Membership
Grades
&
Applying
for Membership
1. Who can apply
to join?
You can if you are an
individual (we are not currently accepting applications for corporate
membership). It does not matter if you are already a paralegal
or hope to be one. it does not matter where you live either -
international members are very welcome.
2. What are
the membership grades available?
If you live in the UK,
Channel Islands or Isle of Man you can apply for one of the following
UK membership grades:
Associate
Paralegal
Certified
Paralegal
If you live in Hong Kong you can apply
for one of the following Hong Kong membership grades:
Associate
Paralegal (HK)
Certified Paralegal
(HK)
Qualified Paralegal
(HK)
If you live anywhere else you can apply
for one of the following international membership grades:
Associate Paralegal
(Int)
Certified Paralegal
(Int)
Qualified Paralegal
(Int)
3. Why do you distinguish between
UK, Hong Kong and international members?
Because the Associate,
Certified Paralegal and Qualified Paralegal grades tell clients,
the courts and other legal professionals about your level of experience
and competency in either UK, Hong Kong or your local jurisdiction.
4. What if I
live in the UK but have legal training and experience from overseas?
You need to apply for
the UK grade most appropriate for you, based solely upon your
UK legal education and work experience.
No disrespect is intended
to your overseas education and experience - it is just that the
international grades are not intended to be available to people
in the UK because of the possible confusion it would cause.
6. I am already
a lawyer in the UK (as opposed to overseas). Can I join?
Yes. The Legal Services
Act 2007 recognises eight groups of lawyer: solicitors, legal
executives, barristers, trade mark agents, patent agents, law
costs draftsmen, notaries and licensed conveyancers. All but law
costs draftsmen are entitled to join immediately as Qualified
Paralegals. Law costs draftsmen are excluded because they do not
practice law so much as provide a support service (invaluable
and important though it is).
7. I am a trainee
legal executive. Can I join?
You would be most welcome.
We appreciate that whilst a trainee you may also be a paralegal.
We have no problem with "dual nationality". The route
to becoming a legal executive can be a long one. We have a number
of members happily working towards FILEX status but who want interim
professional recognition. We are happy to provide a temporary
home!
8. I am qualified
as a lawyer overseas lawyer. Can I join?
You are welcome to join.
However we can only formally recognize your overseas qualification,
education and experience if you are still resident overseas and
want to become an International member.
If you are resident
overseas then you are eligible to become a Qualified Paralegal
(Int).
9. I am an overseas
paralegal. Can I join?
You are welcome to join.
However the above points about UK/overseas lawyers and recognition
of their qualifications etc., also apply to overseas paralegals.
10. Which grade
should I apply for?
See which option describes
your situation. If none of them do, then email us at office@ theiop.org
(note break in link) for guidance:
No
practice experience - Affiliate
Less than four
years' practice experience and not passed an Approved
Course - Associate
Less
than four years' practice experience, but have passed the Mandatory
Course - Associate
Less
than two years' practice experience, but have passed an Approved
Course - Associate
Less
than one year's practice experience, but passed the Legal Practice
Course - Associate
Passed
an Approved
Course and have at least two year' practice experience - Certified
Paralegal
Passed
the Legal Practice Course and have at least a year's practice
experience - Certified Paralegal
Passed the
Mandatory Course
and the Legal Practice Course and have at least one year's practice
experience - Qualified Paralegal
I am a qualified
overseas lawyer, barrister, solicitor, licensed conveyancer,
notary, legal executive, trade mark agent or patent agent -
Qualified Paralegal
Information
about the UK Membership Grades
| The
Affiliate Member Grade
Membership
grade: Affiliate member
Professional
designation: none
Letters
after your name: none
CPD
obligations: none
Cost
of membership: £30 each year (incl VAT)
Additional
joining fee: none |
| The
Associate Paralegal Grade
Membership
grade: Associate member
Professional
designation: none
Letters
after your name: none
CPD
obligations: 12 hours per year
Cost
of membership: £60 each year (inc VAT)
Additional
joining fee: none |
| The
Certified Paralegal Grade
Membership
grade: Member of the Institute of Paralegals
Professional
designation: Certified Paralegal
Letters
after your name: M.Inst.Pa
