Partners & Projects

Institute Milestones

As a not-for-profit professional body we are regularly involved in a variety of non-commercial projects designed to improve the regulation, education, standards and status of paralegals.

We are also often consulted by organisations needing to understand more about the paralegal profession.

If you share any part of our mission or can offer services for the advancement of paralegals, we would like to talk to you about partnering with us. Our partners come from a wide range of sectors and types of business and include:

1. Bar Council of England & Wales

The General Council of the Bar supported our application to government for Institute status in 2005, and also recommended us for founding membership of the Equally Professional group of professional bodies run by the Equality & Human Rights Commission.

We were invited by them to be co-sponsors of the seventh biennial Minority Lawyers Conference.

2. British Institute for Learning & Development

We advised and supported the BILD in its application for institute status.

We sat on the Editorial Board of their in-house journal.

3. Cabinet Office

Responded to the Cabinet Office consultation by the panel on the Fair Access to the Professions by providing written and oral submissions.

4. Carter Reform Group

We supported this umbrella organisation when it was campaigning for changes to Lord Carter's legal aid reform proposals.

5. The Children's Society

This major charity is the Institute's charity of choice.

6. Child Support Agency

We were asked to advise the Agency on issues relating to the professionalisation of paralegal case workers.

7. Citizens Advice

National pro-bono partner (which made us a Short-Listed Finalist in the pro bono section of the 2005 Lawyer Awards).

Supported the Institute's application to government for Institute status.

Supported and endorsed the Institute's poster campaign to university law schools and FE colleges trying to encourage young people and people from minority communities to become magistrates.

Sponsor of the Institute's Paralegal Awards.

8. Commission for Racial Equality/Equality & Human Rights Commission

Partnered the CRE in running Paralegal Awards.

The CRE and E&HRC supported the Institute's BTEC in Law & Legal Work qualification for schools and colleges.

The CRE sponsored the Institute's poster campaign to university law schools and FE colleges trying to encourage young people and people from minority communities to become magistrates.

Founding member of the CRE's/E&HRC's Race for the Professionals/Equally professional project.

9. Companies Registry

We are members of the Legal Users Focus Group.

10. Commonwealth Legal Education Association

We were invited to present a paper at the CLEA conference on paralegal education.

11. Connexions

(government's national careers service for 13-19 year olds)

Advised on the paralegal element of Connexions' legal careers brochure.

Advised on their web-site content re paralegal careers.

12. Council for Administration

(the UK's leading standards setting body for business and administration)

Member of a CFA review panel.

Monitoring Member of the CfA.

Partner in the production of the Institute's Competency Standards.

13. Crown Prosecution Service

Advised on paralegal caseworker development.

Supported the Institute's application for institute status to government.

Sponsor of the Paralegal Awards.

14. DeMontfort University

Member of the academic accreditation panel for DMU's postgraduate diploma for paralegals.

15. Department for Constitutional Affairs/Ministry of Justice

DCA Minister spoke at Institute's House of Commons reception.

Discussions with the DCA/MoJ re the regulation of paralegals and diversity in the legal profession.

Supporter of the Institute's Paralegal Awards.

Partner in national poster campaign to help persuade young people, especially those from minority groups, to become magistrates.

The Institute convened and hosted a closed 'Chatham House Rules' meeting of various diversity related legal groups for the DCA.

Has a watching brief on the Institute's paralegal/legal secretary competency standards project.

16. Department for Education & Skills

Worked with them to promote/publicise the career paralegal option, and helped edit their careers literature on paralegals.

17. Department for Work & Pensions

Advised the DWP benefit fraud group on paralegal career developments.

18. Department of Trade & Industry

Member of the Small Firms Consultations Database for new laws/regulations.

19. Edexcel

(UK's largest national awarding body)

Partnered Edexcel to produce a nationally recognised professional legal qualification: the BTEC in Law and Legal Work.

Edexcel was a sponsor of the Paralegal Awards.

Partner in the production of the Institute's paralegal/legal secretary competency standards.

