There is No Law Which Says You Have to Become a Lawyer

There is No Law Which Says You Have to Become a Lawyer

by D. Woohead

D Woodhead is a Public Relations officer at
PLegal.com.

It is said to be one of the most demanding environments in the world where you are expected to be motivated enough to deal with almost anything. But what’s in it for you? How about clean shoes for starters?

The UK legal community is just beginning to appreciate the many benefits a paralegal can bring to their practice. Every year universities across the country are losing LLB students at undergraduate level. For whatever reason students are walking away with a year or two of legal studies under their belt, their tails between their legs and no direction! This is where the ‘ACC’ should kick in the Alternative Career Consideration. After a short and inexpensive period of training you could be well on your way to reinstating a deflated ego and so to restore that all-important family pride.

So, what does it all involve? For some time now it has been recognised that paralegals increase productivity, improve morale among newly qualified and junior solicitors and reduce costs both for law firms and their clients. This is particularly relevant during major corporate transactions and litigation when time-consuming tasks can account for a majority of billing hours, while charges are often on a fixed fee basis. Paralegals often contribute to every department and practice group. Properly educated and trained, they can effectively perform a large portion of the work previously done by lawyers. Their lower cost base enables firms to reduce hourly rates charged to clients, whilst increasing margins effectively adding value for the clients and earning more for the firm.

Consider, for example, the law firm that has won a major pitch. The key partners will provide strategic advice and experience on relevant legal issues. They are the critical people so far as the client is concerned. But what of the behind-the-scenes duties inherent in supporting large transactions document management in particular? Traditionally, these tasks have fallen to junior solicitors or trainees. Paid market value salaries, and billed to clients accordingly, much of their time is spent on these routine tasks from photocopying and filing documents to research and verification. Could their time and the firm’s money be better spent engaging these solicitors and trainees in more substantive work?

As temporary employees, paralegals are paid on an hourly rate and can be engaged or dispensed with as needed, thus eliminating wasted costs on downtime between projects. Law firms pay only for each hour actually worked. A team of temporary paralegals, from entry level upward, can be employed to perform many project-related tasks. From document coding, copying and sorting to document review, verification and summarising, a recent graduate trained to perform such tasks will relish the opportunity to work within the stimulating environment of a law firm.

On a permanent, and more substantive level, paralegals are increasingly employed as specialists in particular areas of expertise. For example, an energy paralegal is relied upon to keep their practice group informed of relevant developments; is accountable for, and must react to, regulatory dead-lines; and is called upon to research, summarise and report their findings back to the group. A property paralegal might support a transaction from preliminary instructions through to closing, often with significant client contact. Likewise, a litigation paralegal will act as the solicitor’s assistant, assessing and participating in the logistical needs for trial preparation, including overseeing the team of temporary paralegals hired to handle the paperwork.

So, whether you have gone the distance in the race for an LLB or fallen at the last furlong there is still hope of becoming a ‘suit’. A Paralegal Certificate Program will provide you with the ability to take up every issue from initial case analysis, cite checking, locating and profiling people to more advanced work. All you have to do is straighten your back and go for it with all the enthusiasm that this environment demands. See your university career's noticeboards, make an appointment to speak with your careers advisor and visit sites such www.plegal.com to take that first step toward an ex-citing and alternative career… good luck!

Some useful websites: www.plegal.com, www.paralegals.com, www.paralegal.com.