Registered Paralegal Scheme hits the mark

The Society's Registered Paralegal Scheme is on track to achieve its target of 200 members in its first year.

With three months left for experienced paralegals to apply to join the scheme without having to undertake the full qualification process that will apply from August, 157 applicants have made it on to the new register at time of writing.

As a reminder, anyone applying after 15 August this year will have to hold a relevant and formally assessed qualification relating to their area of practice, and then train for a year as a trainee Law Society of Scotland (LSS) registered paralegal, before being admitted to the register. Those who believe they already meet the specified competencies for their area are advised not to leave their application to the last minute.

The five practice areas where guidelines have been created - civil litigation (debt recovery), residential conveyancing, wills and executries, criminal litigation, and liquor licensing - are to be joined soon by two more, one in family law and one related to reparation, though applicants in the new categories are likely to have to go through the qualification process.

Applications have come in from across the spectrum of legal firms, from the smallest to the largest, though Lorna McCafferty, Vice President of the Scottish Paralegal Association and registered conveyancing paralegal at the Wishaw practice where her husband is sole principal, still finds a widespread lack of awareness of the scheme.

"There has been quite a lot of media coverage, especially in the Journal, but there are still many firms that don't know much about it", she said. "It's the same with paralegals: more people are contacting us to find out about it, but they often donÕt know much so we have to explain it to them." (For the key features, see Journal, June 2010, 36, also available at www.journalonline.co.uk.)

One solicitor who is very keen on the scheme is Denise Loney of Optima Legal in Glasgow. Part of a larger UK operation, the firm carries out property related work, mainly for lenders, and loan or credit-related litigation.

The firm is heavily paralegal dependent, with about 50 in total, including 20 in Loney's litigation team working with three qualified solicitors. Optima's policy is to take people on at a junior level, funding their development as their talents emerge, and many of their paralegals already have qualifications such as offered by Central Law Training.

Loney was quick to put herself forward for the Society's committee taking the scheme forward. Why did she feel the scheme was worth encouraging? "I don't have knowledge of how other firms deal with their staff, but I felt that before this scheme came into operation, anyone could give themselves the paralegal badge, irrespective of their experience, which could then undermine the qualifications and experience of those who were properly entitled to wear that badge. The scheme gives proper recognition to the people with experience.

How many of her own paralegals will she be looking to put through the scheme? "Everyone!" Although her team are already well qualified, she believes that firms who can describe their employees as LSS registered paralegals will have a marketing edge that makes the £100 annual fee per head, plus 10 hours' CPD, money well spent. It will also serve as a boost to staff themselves to see their experience recognised.

McCafferty agrees from a paralegal's perspective: "It's recognition of the work they do and their achievements, and offers them a career path."

She adds: "I think it will be a little while before we see the real benefits of the scheme, but these will come as it becomes better known and people understand what the qualification means. When the Legal Services (Scotland) Act comes in there could be a bigger demand for paralegals, and it will be worth them getting the qualification to help them market themselves."