Paralegals to be further professionalised by becoming regulated for first time

Paralegals will be regulated for the first time through a voluntary scheme which – it is hoped – will prove their credentials to wary employers and members of the public.

The voluntary register will be implemented in 2015 and paralegals must also already hold membership of an industry body, such as the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), the Institute of Paralegals or the Solicitors Regulation Authority, to qualify for it. As The Lawyer reports, the former two bodies’ aim is that a paralegal’s membership of the register (or decision not to sign it) will eventually become a clear indicator of quality. Paralegals on the register will also be subject to sanctions and penalties for low quality services, while members of the public may eligible for compensation.

Amanda Hamilton, chief executive of NALP said: "Many consumers don’t understand what a paralegal is, let alone what to expect from one. At the moment the industry is entirely unregulated, meaning there are an estimated 200,000 paralegals out there with no indication of which ones are experienced, capable and professional operators in the sector and which ones aren’t. We have spent 18 months gathering evidence that the paralegal role requires further professionalism and regulation. The advent of the register should not only signal good news for the consumer, but for those legal services that use paralegals themselves."