As Amanda Hamilton steps down as Patron of NALP, Dr. Peter Minto reminisces on his work with NALP and the impact it has on him and his students.
NALP, and in particular John Stacey Hibbert and Amanda Hamilton had a profound influence on my own career and those many students who, over the years, used their Paralegal qualification to carve out a successful legal career.
As John always advocated, Paralegals created a third arm to the legal profession (alongside solicitors and barristers) with NALP being innovative and at the forefront of legal developments – so, in my view, the vision John and Amanda had of seeing NALP take its rightful place within legal education and practice has certainly been achieved – but there is still more to do with regards to future developments.
My involvement with NALP started many, many years ago whilst working at Gateshead College, eventually becoming head of law there. I first became aware of the Paralegal programmes when I contacted the late John-Stacy Hibbert. I wanted my students to continue their legal studies after A levels by going onto further academic study at Universities or enter into the legal profession in some way.
I met John and after discussing with him what my intentions were, I added the Paralegal Diploma programme to the College curriculum. The new programme proved to be an instant attraction for students, many of whom, after completing an A level law qualification, were granted an exemption from part 1 of the Paralegal Diploma and were directly entered onto the Practical Law stage. Once the Diploma was obtained, students used it to advance into Higher Education or into the legal profession as Paralegals.
Some students studied the Paralegal programme purely out of interest, so I introduced the Paralegal Advanced Diploma, specialising in a specific legal area for the academic year, which also proved to be a great success.
My links with the Paralegal programmes increased over the years as, eventually, most of the Paralegal students in the North East had been taught by myself. To increase the significance of the award of the Diploma, I introduced, at the end of each academic year, an awards ceremony where the successful students were awarded their Diploma’s by John.
NALP also sponsored an individual subject award plaque which was given to the top student in each academic subject studied, which again proved very popular. I eventually left Gateshead College to take up the post of Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Sunderland, where I continued liaising with John.
After joining the University, I suggested to John that I wished to continue my long association with NALP and build the subjects that made up the Diploma into the LLB(Hons) law degree programme. He was very keen to do so and as a result ‘The Joint Scheme’ came into existence.
Students enrolling on the law degree programme took a number of standard degree subjects over their three years of study. However, in addition, if they wished to add the Paralegal Diploma subjects into their curriculum (which was non-compulsory), when they graduated they left University with a Law Degree and a Paralegal Diploma.
This proved to be a very successful amalgamation and many students took on the Joint Scheme when enrolling on their law degree course. Those who wished to go on and qualify for the Bar or a Solicitor’s qualification found the joint scheme extremely useful when applying for further study. Additionally, those students who did not wish to qualify as a legal practitioner to the Bar or in a Solicitor’s office could find work as a Paralegal.
Originally designed exclusively for University of Sunderland law students, I began to receive enquiries from other Universities around the country, and the ‘Scheme’ developed into a national qualification (I was asked to produce an academic paper on Paralegals and the Joint Scheme which was published in the ALT journal and was delivered at the University of Plymouth by myself – John travelled down to hear me speak at the conference and is a moment I’ve not forgotten).
John continued to attend the awards ceremony, which had grown to become a much grander affair with academic robes, family and friends being invited and enough food to feed a small army. By this time there was a very strong bond between the University and NALP which was reinforced when I first met Amanda Hamilton.
Amanda enthusiastically embraced the joint scheme. Just like John before her, she attended the annual awards ceremony I arranged each year so successful Paralegal students could formally receive their Diploma’s and, for those who gained the top marks in each subject comprising the programme, receive a top student subject plaque.
The awards evening was always very well attended by successful students; their family and friends and they all eagerly cleared the provided buffet. This routine continued for many years until I decided to retire from education. When Amanda arrived to officiate over what was to be my last involvement with NALP, I was surprised and very grateful to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from her for my services to NALP and the Paralegal Profession over many years. I could not have wanted my association with NALP to end any other way. At the time, there had only been one previous Lifetime Achievement Award which was given to John when Amanda took over NALP, so to be only the second recipient is something I feel very proud of.
I was very proud to be involved with NALP for many, many years, and I know there were many of my students who, after studying the courses offered by NALP went on to read law at university or into employment as Paralegals.
John and Amanda provided a different route into the legal profession for students keen to pursue a career in the law which has gown and thrived over the years and I wish her a long and fulfilling retirement.
My best wishes to her.
Dr. Peter Minto
JP, LLB(Hons), LLM, LLD, FPLL, BCA(e), MIMI, AIRTE, ASPS, LCG, Cert Ed.
Senior Presiding Justice of the Peace for the South of Durham County
Former Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Sunderland
Freeman of the City of Durham
