The Law Society has launched studies into potential qualifications for paralegals and extra support for solicitor-advocates.
Some 5,000 solicitor-advocates now exist and the society intends to identify whether they are being given sufficient resources to maintain quality. The paralegal market is growing and the society may want either to endorse or develop a set of qualifications.
However, the Institute of Paralegals gave a cautious welcome to the initiative.
Chief executive, James O’Connell says: “What paralegals need most is good quality, accessible and affordable training to support the development of the profession.
“We hope that if the society does enter this field it does so in a way that works towards the betterment of the paralegal profession, and not against existing initiatives.
“Many junior solicitors are being replaced by paralegals. Many paralegal law firms are in direct competition with solicitors’ firms. We are not sure how the solicitors’ profession will respond to the society working hard, albeit inadvertently, to speed up that process.”
