Paralegals celebrate as CILEX hosts National Paralegal Awards

The National Paralegal Awards, celebrating the very best paralegals across the UK and the businesses that support them, was this year hosted by CILEX for the first time, following the acquisition of the Institute of Paralegals (IoP) and Professional Paralegal Register (PPR).

The awards ceremony took place at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham on 14 September and saw this year’s outstanding achievement award go to Rita Leat, founder of the PPR and former chief executive of the IoP.

Rita Leat collects outstanding achievement award

The award recognised her commitment to advancing the paralegal profession and enhancing professional standards.

Rita worked both as a commercial lawyer and in paralegal education before becoming the chief operating officer of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals in 2011 and later, the chief executive of the IoP where she oversaw its modernisation, growing the membership to over 1,000 paralegals.

In 2014, she was one of the founding directors of the PPR, the voluntary register and regulator for professional paralegals.

Mewburn Ellis collects national paralegal business of the year award

Ms Leat said she was “deeply honoured” to receive the award and highlighted her longstanding commitment to improving the status of paralegals.

“Paralegals are the backbone of our legal services sector and there is a greater demand now than ever before. As the founder of the National Paralegal Awards, I am delighted to see so many paralegals celebrating their achievements here today”.

Paralegal of the Year was awarded to Philip Nam, a civil litigation paralegal, reflecting his hard work in setting up his own business – White Collar (Legal and Admin) Ltd – from scratch.

National Paralegal Business of the Year went to IP firm Mewburn Ellis in recognition of its investment in its paralegals and their progression.

Other award winners were:

CILEX CEO Linda Ford reiterated the increasingly vital role of paralegals in the delivery of legal services. “This was an important opportunity to celebrate paralegals across the country who, like Philip Nam, are doing great work, and employers such as Mewburn Ellis and Pinsent Masons Vario, firms which are providing workplaces where paralegals can thrive, develop and build their careers,” she said.

“I’d also like to pay tribute to Rita Leat, who has done so much for the paralegal profession through her work on paralegal qualifications, in modernising the IoP and founding the PPR. She has been a true champion of the profession, representing paralegals and their interests during a time when their role in legal services has grown increasingly important. She has created a significant legacy.”

 

 

 

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