Law firm introduces boot camp for paralegals

Six paralegals have been recruited to an intensive three week induction programme with a law firm in a pilot scheme set to prepare them for a career in legal services.

The new scheme, designed by the Learning and Development team at Weightmans LLP, is being piloted in Liverpool with a view to rolling it out across the firm’s other offices.

Week 1 and 2 will see paralegals undertake workshop style sessions on practical aspects of working in a law firm led by a number of the firm’s partners and the teams in Learning and Development, IT and finance. Topics include negotiation skills, financial aspects of running a law firm, case management systems and time recording. At the end of Week 2, each paralegal will make a presentation to the whole of the Learning and Development team.

During week 3 the paralegals will be asked to complete real casework and will experience life in the firm’s various practice areas.

Those who pass the course will be deemed ready to start work immediately afterwards and will eventually take up positions in different teams across the office.

Sarah Littlemore, Learning and Development partner, explains that the scheme will benefit both the firm and the new recruits:

“This programme will teach the potential candidates a whole range of skills and lay the foundation of their legal careers.

“Having a thorough understanding of the law is only one element of being a lawyer; financial acumen and business development skills are become ever more important.”

Sarah says paralegals are essential in ensuring the smooth running of most law firms while they get a feel for the inner workings of the law, and that hopefully the scheme will help the firm choose the best candidates.

Weightmans boasts an ongoing commitment to career development which was recently recognised in Legal Week’s Employee Satisfaction Survey 2009. The firm was ranked as the third best law firm to work for in the country and with an 81% trainee retention rate, it’s a great place for budding lawyers to get their career off the ground.

“Some of our most senior people began their careers as paralegals right here at Weightmans so who knows – perhaps some of this year’s programme will take over the reins one day,” Sarah concluded.