Institute of Paralegals
Setting Standards - Promoting Professionalism
Who We Are
We are the oldest not-for-profit, incorporated professional body for paralegals in the United Kingdom.
We were incorporated in 2003. In 2005, we were granted institute status by the Secretary of State for the Department of Trade & Industry, after proving that we met the government's requirement that we were a "professional body of the highest standing".
Our application for institute status was supported by, amongst others, The Law Society of England & Wales, the Bar Council, the Crown Prosecution Service and Citizens Advice.
We are:
- the oldest incorporated paralegal representative body in the United Kingdom
- the only body representing professional paralegals to have been granted Institute status by the UK government
- the only paralegal body to have had its application for institute status supported by the Bar Council, Law Society, Crown Prosecution Service and Citizens Advice
- the only body for professional paralegals to have received state funding to help develop the paralegal profession
- the organisation which publishes the Paralegal Code of Conduct
- the only professional body for paralegals to have worked in partnership with the Ministry of Justice
- the only paralegal body to have been cited by legislators during Parliamentary legal debates (see Hansard)
- the first ever paralegal body to be accepted for membership by LawCare
- the organisation which publishes Competency Standards for the paralegal profession (drafted with the assistance of scores of law firms and (in part) by Her Majesty's Land Registry and vetted for professional conduct requirements by the Solicitors Regulation Authority)
- the organisation which administers the paralegal career path - the Route to Qualification. The R2Q turns a job into a career, and an occupation into a profession. It is supported by scores of local law societies, university law schools, law firms and others
What we are not:
- a training company. You do not have buy training from us before you can join
- a regulator. Whilst we do regulate our own members, that doesn't make us a regulator in the true sense of the word. After all your local library, tumble-tots kids gym, scout troop, knitting circle and salsa dance class all have members too - but they aren't regulators!
Our role as the leading representative body for paralegals is not to sell expensive training, but instead to help people who want to become professional paralegals with a serious legal career.
We identify, verify and certify professional paralegals so that their experience and expertise will be recognised by clients, employers, other legal professionals and government.