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The Route to Qualification

The Institute offers an internationally recognised career path for paralegals in Hong Kong: the Route to Qualification.

Its purpose is to provide paralegals and their employers with a simple and consistent paralegal career path based upon standards, proven competency, experience and training.

Why the Route to Qualification was introduced:

• Too many paralegals still only have a job, not a career
• Employers do not have the time/resources to create career paths for paralegals
• To provide consistent professional designations to allow recognition of expertise
• The paralegal training market is under-developed
• Development and recognition of the paralegal profession has reached a plateau
• There is insignificant recognition of paralegal expertise
• Recruiters need to have consistent competency benchmarks to work to
• Paralegals need professional designations which are linked to ability
• Professional indemnity insurers need to be able to assess the risk factor
• Clients need to know their paralegal advisers have proven competency

What is the Route to Qualification?

There are four stages in the Route to Qualification:

Affiliate (HK) Effectively the student grade, but open to all aspiring to become paralegals

Registered Paralegal (HK) For those at or near the begining of their paralegal careers

Certified Paralegal (HK) (M.Inst.Pa) Recognition of ‘flying hours'/experience but not proof of competency

Qualified Paralegal (HK) (F.Inst.Pa) Recognition of proven competency and experience 

Professional Titles for Members

Affiliate (HK) members do not receive a professional title

Registered Paralegal (HK) members can call themselves Registered Paralegals (HK) in correspondence, documentation, etc and use the letters R.Inst.Pa (HK) after their names (registered member of the Institute of Paralegals)

Certified Paralegals (HK) can call themselves Certified Paralegals (HK) in correspondence, documentation, etc and use the letters M.Inst.Pa (HK) after their names (Member of the Institute of Paralegals)

Qualified Paralegals (HK) can call themselves Qualified Paralegals (HK) in correspondence, documentation, etc and use the letters F.Inst.Pa (HK) after their names (Fellow of the Institute of Paralegals)

Competency Standards for paralegals and legal secretaries

Regulation and Professional Conduct

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