The finalists for the inaugural National Paralegal Awards have been announced.
These brand-new awards are specifically aimed at recognising the achievements of Paralegals across the UK, law firms that develop Paralegals and recruitment companies who recruit Paralegals. The response to the awards was phenomenal, giving the judges a tough task deciding the finalists and winners.
Rita Leat, Managing Director of The Professional Paralegal Register, the voluntary regulator for Paralegals in England and Wales, who is hosting these new awards said ‘We were delighted with the number of entries and the quality of the entrants. There are an estimated 100,000 plus Paralegals in the UK. I am delighted to be pioneering these awards as the profession needs celebrating, not only because it is the fastest growing legal sector but because it has gone unrewarded for far too long. The awards will change that’.
An outstanding achievement award will also be presented by the PPR to a highly acclaimed individual from the legal sector, parliament or the judiciary who has demonstrated support for the voluntary regulation of Paralegals.
The judging panel included legal and business experts across a variety of legal sectors including Mark Solon, Chairman from Wilmington Legal; Amir Ali MCICM, Chairman, CCUA; Sally Penni, Barrister; Katrina Robinson MBE; Keven Bader, Chief Executive of CITMA; Claire Smith, Head of Business Development, Moneypenny; Rachel Tombs, Orion Legal Marketing and Karen Babington, Solve Legal; Helen Heselwood, Heselwood and Grant Solicitors; Stephen Gowland, past President of Cilex.
Mark Solon, Chairman from Wilmington Legal shared his view of this new initiative to celebrate the work of paralegals “As the law becomes more complex and expands into all areas of life, highly trained specialists in specific areas of practice will be essential. I am delighted to have been able to judge these awards as they acknowledge and reward excellence for paralegals.”
Finalists and sponsors will gather together on 29th March 2019 for a black-tie gala final held at The May Fair Hotel to celebrate achievement and announce the winners of each category.
In addition, the event will support and raise money for Young Citizens, a charity who work to help young people become active, engaged and motivated citizens, who are able to contribute positively to their communities.
2019 Finalists
Best Family Law Paralegal
Alison Collier- Nowell Meller
Dawn Gore – Trethowans LLP
Iselin Jones- Corbett Le Quesne
Kaya Suleyman – Morrison Solicitors LLP
Nicola Phipps – Wikivorce
Will Writing Organisation of the Year
Bill Hogg – Attorney Wills
Nick Ash – Will and Probate Services Eventus
Heritage Will Writers
Best Law Firm/Organisation – Paralegal Development
Dentons UK
Eric Robinson Solicitors
Mayo Wynne Baxter
PM Property Lawyers
Shakespeare Martineau
Shoosmiths
Which Legal
Paralegal Recruitment Organisation of the Year
EJ Group
F Lex
Law Staff Legal Recruitment
The Stephen James Partnership
Simply Law Jobs
Best Trademark Paralegal
Peter Fisher – CP Law Associates
Rebecca McBride
Roy Scott – Keltie LLP
Best ADR Paralegal
Clive Lewis- Globis Mediation Group
Maria Arpa
Qaiser Bari
Best Employment/HR Paralegal
Bina Briggs – Plain Talking HR
Joe Milner – Loch Associates
Leah Caprani – Winckworth Sherwood LLP
Michael Coe-Dimension88
Best Conveyancing Paralegal
Kay Liddle- PM Property Lawyers
Kelvin Cooper-Birketts
Laura Kate Morley- PM Property Lawyers
Rachel Lawrence – Dentons UK
Best Pro Bono Paralegal
Ashleah Skinner
Lyn Berry
Nisar Afsar -BCADS
Best Probate Research Paralegal
Alex Horrod -Anglia Research
Katie Lowe- Estate Research
Lauren Geary – Treethorpe
Lorna Gallacher- Treethorpe
Neil Fraser – Fraser and Fraser
Paralegal Business of the Year
Champion Law
Construction Legal
Divorce Online
Estate Research
Derby Legal Assistance
Fraser and Fraser
Lender & Court
Problem Percy
White Collar Legal
Paralegal of the Year
Ashleah Skinner
Caroline Spencer- Boulton
Gerald Murphy
Ian Lobb
Jonathan Dattani
Julie Herbert
Katie Lowe
Leah Caprani
Michael Coe
Nick Ash
Paige George
Peter Fisher
Philip Nam
Sharon Baker
