Celebrating the UK’s best paralegals – National Paralegal Awards open for entries

1 April 2025

The search is on to find the UK’s best paralegals with the launch of this year’s National Paralegal Awards, hosted by CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives). Open for entries today, the awards which are now in their seventh year are an opportunity to celebrate dedicated and talented paralegals across the country and the businesses that support them.

The awards are open to both individuals and legal businesses, with 18 categories reflecting the diversity of the paralegal role. They include National Paralegal of the Year, National Paralegal Business of the Year and Best Paralegal Newcomer / Young Practitioner of the Year as well as a range of practice-specific and regional categories.

New categories for 2025 are: Paralegal of the Year – Wales, Best Public Sector Paralegal, Best In-House Paralegal and Best Legal Aid Paralegal.

Entries open on 1 April and close on 15 June, with an early bird discount on submissions until 6 May. Finalists will be announced on 11 July 2025.

The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 18 September at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham.

Rita Leat, former Chief Executive of the Institute of Paralegals (IoP) and Patron of the awards said: “Paralegals play a vital role in the legal sector, providing essential support and expertise across a wide range of practice areas. It’s important that we take the time to recognise and celebrate their invaluable contribution to the profession.

“The National Paralegal Awards have grown year on year, with competition becoming stronger as more talented professionals step forward to showcase their achievements. I have no doubt that this year will be no different, and I’m looking forward to reading the submissions and meeting the outstanding shortlisted candidates at the ceremony in September.”

Craig Hamer CEO of CILEX said: “Paralegals from across the UK are making a significant impact in legal services, working across a wide range of specialisms and sectors. The National Paralegal Awards provides a fantastic platform to recognise their dedication, professionalism, and the vital role they play in the legal industry. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the organisations that support paralegals in developing and thriving in their careers.

“We are proud to host these awards – a true celebration of talent, excellence and innovation within the profession. We look forward to honouring the remarkable contributions of paralegals who are making a real difference.”

The National Paralegal Awards welcomes entries from all professionals within the paralegal sector, regardless of registration with the Professional Paralegal Register or membership of an organisation. Self-nominations are accepted.

For further information and to enter the awards visit NPA 2025 Events page.

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ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Louise Eckersley, Black Letter Communications on 0203 567 1208 or email at [email protected]

Kerry Jack, Black Letter Communications on 07525 756 599 or email at [email protected]

Notes to editors:

CILEX (The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) is one of the three main professional bodies covering the legal profession in England and Wales. The approximately 18,000 -strong membership is made up of CILEX Lawyers, Chartered Legal Executives, paralegals and other legal professionals.

CILEX pioneered the non-university route into law and recently launched the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ), a new approach to on-the-job training that marries legal knowledge with the practical skills, behaviours and commercial awareness needed by lawyers in the 2020s.

The CPQ is a progressive qualification framework that creates a workforce of specialist legal professionals, providing a career ladder from Paralegal through to Advanced Paralegal and ultimately full qualification as a CILEX Lawyer. CILEX Lawyers can become partners in law firms, coroners, judges or advocates in open court.

CILEX members come from more diverse backgrounds than other parts of the legal profession:

• 77% of its lawyers are women
• 16% are from ethnic minority backgrounds
  • 8% are Asian or Asian British
  • 5% are Black or Black British
  • 3% are from a mixed ethnic background
• 85% attended state schools
• 33% are the first generation in their family to attend university
• Only 3% of its members have a parent who is a lawyer.
• 85% attended state schools
• 33% are the first generation in their family to attend university
• Only 3% of its members have a parent who is a lawyer.

CILEX members are regulated through an independent body, CILEx Regulation. It is the only regulator covering paralegals.