Paralegals; reform and regulation

Sunday 5 December 2010 at 9:08 am | In News | Post Comment
Parralegal advising a client
Paralegal advising a client
The Scottish Paralegal Association (SPA) launched its “registered paralegal” scheme in the summer, introducing across-the-board competencies and adherence to a code of conduct for paralegals working with solicitors.

This has quickened the pace of Alternative Business Structures (ABS), and justice minister Jonathan Djanogly has confirmed that the cabinet’s reducing regulation committee has given ABSs the green light.

An efficient business model would involve a small number of qualified lawyers, overseeing a large group of paralegals. This model has already taken hold in fields such as conveyancing and personal injury, where much of the work is routine and process-driven. Will-writers too, are in effect paralegals.

There is a significant imbalance between the number of law students and available training contracts and pupillages, so many are taking paralegal roles. The legal executive route is the only way to become a lawyer without a degree and in July the first-ever legal executive judge was appointed.

The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) already has a structure in place to address the paralegal question, but it is 50 years old and will have to follow with ABS initiatives.

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