The PPR has bid a fond farewell to Chris White who was the inaugural Chair of the PPR Advisory Board as he takes up new challenges in his career. The PPR would like to thank Chris for all his work and support and wish him well in the future.
The PPR welcomes the incoming Chair, Sarah Docx, who has many years experience working within Financial Regulation as a Financial Services Compliance Officer. You can see Sarah’s full bio under the Home Tab: The Boards – The Advisory Board.
Over the past 18 months, the IoP and NALP have been working in partnership to develop a voluntary register (the Professional Paralegal Register, or PPR) to enhance the professionalisation of the paralegal profession.
Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural awards, The National Paralegal Awards are back, and the search is on to find the Best Paralegals in the UK and businesses that support the industry.
This year there are 14 categories comprising of 10 awards for individuals including Best Civil Litigation Paralegal, Best Patent Paralegal, Probate Researcher of the Year, Will Writer of the Year and Best Mediator and Arbitration Paralegal. There are four categories for businesses to enter including Best Recruitment Organisation for Paralegals and Best Law Firm – Paralegal Development.
Entries are now open, and close on 13 December 2019 at 5pm.
Finalists and sponsors will gather together on 27 March 2020 for a black-tie gala final held in the Grand Hall, Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden to celebrate achievements and announce the winners of each category.
Rita Leat, Managing Director of The Professional Paralegal Register who host the awards said: “We are delighted to host these annual awards to showcase and reward the work of Paralegals across the UK. These are professional awards with strict criteria to ensure that our Finalists and Winners are the best the UK has to offer”.
This year’s headline sponsor is international genealogists and probate researchers, Fraser and Fraser, who were awarded ‘Paralegal Business of the Year 2019’.
Neil Fraser, Partner said “Fraser and Fraser celebrate its 50th anniversary this year and we are delighted to be the headline sponsor of this year’s National Paralegal Awards. As a firm we understand the crucial role paralegals play across the sector and these awards provide well-deserved recognition to the individuals and organisations that have achieved great things.”
Amir Ali, Chairman of the CCUA will be heading up the independent judging panel, which is made highly regarded business and legal professionals. Amir said “I was honoured to be asked to return to this year’s Judging Panel and to Chair the panel. The PPR’s National Paralegal Awards is now very much a firm fixture within the legal calendar. Paralegals, in all their forms, are the backbone of the industry, often working in the shadows and these awards shine a much-needed light on the vital role they play in the delivery of Legal Services in the marketplace”.
For the second year, the events charity partner will support The Young Citizens, who work to help young people become active, engaged and motivated citizens, who are able to contribute positively to their communities.
For further information and to enter the awards visit www.nationalparalegalawards.com
Rita’s legal career spans over twenty years and she brings over fifteen years’ prior experience in the Paralegal sector.
As a founding Director of the PPR she is well placed to take the company forwards to achieve its aims and objectives of establishing Paralegals as the fourth arm of the legal profession and to bring increased diversity to the sector.
Her passion for improving consumer choice and protection is well known and her drive to bring cost-effective legal services to those who need it is at the forefront of her thinking.
David Holland, CEO Instructus Group and fellow Director of the PPR commented: “We are delighted that Rita has taken on this role. She has previously spent over two years with fellow Directors forming the company and, in that time, has been a major contributor to the development of the PPR. Her familiarity with our culture and vision as well as her strong leadership skills will ensure that The PPR gets a great start.”
Rita said “It’s good to take on a role that I really believe in. We have dedicated, hard-working people, a fantastic culture and strong, ingrained values that are second to none. I really believe in the direction we are moving in, and we need Paralegals in the UK to step forward and join the movement to secure themselves a well-deserved seat at the legal table. Now is the time to join the PPR “.
Rita will continue her role as the COO of NALP which enables her to remain connected to those training to become Professional Paralegals.
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Amanda Lee as the new Chair of 
the PPR’s Register Regulatory Committee.
Amanda says about her new appointment “The Professional Paralegal Register plays an important role in safeguarding the interests of the public and other members of the legal profession through the establishment of a robust voluntary regulatory scheme for those practising as paralegals. The Register Regulatory Committee is a vital part of that scheme.
