Individual Awards - Categories and Judging criteria
There are 15 Individual awards open for paralegals to enter. The word count for each individual award submissions is 1,750 words.
National Paralegal of the Year
This award will be awarded to an individual of at least five years' experience, who can clearly demonstrate how they have performed and exceeded client expectations and has made a significant contribution on their organisation or firm.
This candidate will show exceptional knowledge and skill along with leadership qualities.
Judging criteria:
- Demonstrates a commitment to quality and excellence, delivers added value, sets an example to others and constantly exceed client expectations.
- Demonstrates an exceptional level of technical knowledge /expertise in their field.
- Demonstrates business acumen, understanding organisation strategy and goals and aligns own performance to business needs.
- Demonstrates commitment to the profession, examples could include but are not limited to - engagement in learning; professional body membership; regulation; promoting paralegal sector.
Paralegal of the Year - South / Midlands & North / Wales
The Paralegal of the Year for each region will be awarded to an individual that can clearly demonstrate how they have performed and exceeded client expectation and has made a significant contribution to their practice.
This candidate will have a minimum of two year's experience. If you have less than two years' experience, please consider applying for the Best Newcomer / Young Practitioner award.
Judging criteria:
- Demonstrates a commitment to quality and excellence, delivers added value and sets an example to others.
- Demonstrates a high level of technical knowledge in their field.
- Demonstrates the ability to constantly exceed client needs and aspirations; their professional performance standing out against their peers.
- Demonstrates a commitment to the profession, this could include but is not limited to - engagement in learning; professional body membership; regulation; promoting the paralegal sector.
Best Community Champion Paralegal
This category recognises an individual who has gone the extra mile for their community. Demonstrating selflessness and dedication to their community, often during challenging times.
The successful individual will have dedicated their time to make their community a better place.
Judging criteria
- Evidence of their role and standing as a paralegal.
- Evidence of dedication and time spent working to support their community.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
- Clear demonstration of their achievements and successful outcomes, including impact this has had on their community.
Best Conveyancing / Real Estate Paralegal
This award will be bestowed on the individual who can clearly demonstrate exceptional commitment to their work, clients and the profession. The successful candidate will have gained a high level of experience, knowledge and skills to provide exceptional service to their clients and employers.
This category is open to both domestic and commercial property transactions.
Judging criteria:
- Evidence of expertise through qualifications/training and or relevant technical/work experience in conveyancing/real estate. This can be in domestic or commercial work.
- Achievements and evidence of exceptional client care/going the extra mile/exceeding client's expectations with outstanding results.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
Best Intellectual Property Paralegal
This award will be given to an individual who can clearly demonstrate exceptional commitment to their work, clients and the profession.
The successful candidate will have gained a high level of experience, knowledge and skills in the intellectual property sector, providing an exceptional services to their clients and employers.
Judging criteria:
- Evidence of expertise through qualifications/training and or relevant technical/work experience in trademark matters.
- Achievements and evidence of exceptional client care/going the extra mile/exceeding client's expectations with outstanding results.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
Best Probate Research Paralegal
The Best Probate Research award will be awarded to the individual who can clearly demonstrate exceptional commitment to their work, clients and the profession.
The successful individual will have gained a high level of experience, knowledge and skills within the probate research sector, and is providing an exceptional service to their clients and employers.
Judging criteria:
- Evidence of expertise through qualifications/training and or relevant technical/work experience in probate research.
- Achievements and evidence of exceptional client care/going the extra mile/exceeding client's expectations with outstanding results.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
Best Will Writing Paralegal
This award will be given to an individual who can clearly demonstrate exceptional commitment to their work, clients and the profession.
The successful individual will have gained a high level of experience, knowledge and skills within will writing and is providing and exceptional service their clients or employers.
Judging criteria:
- Evidence of expertise through qualifications/training and or relevant technical/work experience in will writing.
- Achievements and evidence of exceptional client care/going the extra mile/exceeding client's expectations with outstanding results.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
Best Family Law Paralegal
The Best Family Law award will be given to an individual who can clearly demonstrate exceptional commitment to their work, clients and to the profession.
The successful individual will have gained a high level of experience, knowledge and skills within family law matters and is providing an exceptional services to their clients or employers.
Judging criteria:
- Evidence of expertise through qualifications/training and or relevant technical/work experience in family law matters.
- Achievements and evidence of exceptional client care/going the extra mile/exceeding client's expectations with outstanding results.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
Best Public Sector Paralegal
This award will be given to an individual who can clearly demonstrate exceptional commitment to their work, clients and to the profession.
The successful individual will have gained a high level of experience, knowledge and skills within the public sector and is providing an exceptional services to their clients or employers.
Judging criteria:
- Evidence of expertise through qualifications/training and or relevant technical/work experience in their sector.
- Achievements and evidence of exceptional client care/going the extra mile/exceeding client's expectations with outstanding results.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
Best In-House Paralegal
The Best in-House Paralegal award will be given to an individual who can clearly demonstrate exceptional commitment to their work, clients and to the profession.
The successful individual will have gained a high level of experience, knowledge and skills working in-house and is providing an exceptional services to their clients or employers.
Judging criteria:
- Evidence of expertise through qualifications/training and or relevant technical/work experience in their sector.
- Achievements and evidence of exceptional client care/going the extra mile/exceeding client's expectations with outstanding results.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
Best Legal Aid Paralegal
This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to their clients and the profession within the legal aid sector.
The winning individual will have exceptional expertise, with a deep knowledge in delivering high-quality legal services, a track record of going above and beyond to support and advocate for clients, particularly those in vulnerable situations. They will also be able to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide accurate and effect legal support, find creative solutions and a commitment to continuous involvement all while making a meaningful different in client's lived and the wider legal community.
Judging criteria:
- Evidence of expertise through qualifications/training and or relevant technical/work experience in their sector.
- Achievements and evidence of exceptional client care/going the extra mile/exceeding client's expectations with outstanding results.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
For each of the above awards, we recommend the submission word count is broken down as below:
- Personal statement: 500 words
- Expertise: 500 words
- Achievements: 500 words
- Commitment to profession: 250 words
Best Paralegal Newcomer / Young Practitioner
This category specifically recognises an individual who has been working as a paralegal for less than two years. This maybe be a newly qualified paralegal with less than two years' experience and who is still undergoing training.
The first steps in entering a paralegal career are the hardest and this prestigious newcomer award will be awarded to an individual who can show extraordinary achievements and dedication during their short time in the profession.
If you are an apprentice, please see the Best Paralegal Apprentice award.
Judging criteria:
- Evidence of expertise gained through qualifications/training and or relevant technical/work experience, demonstrating how they are progressing through their career so far.
- Demonstration of their achievements, showcasing understanding and evidence of the impact their work has on their clients and the organisation.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
Best Paralegal Apprentice
The Best Paralegal Apprentice award is given to an individual who can clearly demonstrate exceptional commitment to their work, clients and to the profession.
The successful individual will be within an apprenticeship programme and able to demonstrate who they are embracing the organisation they work for and contributing to its overall success. Evidence of any success in their studies to date and visions for their development will be present.
Judging criteria:
- Evidence of expertise gained through qualifications/training and or relevant technical/work experience, demonstrating how they are progressing through their career so far.
- Demonstration of their achievements, showcasing understanding and evidence of the impact their work has on their clients and the organisation.
- Commitment to the profession, which could include, but is not limited to - engagement in learning, professional body membership, regulation, promoting the paralegal sector.
For these two award we recommend the submission word count is broken down as below:
- Personal statement: 500 words
- Career so far: 500 words
- Achievements: 500 words
- Commitment to profession: 250 words