Enter the British Wills & Probate Awards

Would you like to win an industry accolade for high achievement in the sector?British Wills and Probate Awards

Following the overwhelming success of last year’s event, The British Wills & Probate Awards are back – bigger and better.

Taking place on the 17th October 2019, the prestigious awards are being held at the Belfry Hotel and Resort in Birmingham. The 2019 attendee list is double the size of last year, reaching just shy of 300.

The awards will again be hosted by broadcaster and journalist Jennie Bond, who appears regularly on a wide range of television and radio programmes – from light entertainment to documentaries.

Why not highlight your achievement and successes in the Wills and Probate sector by entering the awards?

Not only will you have the chance of winning an award, you will also receive the following benefits:

  • Full coverage on leading news publication Today’s Wills & Probate
  • Content to use for your marketing purposes
  • Use of the British Wills & Probate Awards logo
  • Enhanced brand profile and recognition
  • Networking opportunities

With more choice of categories to choose from than ever before, you and your firm will be sure to find plenty to apply for, especially as you can enter up to three categories for the cost of £145 plus VAT – which is less than the cost of writing a Will for most of us, and of course, the more categories you enter, the more chance you have of being shortlisted and maybe even winning.

To find out more about this year’s new categories and which ones best represent your business please click here. The closing date for submissions is 14th June, so don’t wait, get your nominations in now!

Furthermore, bookings for this key event are now open here where you will find information and pricing for individual tickets and whole tables of twelve.

If you would like more information about how the awards work and how to go about entering please call Josh Hall on 01829 307 505 or email [email protected]

British Wills & Probate Awards with Jennie Bond

British Wills & Probate Awards 2019

Finalists Announced for Prestigious Paralegal Awards

PRESS RELEASE

The Professional Paralegal Register have announced the finalists from 16 individual and business categories that have been shortlisted for the 2020 National Paralegal Awards.

These professional legal awards, now in their second year are the only awards dedicated to rewarding and recognising the outstanding work of Paralegals and law firms that support the development of the paralegal profession.

The winners will be announced at a gala black tie ceremony at the Grand Connaught Rooms in the West End on Friday 27 March 2020.

The independent judging panel which was comprised of 17 legal and business professionals was overseen by Head Judge Amir Ali, Chairman of the CCUA.

Amir Ali said:

“I and the judging panel were very impressed by the high standard of entries shortlisted. There are many very talented paralegals and firms dedicated to supporting the development of the profession – judging the entries was no easy feat!”

Amir continued to say “Paralegals are the backbone of the Legal Sector, often at the coalface who receive little or no recognition for the vital role they perform within the industry, and professional awards such as these are a fantastic opportunity to congratulate all finalists on their achievements and successes”.

Managing Director of the Professional Paralegal Register, Rita Leat said:

“Congratulations to all those who have been shortlisted for the National Paralegal Awards. Yet again, the number of high quality entries we received represents the breadth and range of paralegal activity and excellent work undertaken in the UK. Thank you to our judges for their work and we look forward to meeting the finalists and our sponsors at our awards gala.”

This year’s headline sponsor is Fraser and Fraser and categories were sponsored by a variety of businesses who work with the legal sector, and legal membership organisations including The Institute of Paralegals, The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys and The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

This years shortlisted finalists can be found at National Paralegal Awards 2020 Finalists.

NOTES TO EDITOR

  1. The organisers of the National Paralegal Awards are The Professional Paralegal Register (PPR), a voluntary registered scheme to promote professional paralegals as a recognised fourth arm of the legal profession and to enhance consumer choice and protection. Only Paralegals that are on this register are regulated by us.
  2. The National Paralegal Awards are open to any paralegals working within the United Kingdom and they do not need to be registered with the PPR, hold a Paralegal Practising Certificate or be a member of a membership organisation.
  3. The National Paralegal Awards event is being held on Friday 27 March 2020.  For more information about the event, please contact Abby at [email protected]

Join the conversation about the awards on Twitter using #PPRNPAAWARDS #PPRPARALEGALAWARDS

Fraser and Fraser: creating a successful webinar programme in strange times

The pandemic and the ensuing lockdown were challenging for all sorts of organisations, for all sorts of reasons. For probate research firm Fraser and Fraser one of the issues was how we could stay in touch with our solicitor and paralegal clients and contacts when face-to-face interactions were out of the question.

