Considering a career in law? Here’s how you can get work as a paralegal

By Amanda Hamilton, NALP

If you’re wondering what to do next because you have been made redundant during the coronavirus crisis, or perhaps the time off has made you rethink your career path – then how about a career in law?

Working as a paralegal can be a very rewarding way of earning a living. It also offers flexibility in the way you work, career progression through the levels, and the opportunity to specialise in certain sectors (e.g. local government, property, fashion, family or criminal law etc.). Plus, you can choose to work within an organisation or, if you have an entrepreneurial streak, then you can set up your own practice.

Where do you start?

It’s possible that you’re already experienced as a paralegal – you just don’t know it! For example, in your previous role, were you involved in checking contracts, or working in a housing department of a local authority and being responsible for ensuring that letters are sent out to non-rent payers and/or taking them to court. Or were you working in an in-house human resources department or been given training in employment law? If so, then it’s very likely that you were already working as a paralegal – you just weren’t aware of it.

If you already have experience, that’s a great place to start. If you don’t, or you feel that you could do with some additional training, then the most important element is to gain some knowledge of how the English Legal System works, especially the court system and hierarchy.

You may be thinking that you can’t afford to re-train, but there are some basic courses available that do not cost the earth and will give you a solid foundation. For example, the NPC (National Paralegal College) runs a Paralegal Skills Course (which is CPD accredited) for £250. This is specifically designed to teach you the practical skills needed to work as a freelance paralegal. While this isn’t a full qualification, it gives you the basic information you need to get started and includes 19 online tutorials. Once the course review test is completed successfully, you are emailed a ‘Guide to Finding Work as a Freelance Paralegal’.

However, if a qualification is what you’re after, then the NALP Level 3 Award is what you need. This covers all the basic areas of academic law including, English Legal System, Contract Law, Law of Tort and a choice of another legal topic. The cost is £450 and is a fully nationally recognised qualification. You may decide to do both of these courses which complement each other and gives you all you need to work as a freelance. But this is, of course, subject to your financial means.

Working as a freelance.

This requires a little know-how and a lot of common sense. As a freelance paralegal, you offer your services to solicitors, barristers or in-house legal departments and are paid on an hourly, daily or weekly rate. The benefit to a business (such as a firm of solicitors or barrister’s chambers or indeed in-house company legal departments) is that they don’t need to employ someone full time, they can agree hours to suit you and their needs, they can choose specialists for certain jobs or projects, and in some cases (depending on IR35) they aren’t responsible for your tax and national insurance as you will be self-employed.

What if you already have a legal/paralegal qualification?

If you’ve already gained a paralegal or general legal qualification and were made redundant during lockdown or never quite made it to the job market beforehand, then the world’s your oyster! You just need to box a little clever if you want a job. Of course, working as a freelance is an option, but if you need to be employed then consider the following; you don’t just need to apply to work in a solicitors’ firm. All companies, whether they be charities or private and public sector organisations, will have a legal element to what they do and will consequently have a legal department. Choose a business that matches your interests. This could be retail companies, sports organisations, car manufacturers, large design and fashion houses, tech businesses or charities. There are so many options open to paralegals.

Experience: Chicken or Egg?

I speak with a lot of individuals looking for work and they all say the same thing: I have no experience and all the paralegal jobs I have found are looking for 1 or 2 years’ experience. How can I gain experience if no-one gives me a job? This is, of course, the classic chicken and egg scenario.

Firstly, bear in mind the fact that most jobs you see advertised are through recruitment companies. Remember that these are agents and are following their client’s wishes. Who are their clients? Usually firms of solicitors that can afford to pay their commission, so of course they will only consider candidates that fit the brief given to them.

The good news is; this isn’t the only route. In fact, I’d go as far to say that this isn’t even the best route!

Rule of thumb

Don’t apply to any recruitment companies unless you know you fulfil their eligibility criteria. Instead, be clever by going directly to the law firms or companies. Once social distancing allows, visit the firms as face-to-face contact is always the best option. It will have much more impact than sending out your CV or emailing. Person-to-person contact seems to have gone out the window, so if you show initiative, such as physically visiting a firm or company, they will most definitely remember you! Just be aware of social distancing and other hygiene measures in place to protect you, and the firms you visit, from the virus.

Hopefully, the information above will assist you in your chosen career as a paralegal. And, if you join NALP as a member, you will have access to all this and more, including a private 1-2-1 consultation about you your chosen career path.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda Hamilton is Chief Executive of the National Association of Licenced Paralegals (NALP), a non-profit Membership Body and the only Paralegal body that is recognised as an awarding organisation by Ofqual (the regulator of qualifications in England). Through its Centres, accredited recognised professional paralegal qualifications are offered for a career as a paralegal professional.