Scots Law Society opens its doors to paralegals

THE Law Society of Scotland is to offer membership to non-solicitors for the first time in its 67-year history.

The professional body believes it has to open its doors to the thousands of legal support staff, including paralegals and legal secretaries who now provide services to the public but have no access to their support network.

The standards-setting body believes that it will lead to an increase in membership from 11,200 now to more than 20,000 by the end of the decade.

The solicitors union has been responsible for launching a paralegal accreditation scheme that had given them status and regulation – but the Law Society believes they need even more support. It currently costs £110 a year to become a registered paralegal.

It is estimated there are about 10,000 people doing paralegal work now.

Working under supervision, but responsible for their own workload, many paralegals specialise in a specific area of law such as debt recovery, conveyancing, litigation, family law, intellectual property, company law and accident claims.

A Law Society spokesman said: “We are seeing more and more work being carried out by people who are not themselves solicitors.

“What we are doing is reflecting how the legal market is changing.

“We think, as a professional body, that we have to evolve as the profession is evolving itself.

“The advantage to them [paralegals and other non-solicitors] is that they will get a more-rounded package of services and support from a professional body”

The move is part of what the Law Society described as an “ambitious new strategy” to respond to legal market changes.

Christine McLintock, president of the Law Society of Scotland said: “Our mission is to be a world-class professional body, which serves a growing membership, assures the public and influences the world around us.

“We want our members to be able to thrive whatever their area of practice.”