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02 September 2022
Issue: 7992 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Career focus
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NLJ this week: Paralegal qualifications & career paths

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Career opportunities in the legal profession are opening up, with new routes to qualification, new career paths and greater flexibility

Amanda Hamilton, CEO of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals, writes in this week’s NLJ about the benefits of working as a paralegal, whether in industry, in a legal practice or as a self-employed specialist or business owner.

‘Paralegals can undertake almost all the same activities as a solicitor, with a few exceptions known as ‘reserved activities’,’ Hamilton writes. ‘This means that your paralegal qualifications can also be a stepping-stone to becoming a solicitor if that’s what you decide to do long-term.’

Hamilton offers advice on what to factor in when choosing a paralegal qualification, and the career pathways available.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
The legal profession’s claim to be a ‘guardian of fairness’ is under scrutiny after stark findings on gender imbalance and opaque progression. Writing in NLJ this week, Joshua Purser of No5 Barristers’ Chambers and Govindi Deerasinghe of Global 50/50 warn that leadership remains dominated by a narrow elite, with men holding 71% of top court roles
A legal challenge to police disclosure rules has failed, reinforcing a push for transparency in policing. In NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth examines a case where the Metropolitan Police required officers to declare membership of groups like the Freemasons
Bereavement leave is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Writing in NLJ this week, Robert Hargreaves of York St John University explains how the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a day-one right to leave for a wider range of losses, alongside new provisions for pregnancy loss and bereaved partners
Courts are beginning to grapple with whether AI-generated material is legally privileged—and the answers are mixed. In this week's issue of NLJ, Stacie Bourton, Tom Whittaker & Beata Kolodziej of Burges Salmon examine US rulings showing how easily privilege can be lost
New guidance seeks to bring order to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Minesh Tanna and David Bridge of Simmons & Simmons set out a framework stressing ‘transparency’, ‘explainability’ and ‘reliability’
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