Paralegals
The Law Society formally recognises the Scottish Paralegal Association as the independent professional body for paralegals in Scotland. The Society provides some support for their work, most of which is performed on a voluntary basis by elected officials of the SPA, but the organisation remains entirely independent. You can link to the SPA website by clicking the logo below, and access a range of information and services:
The Society would encourage individual paralegals to register with the SPA, which has a Code of Conduct and CPD requirements, and for firms to consider the benefits of ensuring their relevant legal support staff are registered individually or through firm membership.
The term ‘paralegal’ can be used by a wide number of people working within the legals services market in Scotland, and there are currently no defined qualifications required before this term can be used.
The Precise Oxford Dictionary defines a Paralegal as “Paralegal – person trained in subsidiary legal matters”. A more detailed definition might suggest that a paralegal is a person who:
1. is qualified through education in legal studies, training and/or work experience in a law environment;
2. is employed or retained by a solicitor in private practice, law office, corporate or in-house solicitor, government agency or other entity;
3. works under the ultimate direction and supervision of a solicitor; and
4. performs substantive legal work. This is work requiring sufficient legal knowledge that, without the assistance of a paralegal, it would be performed by a solicitor.
Paralegals come from a variety of backgrounds including Law Degree students who for some reason either do not wish to do a traineeship or, as is often the case these days, are unable to find a traineeship, graduates from BA Law, HND Legal Studies and those who have come up “through the ranks” and who have gained a Paralegal Diploma by attending on a part time basis either at Strathclyde University who run courses in conjunction with Central Law Training or at Caledonian University who recently commenced Paralegal training this year in conjunction with Reward Training. Gaining supervised experience in a working environment is also an essential element of the training for paralegals.
For more information go to the Scottish Paralegal Association website.