One way we have done this over the past few months has been through a series of interactive webinars, which have proved a resounding success.

Their popularity has partly been down to timing. People working at home have welcomed the idea of joining friends and colleagues from across the sector to hone their skills and update their knowledge. As a firm we have worked hard to use our contacts and influence to source speakers who not only know their subject, but can also share it in a compelling manner during a web-based event where other panel-members, and the audience, may only be visible on screen or via a chat-box.

This has been a year of change in many ways and our webinar programme has provided welcome insights into a wide range of topical issues; from the use and possible pitfalls of video-witnessing for wills, to recent changes related to online probate forms and lasting powers of attorney, to practical advice about issues such as inheritance disputes.

Other highlights have included solicitor Caroline Bielanska and Court of Protection barrister Barbara Rich discussing statutory wills, via focusing on a particularly challenging case study, and John Bunker, head of private client management at Irwin Mitchell, providing timely advice on latest developments in trusts and probate.

We know, both from individual feedback and from the number of repeat attendees who’ve logged on for different webinars, that our mix of subjects and speakers has been well-received. Not only that, we’ve also been approached by various bodies, for example, local STEP (Society of Tax and Estate Planning) associations, to put on events tailored specifically to their audience. And our format, combining a roughly half-hour presentation with 10-15 minutes of Q&A, seems to have hit the spot.

At the moment we’re drawing up a list of topics and guests for our programme in 2021. In the meantime, all of our webinars from this year are available to watch on our website at www.fraserandfraser.com/webinars.

Head of the Professional Paralegal Register is shortlisted in the National Business Women Awards

Managing Director of the voluntary regulator for paralegals, Rita Leat, is a finalist in the third sector category of the National Business Women Awards for her pro-bono role with the Professional Paralegal Register (PPR).

Rita who co-founded the not for profit scheme, the PPR works tirelessly to promote professional paralegals as a recognised fourth arm of the legal profession and to enhance consumer choice and protection.

Speaking about her recent shortlisting “I am honoured to be shortlisted as a Finalist in these prestigious awards.  Awards such as these play a vital role in promoting the hard work of female leaders”.

This is the second business women award that Rita has been shortlisted for in recent months.

Finalists will gather at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in Kensington, London on Thursday 12 December to find out who has won.

To find out more about the Professional Paralegal Register please visit www.ppr.org.uk

IoP Christmas Jumper Extravaganza Networking Event

Create long-lasting connections to take forward into the New Year or catch up with people you already know. The Institute of Paralegals have invited three guest speakers that will cover a range of topics for discussion and an opportunity for you to ask questions.

Don’t forget to show off your Christmas jumpers on this virtual event! If you don’t have a jumper, then a Christmas hat or a Christmas virtual background would also be fabulous!

PROGRAMME

Speakers at this event include:

  • Pippa Shepherd – Head of Customer Engagement, Arken Legal
  • Sam Kimber – Experienced Genealogist, Pro Gen Research
  • Dawn Gore – Senior Family Law Paralegal, Trethowans LLP

Following the guest speakers, attendees will be able to ask questions and network.

The event will close with a prize for the best Christmas jumper!

REGISTER NOW

For more information please contact Carmen Nadolu, Head of Memberships at the Institute of Paralegals on [email protected] or call on +44 (0) 20 3011 2610

The Institute of Paralegals is the only professional Institute in the UK for paralegals. We are passionate about upholding the highest professional standards in knowledge, practice and ethics across the paralegal profession. Paralegals are in demand and this is the time to stand out from the crowd and join our growing and vibrant community of legal professionals.

