SPA roundup

As 2019 comes to an end, the SPA has had another successful year.

Not only did we have a number of evening CPD/networking events in Glasgow and Edinburgh, our two conferences, in Glasgow in April and Dundee in September, attracted over 300 members.

We hope to see even more at our 2020 conferences:

• Annual conference: 23 April 2020, Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow.
• Autumn conference: 5 November 2020, Apex City Hotel, Dundee.

Tickets will be available via our website soon.

We are delighted to confirm that First Scottish Searching Services continue as our main sponsor for 2020, and Stewart Title, the Coal Authority and Estate Research have confirmed sponsorship.

We have made a change to our Paralegal of the Year competition. In feedback, you asked for a dinner/evening event, so for 2020 the winner will be announced at an awards dinner, in Glasgow on 8 May.

Stewart Title is sponsoring this fantastic award. Application forms will be on our website this month and applications close at the start of April.

Details of our CPD/networking will be available in January; the first event is likely to be in February. Central Law Training will continue to host a quarterly event with a sector expert. If there is anything you would like us to cover, please let us know at info@scottish-paralegal.org.uk – we have access to speakers covering every practice area and will do our best to meet requests.

Our conferences and networking events are open to paralegals and solicitors. If you have colleagues or friends who are not members, invite them to one of our events.

As the new CPD year has started, the Coal Authority would be delighted to work with firms to provide training or CPD sessions featuring case studies on how it protects the public and the environment. Clare Tasker is account manager for Scotland: contact her on 07766 602 221 or claretasker@coal.gov.uk

The Association attended the award ceremony described in the article above. It was fantastic to be part of their celebrations. Paula, Margaret and I attended on behalf of the SPA and Karen hosted the Accredited Paralegal stand.

Our AGM will be held on 18 April 2020. Full details will be on our website in due course.

The committee works all year round organising these events in addition to our work as paralegals. Without our sponsors, we would not be able to do half of what we do, but we also have to thank our employers who support us by allowing time for SPA events, and those who provide speakers.

Keep in touch via our website or social media. We would love to hear from you. On behalf of the committee, I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a good New Year.