CPD
obligations: 12 hours per year
Cost
of membership: £110 each year (incl VAT)
Additional
joining fee: none |
| The
Qualified Paralegal Grade
Membership
grade: Fellow of the Institute of Paralegals
Professional
designation: Qualified Paralegal
Letters
after your name: F.Inst.Pa
CPD
obligations: 12 hours per year
Cost
of membership: £120 each year (incl VAT)
Additional
joining fee: none |
UK Members - Cost of Membership
| Membership Grade
|
Annual Cost (£)
(incl VAT) |
Affiliate |
30 |
Associate |
60 |
| Certified
Paralegal |
110 |
Qualified Paralegal |
120 |
(the
above prices include Value Added Tax)
Information
about the Hong Kong Membership Grades
| The
Affiliate Member (HK) Grade
Membership
grade: Affiliate member (HK)
Professional
designation: none
Letters
after your name: none
CPD
obligations: none
Cost
of membership: HK$460 each year
Additional
joining fee: none |
| The
Associate Paralegal (HK) Grade
Membership
grade: Associate member (HK)
Professional
designation: Associate Paralegal (HK)
Letters
after your name: A.Inst.Pa (HK)
CPD
obligations: 12 hours per year
Cost
of membership: HK$1,035 each year
Additional
joining fee: none |
| The
Certified Paralegal (HK) Grade
Membership
grade: HK Member of the Institute of Paralegals
Professional
designation: Certified Paralegal (HK)
Letters
after your name: M.Inst.Pa (HK)
CPD
obligations: 12 hours per year
Cost
of membership: HK$1,800 each year
Additional
joining fee: none |
| The
Qualified Paralegal (HK) Grade
Membership
grade: HK Fellow of the Institute of Paralegals
Professional
designation: Qualified Paralegal (HK)
Letters
after your name: F.Inst.Pa (HK)
CPD
obligations: 12 hours per year
Cost
of membership: HK$2,350 each year
Additional
joining fee: none |
(the
above prices include Value Added Tax)
Hong
Kong Members - Cost of Membership
| Membership
Grade |
Annual Cost (HK$)
|
Affiliate Member
(HK) |
460 |
Associate Paralegal
(HK) |
904 |
| Certified
Paralegal (HK) |
1,530 |
Qualified Paralegal
(HK) |
2,000 |
(the
above prices include Value Added Tax)
Information
about International Membership Grades
| The
International Affiliate Member Grade
Membership
grade: Affiliate (Int)
Professional
designation: none
Letters
after your name: none
CPD
obligations: none
Cost
of membership: £45 each year
Additional
joining fee: none |
| The
International Associate Paralegal Grade
Membership
grade: Associate (Int)
Professional
designation: none
Letters
after your name: none
CPD
obligations: 12 hours per year
Cost
of membership: £78 each year
Additional
joining fee: none |
| The
International Certified Paralegal Grade
Membership
grade: International Member of the Institute of Paralegals
Professional
designation: Certified Paralegal (Int)
Letters
after your name: M.Inst.Pa (Int)
CPD
obligations: 12 hours per year
Cost
of membership: £126 each year
Additional
joining fee: none |
The
International Qualified Paralegal Grade
Membership
grade: International Fellow of the Institute of Paralegals
Professional
designation: Qualified Paralegal (Int)
Letters
after your name: F.Inst.Pa (Int)
CPD
obligations: 12 hours per year
Cost
of membership: £150 each year
Additional
joining fee: none |
International Members - Cost
of Membership
| Membership Grade
|
Annual Cost (£) |
Affiliate |
45 |
Associate |
78 |
Certified
Paralegal |
126 |
| Qualified
Paralegal |
150 |
(the
above prices include Value Added Tax)
To
Join
We'd love it if you joined
us!
If you are applying for
membership then please download the relevant application form and
guidance notes:
Application
form for people resident in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man or
the Channel Islands (Microsoft Word document) and guidance
notes (PDF document)
Application
form for people resident in Hong Kong (Microsoft Word document)
and guidance
notes (PDF document)
Application
form for people living anywhere other than the United Kingdom
or Hong Kong (Microsoft Word document) and guidance
notes (PDF document)
Alternately email us and
ask us to send you a form by email or post or fax.
If you cannot open PDF
documents you can download a free accessibility programme called
Adobe Reader which allows you to view, copy and print (but not edit)
PDF documents: see http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/?promoid=DAFYK
If you cannot open Word
documents you can download a free accessibility programme called
Word Viewer which allows you to view, copy and print (but not edit)
Word documents: see http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3657ce88-7cfa-457a-9aec-f4f827f20cac&displaylang=en
If you want either document
in another format please contact:
office@ theiop.org (note break
in link)
Tel: +44 (0)20 7099 9122
Fax +44 (0)20 7904 3750 |