Kate Hoey MP Becomes a Patron of PPR

The Professional Paralegal Register are delighted to announce that Kate Hoey MP, has agreed to become a Patron.

Kate said on her appointment “One of my Parliamentary colleagues Ashleah Skinner was one of the first PPR members to receive the PPR Paralegal Practising Certificate and I am delighted and honoured to accept the role of Patron and am committed to raising Paralegals in Parliament including PPR”.
Rita Leat said, “The role of our Patrons is a very important one, as it is to encourage and promote an awareness of the value and effectiveness of the PPR for Paralegals; Consumers and Employers. I am looking forward to working further with Kate to promote independent regulation of Paralegals”.
Kate who has supported the register for many years and hosted an event for the PPR in the House of Commons earlier this year, joins our other Patrons

LegalEx 2020

LegalEx makes its much-anticipated return to ExCeL London on the 18th & 19th March 2020, hosting the most comprehensive and all-encompassing event dedicated to facilitating business growth and professional development for legal professionals and firms.

Your FREE ticket will give you access to 150 cutting-edge exhibitors and over 100 CPD accredited educational seminars from some of the world’s top legal experts, innovators and most forward-thinking speakers.

The two-day event is a great opportunity to get the very latest on strategies, practices and technology solutions for the legal sector with content tracks covering Marketing, Business Development, Legal Tech, Client Retention & Satisfaction, Conveyancing and Regulation & Legal Skills.

All under one roof, you’ll be able to explore the latest tools, products, services, resources and innovations that are transforming the legal industry. LegalEx is the leading industry event for ambitious and successful legal firms looking to modernise their practices.

So, what are you waiting for? Register for your FREE ticket now via legalex.co.uk.

LegalEx Virtual

Taking place on 2-3 December 2020, Legalex will be utilising a virtual platform to ensure we can all share knowledge while keeping safe. Hosting a comprehensive and all-encompassing event dedicated to facilitating business growth and professional development for legal professionals and firms, we invite all in the legal industry to join us.

Your FREE ticket will give you access to cutting-edge exhibitors and two days of CPD accredited educational seminars from some of the world’s top legal experts, innovators and most forward-thinking speakers.

Seminars will include across the entire legal spectrum from technology to marketing and everything in-between.

Browse the virtual exhibition to meet tech innovators, leading service suppliers and watch product demos or network in the dedicated virtual networking area with representatives from many law firms throughout the country.

The two-day event is a great opportunity to get the very latest on strategies, practices and technology solutions for the legal sector with content tracks covering Marketing, Business Development, Legal Tech, Client Retention & Satisfaction, Conveyancing and Regulation & Legal Skills.

From the comfort of your desk, you’ll be able to explore the latest tools, products, services, resources and innovations that are transforming the legal industry. LegalEx Virtual is the leading industry event for ambitious and successful legal professionals.

So, what are you waiting for? Register for your FREE ticket now via legalex.co.uk.

Mental Health Awareness Week

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and here at the PPR we want to share with you some tips to help you consider your wellbeing and to act if you feel you need to. The tips are provided by the NHS and although general in nature, they remind us all that we need to look after ourselves to enable us to look after others.

For alternative support with low level mental health concerns, you can call:

SANE 0300 304 7000 (4:30pm – 10:30pm) [email protected] www.sane.org.uk

Samaritans 116 123 (24 hour helpline – free to call) www.samaritans.org.uk

Anxiety UK 08444 775 774 (Monday – Friday, 9:30am – 5:30pm) www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Rethink Mental Illness 0300 5000 927 (Monday – Friday, 9:30am – 4pm) www.rethink.org

NHS 111 111 (24 hour helpline – free to call)

LawCare

0800 279 6888

9am – 7:30pm Monday-Friday 10am – 4pm Weekends and Bank Holidays

https://www.lawcare.org.uk