Accredited Paralegal roundup: A busy start to the year and new opportunities

Laura McBain, Affiliates and Accreditations Manager and Secretary to the Accredited Paralegal Committee, reflects on the first five months of the year and the new opportunities in the pipeline.

Nearly six months since my last check in and five months since we started 2025, it is hard to believe just how much has happened since I last updated you! Since we launched our latest practice area, we have officially recognised the first Accredited Paralegal in Banking and Finance and have looked to broaden our horizons with new opportunities for paralegals in Scotland.

I was also back in Glasgow for the Scottish Paralegal Association Conference last month and have seen the second intake of students on our Paralegal Practice Course with RGU get off to a flying start. It’s been a busy year so far and there’s lots more to come! Here’s more on what we’ve been up to so far…

At the end of last year, we launched our new Banking and Finance practice area—the 15th practice area launched by the Law Society and the second tailored specifically for paralegals in the financial services sector.

A huge congratulations to Ann Clark from Lindsays, who became the first paralegal to achieve accreditation in this practice area! You can learn more about Ann’s journey to accreditation here.

For full details on the accreditation and the Banking and Finance competencies, visit our website. Alternatively, you can contact us at accreditedparalegals@lawscot.org.uk. We’d love to hear from you!

In January, we were thrilled to welcome the second intake of students to the RGU Paralegal Practice Course. The new cohort includes individuals from diverse backgrounds and various stages of their paralegal careers, along with international students eager to make the move to Scotland to pursue a legal profession.

Good luck to all students as they embark on this exciting two-year journey.

If you’re considering joining the next intake, it’s never too early to express your interest! Full details—including entry requirements, fees, and a comprehensive breakdown of course modules can be found on the RGU website.

For any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at paralegalpractice@lawscot.org.uk.

I’m thrilled to announce that in the coming weeks, we will be launching our new General Accreditation!

We recognise that many skilled and experienced paralegals deserve accreditation but may not currently qualify due to working in niche areas of law or across multiple legal disciplines. By introducing general paralegal accreditation, we are creating a fairer system—one that acknowledges the expertise and contributions of professionals in areas we don’t currently cover.

If you’re interested in learning more or would like to register your interest, please reach out to us at accreditedparalegals@lawscot.org.uk

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the Scottish Paralegal Conference in Glasgow—a fantastic event that brought together over 160 delegates, 30 expert speakers, and 15 exhibitors. Thank you to everyone who joined us; it was truly wonderful to meet so many of our members in person and engage in meaningful discussions.

Looking ahead, our next conference will be held in Dundee later this year. If you’ve never attended an SPA conference before, it’s an invaluable opportunity to network with fellow paralegals, deepen your expertise in your field of law, and gain fresh insights. Plus, the event contributes over five hours of CPD!

For full details on upcoming SPA events, visit SPA Events | Scottish Paralegal Association.

As part of its ongoing work, the Accredited Paralegal Committee is undertaking a review of the practice area competencies to ensure that they remain fit for purpose.

In the past month the committee has completed its review of the Repossession Litigation practice area. If this is your area of work, please familiarise yourself with the updated competencies and make notify your supervising solicitor of the changes.

Further details of all our competencies and standards can be found here.

At the start of the year we were lucky to spotlight last year’s Paralegal of the Year, Nikki Scott, and her journey to becoming a paralegal. From moving over from the USA at 48 and taking on a new career at 50, Nikki inspired us all to try something new. A big thank you to Nikki for sharing her story.

We’re always looking to spotlight paralegal careers, so if you’d like to shine a light on your achievements or have a interesting story to tell, please get in touch with us.

As the weather gets warmer, I hope you enjoy the Summer months and any holidays you have planned. If there’s anything you want more information on or would like us to cover, don’t hesitate to get in touch.