The search is on to find the UK’s best paralegals as National Paralegal Awards opens for entries

23 May 2024

Now in its sixth year, the National Paralegal Awards, hosted by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) opens for entries today, celebrating the very best paralegals across the UK and the businesses that support them.

The awards are open to both individuals and legal businesses, with 15 categories reflecting the diversity of the paralegal role. They include National Paralegal of the Year, Community Champion of the Year, Best Law Firm – Paralegal Development, Best Conveyancing/Real Estate Paralegal, Best Family Law Paralegal and the National Paralegal Business of the Year.

Entries open on 23 May and close on June. Finalists will be announced on 15 July 2024.

The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 5 September at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham.

This year Rita Leat, founder of the Professional Paralegal Register (PPR) and former chief executive of the Institute of Paralegals (IoP) has been made a patron of the awards, reflecting her passion and dedication to the paralegal sector.

Rita Leat said: “I’m delighted and honoured to take up this role and will continue to champion the National Paralegal Awards that provide important recognition for the work paralegals do across the sector.”

Craig Hamer CEO of CILEX said: “Paralegals up and down the country are playing a vital role in legal services across a diverse range of specialisms and sectors. This is a great opportunity to shine a light on their dedication and professionalism as well as championing the organisations that support paralegals to develop and thrive in their careers.

“We are delighted to be hosting the awards which are a real celebration of talent, excellence and innovation across the profession. We look forward to honouring the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of paralegals who are doing invaluable work.”

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

For further information and to enter the awards visit: https://www.cilexevents.org.uk/npa-2024

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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 0203 567 1208 / 07525 756 599 or email at [email protected]

Notes to editors:

Institute of Paralegals

The Institute of Paralegals (IoP) is a professional institute with around 1,000 paralegal members. An estimated 44% of IoP members work in law firms – the rest are employed in a wide variety of settings, from companies and charities to local and other public authorities, such as the NHS. Some run their own businesses.

The IoP began operating in 2005 and was acquired by CILEX in 2022. It is dedicated to upholding the highest professional standards in knowledge, practice and ethics across the growing paralegal profession.

CILEX

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.

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

Craig Hamer is CEO