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A Process Server is responsible for delivering “due process” on behalf of a law firm, the courts, or anyone involved in a legal case. When involving someone in a court case or legal process, courtesy and the law state that the person must be formally notified of the proceedings and proof must be obtained that this notice has been delivered – enter the Process Server.
A process server acts as an impartial third party that delivers a court order or legal papers to the person(s) being “served”. This type of service is preferable in the legal industry as it is impartial and not weighted in favour of the person instigating the court proceedings. Process servers are dedicated individuals who bear a great deal of responsibility – this can be a rewarding job but it also takes time, effort and perseverance. If you are looking at how to become a process server in the UK, the following guide below gives an in-depth look at what it takes to be successful.
1. Become a Process Server in the UK
Before jumping straight into the world of process serving, you should be 100% sure that this is the career you wish to take and that you understand fully what is expected from the role. The following are a list of important considerations to make prior to undertaking any training and qualifications:
– Do you understand what is involved in the role of a process server?
– Does this role fit your lifestyle and personality?
– Will this role give you the financial gratification you seek?
– Do you have the relative skill set to be a process server?
Key attributes of a process server
– Reliability
– Able to use own initiative
– Able to adapt on the spot
– Flexible and able to work irregular hours
– Ability to quickly judge a situation and different individuals
Get informed and do your research! Knowledge is power and the more you understand about what is expected, the more confident you will be when making a decision. Will becoming a process server provide the financial means that you require and allow you to pay your bills and continue with the lifestyle you desire? Can you cope with the irregular hours and weekend work? (Remember that a process server is effectively on-call and there are generally no set hours). Do you have the right temperament and skill set for the job (we have listed some of the personality traits above)?
2. Are you ready to be self-employed?
Once you are certain that you wish to pursue the path of becoming a process server in the UK, it is now time to knuckle down and empower yourself with knowledge and training. In many industries you can simply walk into a job with no prior knowledge and training will be provided as you progress. This does not hold true for the process serving industry – in most cases, you will be self-employed and are responsible for your own training, as well as managing the administration of jobs and your own taxes. As a general rule, a process server can earn anywhere between £20,000-30,000. Some experienced and well connected individuals earn more than this but this is used as an introductory guide.
Study in your free time about Process Serving
If you are serious about this career path, you will not mind spending your free time learning about process serving and the nuances of the job. You should learn about what types of document you may deliver, what duties are involved alongside the delivery of paperwork (i.e. monitoring and providing proof of delivery), and the different situations you may encounter. There is a wealth of information available online, together with some useful books and blogs from people involved in the process serving industry.
Consider enrolling on an in-depth process serving training course
Aside from self-learning, it is always beneficial to look at official courses to further your knowledge. Gaining insight, tips and demonstrations from professionally trained instructors can provide you with some fantastic insight into the role of a process server. Institutes such as the UK-PSA Training Centre offer all-encompassing training courses that will greatly boost your knowledge of the role and aid you in your quest to become a process server in the UK.
Get personal insurance and register with a professional association
Once you are fully trained and have an in-depth knowledge of process serving, you must obtain personal insurance and seek admittance into a professional investigative association.
Personal Insurance
Process serving can be an unpredictable role – you can never truly predict how an individual may react when being served or what situations you may have to deal with. We strongly advise that you take out personal indemnity and public liability insurance as standard.
Register with a professional association
Whilst this is not an absolute necessity, we strongly recommend that you register with a professional association – this will help boost your own reputation and credibility, and will help you maintain a professional outlook on process serving. Furthermore, joining an association will help you keep up-to-date with current developments and news within your profession. The main investigative associations are listed below:
– Association of British Investigators:
– UKPIN
– World Association of Professional Investigators:
– Institute of Professional Investigators:
Forge connections with other process servers and build a range of clients
Now that you are fully prepared to jump into the world of process serving, you must build a repertoire of clientele who can provide you with a steady stream of work. For the main part of your career you will be dealing with law firms, solicitors, tracing agents and the courts – you will rarely deal directly with those individuals involved in the court proceedings. Other process serving companies, particularly those that deal with process serving on a nationwide basis, may be looking to hire you as one of their agents, and this can lead to ongoing work.
Diem Legal is always on the lookout for professional process servers – we have a regular flow of work throughout the UK and are one of the largest servers of emergency court injunctions in the UK.
Hopefully, you will have found this guide extremely useful – process serving can be a truly fantastic and rewarding career path for those willing to take the plunge.
