to expand your business model efforts, if that is the direction you are seeking.
CJC Judgment and Paralegal Services
1st4Financial
23 Wright Ave Auburn, NY 13021
Office: (315) 256-0601
Fax: (315) 253-0206
Mobile: (315) 406-9424
Christa Centolella is an Independent Paralegal ad Solo Owner of CJC Judgment and Paralegal Services located in Auburn, New York. She regularly provides outsourced Paralegal Services for attorneys on an “as needed” basis. She provides a legal support and financial services business model to her immediate and surrounding communities of the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York. Her territory coverage has expanded to provide mobile services to 21 New York counties. Firms outside New York or her county also seek her as a resource to assist with specific services in related areas.
Any individual who operates within the legal services sector will be well aware of the increasing number of paralegals working there.
Contrary to popular belief, these aren’t just wannabe solicitors, but many of them are individuals who wish to embark on a paralegal career in its own right.
The legal profession should embrace these individuals for many different reasons; partly because it is good for the individual solicitor’s practice to do so, and partly because it is good for the profession as a whole.
Amanda Hamilton, CEO of the National Association of Licenced Paralegals (NALP) in the UK, provides some reasons why.
Solicitors who offer general legal services are often unable to assist clients at the lower end, such as small claims or tribunal matters, because it’s not financially viable to do so. However, if they have teams of Paralegals on hand then perhaps such assistance can be offered via their firm – increasing the profits, and perhaps bringing in clients who will later need larger fee-paying services.
If solicitors feel that they do not wish to take advantage of the paralegal workforce in this manner, it will encourage and contribute to the growing numbers of paralegals working as paralegal practitioners within their own paralegal business. These paralegals are taking steps to offer assistance to such consumers at the lower end of the scale. This in itself is not a bad thing but it is a missed opportunity for solicitors. It’s important to recognise that the growth in paralegals is a counteraction to the lack of funding for consumers, and this fact should be acknowledged and welcomed rather than disregarded by the sector.
Taking on career paralegals with properly accredited qualifications can boost the economy of any solicitors’ practice. Whether the paralegal is employed, freelance or outsourced on an ad hoc basis or brought in to cover for a particular individual or on a specific project; paralegals utilised in this manner can boost productivity and reduce costs.
Taking on career paralegals with properly accredited qualifications can boost the economy of any solicitors’ practice.
A properly qualified and trained paralegal workforce can very often integrate and assimilate documents and requirements at a greater speed than those who are non-paralegals. Many will have considerable expertise in specific areas which can be drawn on if required or may be utilised to offer additional services to clients. Imagine how this can boost productivity and profit?
Paralegals are trained and educated to perform legal tasks. Some may have qualifying law degrees and others may have gained qualification via a different route, such as gaining NALP Paralegal Qualifications. Whichever is their chosen route doesn’t matter. Paralegals should be valued – after all they offer a valuable, professional service.
A qualifying law degree covers academic law and therefore someone having gained such a degree should not be considered superior to an individual that has gained a paralegal qualification such as the NALP Level 4 Diploma in Paralegal Studies, since the latter covers academic law as well as practice and procedural law. A law graduate does not necessarily have the monopoly over legal knowledge and procedure in comparison to a NALP Graduate.
The point is that both routes incorporate the study of law, so why differentiate?
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With many solicitors’ firms falling foul of financial restrictions within their business, the acceptance of a paralegal workforce makes logical sense. The opportunities available are there to be grasped with both hands and embraced, not feared, rejected and cast aside.
Embracing the paralegal workforce is a win-win for all concerned, for solicitors, the paralegals themselves, for the sector itself, and most importantly of all, the consumers of legal services.
There are many reasons why the paralegal workforce has grown at a terrific pace. Not least of course, is the lack of training contracts and pupillages which have aided the exponential growth. More importantly, it is the virtual eradication of legal aid that has affected access to justice for most consumers who cannot afford the fees of solicitors or barristers without such funding.
Paralegals are not only filling this financial gap but are also offering access to justice at a reasonable cost and fulfilling the objectives of The Legal Services Act by opening up competition in the legal sector.
By ignoring the role of paralegals, you are ignoring the future; the way the legal services sector is developing. By embracing Paralegals, you help to future-proof your practice.