20. Employer Engagement

We assisted this charity trying to find work experience placements for the long-term unemployed.

21. Financial Services Skills Council

Member of the FSSC working party creating the financial services sector 14 – 19 Diploma (a government initiative).

Member of the above 14 – 19 Diploma legal sub-group.

22. Foundation Degree Forward

Worked with FDF to investigate whether there was demand for a government-funded foundation degree for paralegals.

23. Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs

We advised HMR&C and the paralegal profession and income structures.

24. Home Office

We advised Home Office caseworkers with regard to work visa applications involving paralegals.

25. HR in Law

The leading organisation for law firm HR Managers. They have a watching brief on the Institute's National Competency Standards project.

26. Independent Police Complaints Commission

We advised the IPCC on issues relating to the professionalisation of paralegal caseworkers.

27. Inspiring Futures

We are partnering this charity together with The Law Society, the Bar Council, Crown Prosecution Service, ilex and Skills 4 Justice to run legal careers days for school children.

28. Land Registry

The Land Registry is working with us on the creation of specialist National Competency Standards.

29. Law Society of England & Wales

Liaison on a number of matters including paralegal standards, the Lexcel quality kite-mark and diversity.

The Society supported the Institute's application for institute status.

The Society sponsored the Paralegal Awards.

Invited to participate in the Society's series of diversity careers fairs.

Has a watching brief on the Institute's paralegal/legal secretary competency standards.

30. Legal Aid Practitioners Group

We worked with the LAPG the development of paralegals in the legal aid sector.

31. Legal Education Training Group

Member of the LETG (the organisation for law firm Training Managers).

Has a watching brief on the Institute's paralegal/legal secretary competency standards.

32. Legal Services Board

We liaise regularly with the Board on matters relating to paralegals.

33. Legal Services Commission

Has a watching brief on the Institute's paralegal/legal secretary competency standards project.

Liaise with the Commission on issues relating to paralegals working in the legal aid sector.

34. Legal Services Ombudsman:

Hold regular meetings about paralegal development.

Supported the Paralegal Awards.

Has a watching brief on the Institute's paralegal/legal secretary competency standards.

35. London Borough of Camden

We advised the Benefits Fraud Group on paralegal representation during interviews with suspects under caution.

36. Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments

We advised on establishing an accreditation procedure for government assessors.

37. Professional Associations Research Network (PARN)

We were on the steering committee for this respected professional bodies association.

38. Police

We advised on the structure of the paralegal profession, rights of audience and qualification routes in connection with an ongoing police investigation into possible corruption.

39. Police National Database

Partnering PNDL to bring their criminal law database to the attention of the legal profession and paralegals.

40. Qualifications & Curriculum Authority

Members of the review group helping the QCA review its strategy for approving courses and course providers with regards to business administration.

41. Resolution (formerly Solicitors Family Law Association)

Member of working party considering paralegal qualifications.

Sponsor of the Institute's Paralegal Awards.

42. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Supported our application for institute status.

43. Scottish Paralegal Association

In communication on matters of mutual relevance.

Reciprocal membership arrangement.

44. Society of Specialist Paralegals

In communication with this alumni body on matters of mutual relevance.

45. Shadow Attorney General/Minister for Justice

Tabled our suggested amendments to Legal Services Bill on our behalf in Parliament.

Met with us to be briefed on paralegal matters.

46. Solicitors Regulation Authority

In regular communication relating to matters concerning paralegals

Has a watching brief on the Institute's National Competency Standards project.

47. UK Trade & Investment

(part of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills)

Presented twice at UKTI conferences on accreditation as a competitive advantage for British firms wishing to export training expertise.

48. University of Cambridge

Partnered Cambridge to create and deliver a certificate in paralegal practice.

49. University of Huddersfield law school

Member of the validation panel for their foundation degree in paralegal practice.

50. University of Lincoln law school

Sponsor of the Paralegal Awards

Has a watching brief on the Institute's  Competency Standards.

51. University of Portsmouth law school

Partnering the university to issue practice-orientated qualifications to their law undergraduates.


 

Member Login