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07 April 2023 / Amanda Hamilton
Issue: 8020 / Categories: Features , Profession , Career focus , Training & education
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Paralegals: different paths to the law

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A diverse range of opportunities (and a convenient gap in the legal market) awaits those choosing a career as a paralegal, writes Amanda Hamilton
  • Today many people who want a legal career are choosing to become paralegals.
  • Apart from ‘reserved activities’, paralegals can do mostly everything that a solicitor can do.
  • As a paralegal you can provide a cost-effective service, backed by the credibility of being a member of a recognised membership body for paralegals.

Over the centuries in England, it’s been the case that consumers of legal services tend to consider a ‘lawyer’ to be either a barrister or a solicitor. Not so anymore! Many people who want a legal career are choosing to become paralegals.

Paralegals are educated and trained in a similar way to solicitors. Some of them have law degrees, while others have successfully completed nationally recognised paralegal qualifications. They can do mostly everything that a solicitor can do, except the practice of some activities which remain the monopoly of solicitors. These activities

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

mfg Solicitors—Hayley Pearce & Lauren Williams

mfg Solicitors—Hayley Pearce & Lauren Williams

Law firm mfg Solicitors announces promotions at Ludlow office

Womble Bond Dickinson—Richard Sharpe

Womble Bond Dickinson—Richard Sharpe

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints partner in Leeds residential team

Brabners—six promotions

Brabners—six promotions

Brabners adds six to partnership in record year for partner promotions

NEWS
Bill disputes between solicitors and clients should be dealt with by an online portal rather than sent to the Legal Ombudsman (LeO), the Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) has argued
MPs have warned of an ‘unacceptably high risk of miscarriages of justice’ due to a lack of legal aid and increasing levels of self-representation
The government is considering restricting judicial review challenges against housing schemes, motorways and other major planning applications
Damages-based agreements (DBAs), also known as contingency fees, could be allowed for opt-out collective actions in the Competition Appeal Tribunal
Couples could legally marry almost anywhere, from canal boats to cruise ships at sea, under proposals launched last week
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