Mindful of the importance of properly protecting and promoting professional standards through such voluntary regulation, I accepted the invitation of the Directors of PPR to serve as Chairperson of the RRC without hesitation and look forward to playing a key role in upholding the important standards established by the PPR, to enable it to continue to facilitate the protection of consumers, enhance consumer choice in the legal services sector and promote the role of paralegals as a recognised ‘fourth arm’ of the legal profession”.
Rita Leat, Managing Director of the Professional Paralegal Register said: “Amanda is an excellent appointment who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise and we look forward to working with together.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our exiting Chair, Sean Randall Morris who was in position for over a year”.
On 29th March 2019 200 people gathered together at The May Fair Hotel in London for a glamorous gala dinner to celebrate the achievements of Paralegals from across the UK. This is the first awards to take place in the UK which focuses on rewarding the Paralegal Sector. The event started with a champagne reception sponsored by Orion Legal Marketing.
The winners from the 12 categories, covering a variety of legal sectors were announced [see list below] and an Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Baroness Diane Hayter by the Professional Paralegal Register for her support to the paralegal sector.
Rita Leat, Managing Director of The Professional Paralegal Register, the host of these awards, said “The night could not have gone better. We were delighted with the response to these awards. Celebrating the achievements of Paralegals has been long overdue, they are the back bone of the legal sector. The event was a sell out and we are already looking for a bigger venue for 2020. Recognising both winners and finalists was important to us. We had all the finalists on stage as well as the winners which created an atmosphere of true celebration and recognition”.
The judging panel shared their comments when announcing winners relaying the reasons why they had chosen the winner. On the night judge Amir Ali, Chairman of the CCUA said “The event has been amazing, and I was delighted to have been able to judge these awards. The talent was exceptional, and it is great to see Paralegals being recognised”.
Mark Solon, solicitor and Chairman of Wilmington Legal said: “The paralegals are coming! Paralegals specialising in particular fields can do the work of traditional lawyers but need the right training and experience to do as good a job. The Awards rewarded the best of the best and provided a place to celebrate paralegals who have done what it takes and more.”
The evening raised £1800 for the Young Citizens, a charity which specialises in helping young people become active, engaged and motivated citizens, who are able to contribute positively to their communities.
Treethorpe were the headline sponsor of the event, Michelle Aldous, Head of Operations and General Manager said “We wanted to be the headline sponsor the minute these awards were announced as this is very aligned with our values as a business and it has been fantastic to be able to show our support”.
The awards were also sponsored by The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Heslewood and Grant Solicitors, Institute of Paralegals, Clerks Room Direct, Central Law Training, Lawyer Checker, Golden Leaves, Which Legal, F-Lex, Stephen James Partnership and Auscript.
2019 Winners
Best Family Law Paralegal – Dawn Gore, Trethowans LLP
Best Trademark Paralegal – Rebecca McBride, Pinset Masons
Best ADR Paralegal – Maria Arpa
Best Employment/HR Paralegal – Michael Coe, Dimensions 888
Best Conveyancing Paralegal – Kay Liddle, PM Property Lawyers
Best Pro Bono Paralegal – Ashleah Skinner
Best Probate Research Paralegal – Lauren Geary, Treethorpe
Will Writing Organisation of the Year – Heritage Will Writers
Paralegal Recruitment Organisation of the Year – EJ Group
Best Law Firm – Paralegal Development – Dentons UK and Middle East LLP
Paralegal Business of the Year – Fraser and Fraser
Paralegal of the Year – Leah Caprani, Winckworth Sherwood LLP
2019 Highly Commended
After receiving feedback, for those of you who would like to enter but have commitments ahead of the Christmas break, the decision has been made to extend the final deadline for entries to Friday 3rd January 2020 at 5pm.
There will be no further extensions after this date.
Why enter?
Winning or being a finalist of an award is a great way to progress your career or to develop your business. It brings great recognition for your expertise, hard work and commitment to the paralegal profession!
How to enter?
Entry is open now, online and free. You do not need to be nominated.