By Amanda Hamilton, Patron, National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP)
Whether you love fashion or football, health or hiking, writing or will writing, mechanics or mobile phones, there is a paralegal job out there for you.
Let’s look at a few of the industries where paralegals play an important role, and where you may find your dream job.
Professional football
These days football is a multi-million-pound business. Most premiership football clubs employ doctors, physios, chefs, waiting staff, receptionists, security, cleaning staff and a whole team of lawyers and paralegals to deal with the day-to-day running of a club, its players and any legalities that may occur. This can include players’ employment contracts, buying or renting a property for players or staff, assisting with small legal matters such as driving offences, marital problems, defamation actions and publicity related legal matters.
A club, like Chelsea for example, has a ‘village’ to run. This includes restaurants, cafés and bars, and promotional suites for guests. Plus, it employs hundreds of staff. The club has also developed The Chelsea Foundation to encourage, motivate and inspire younger people through football and sport generally. They have a museum and guided tours.
If this is your dream paralegal job, then think of the number of football clubs not only in the premiership but also in the lower leagues that may be interested in taking you on as a paralegal. Something to think about?
Fashion and retail
If you are interested in fashion, clothing or dress and shoe design, why not consider a paralegal role in one of the top design houses. Sometime ago, NALP was approached by a top shoe designer to assist in finding a paralegal for their legal department. The criterion was that they had to be qualified through NALP. Of course, we obliged and put them in touch with several candidates. Obviously, positions like that do not land in our lap every day but consider the possibilities. If you are a fashion or design guru and have also gained a NALP paralegal qualification, the world could be your oyster.
In terms of glamour, perhaps think in terms of Chanel or Christian Dior or British designers like Vivienne Westwood or Stella McCartney. Or if you are besotted by what is on your feet, then shoes designers such as Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin or Manolo Blahnik. What do they all have in common? They are all well known for their designs around the world, and they all employ paralegals. Using your paralegal knowledge and skills could gain you a position which could also lead to the possibility of world travel?
Big Business
Have you a head for finance or mergers and acquisitions? Many large corporations have offices around the world and most tend to use The English Common Law as their preferred legal system. There are plenty of roles for paralegals in such organisations. From financial corporations to multi-national banks. From underwriters to insurance companies.
Even oil companies such as Shell have advertised for NALP qualified paralegals to join their legal team. Organisations such as National Grid or British Gas, or the Virgin Group of companies, all have legal departments offering paralegal positions.
Film, Stage and Television
Got a passion for movies, stage, or TV production? Or maybe you have acting or production ambitions but, as insurance, you have qualified as a paralegal as a backup. Either way, there are plenty of production companies based in London and around the UK that utilise the knowledge of paralegals. Contracts relating to scenery or costume design, or to retain an actor for a part on TV.
A while ago, NALP ran a survey to ascertain how many companies employed a paralegal to deal with their day-to-day legalities. Three hundred companies/organisations were contacted including movie production companies and they all stated that they employed people in-house, who were not solicitors, to deal with employment contracts and commercial contracts and other related legal matters. In other words, they employed paralegals.
There are paralegal positions to be had in all sectors whether public, private, or charitable, so don’t limit your search. Follow your passion and find the right role within the right sector for you. It is just a question of doing your homework and asking yourself one basic question: ‘what am I passionate about?’
Amanda Hamilton is Patron of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), a non-profit membership body and the only paralegal body that is recognised as an awarding organisation by Ofqual (the regulator of qualifications in England). Through its Centres around the country, accredited and recognised professional paralegal qualifications are offered for those looking for a career as a paralegal professional.
Web: http://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk
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