Institute Projects

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.

Here are some examples that demonstrate the wide range of matters and organisations that we regularly deal with:

Amicus

We are working with this leading legal charity which supports and conducts the re-trial of American death-row prisoners whose original trials were conducted in a questionable manner.

Association of Muslim Lawyers

The Association supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

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.

Birmingham City University

The law school supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

Bradford University

The law school supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

Brighton University

The business school supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

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.

British Transport Police

We have advised the British Transport Police on paralegals and their rights and obligations.

Bucks New University
The law school supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

Cabinet Office

Responded to the Cabinet Office consultation by the panel on the Fair Access to the Professions by providing written and oral submissions and meeting with them to discuss our submissions.

Carter Reform Group

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

Chester University
The law school supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

The Children's Society

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

Child Support Agency

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

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.

 

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.

Companies Registry

We are members of the Legal Users Focus Group.

Commonwealth Legal Education Association

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

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.

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.

Collaborated in the production of the Institute's IOP Competency Standards.

Coventry University
The law school supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

Criminal Records Bureau

We have advised the CRB on the status of paralegals under the CRB's guiding legislation.

Crown Prosecution Service

Advised on paralegal caseworker development.

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

Sponsor of the Paralegal Awards.

DeMontfort University

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

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.

 

Department for Education & Skills

We worked with the DES to promote/publicise the career paralegal option, and helped edit their careers literature on paralegals.

Department for Work & Pensions

We advised the DWP benefit fraud group on paralegal career developments.

Department of Trade & Industry

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

Derby University
The law school supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

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 project.

Employer Engagement

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

Financial Services Skills Council

We were a member of the FSSC working party creating the financial services sector 14 – 19 Diploma (a government initiative) and also a member of its 14 – 19 Diploma legal sub-group.

Foundation Degree Forward

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

HM Revenue & Customs

We advised HM Revenue and Customs about the paralegal profession and income structures.

The Home Office

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

HR in Law

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

Independent Police Complaints Commission

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

Inspiring Futures

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

Institute of Legal Cashiers & Administrators
ILCA supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

Lancaster University
The law school supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

Land Registry

The Land Registry collaborated with us on the joint production of specialist IOP Competency Standards for Conveyancing Paralegals.

LawCare

We were the first ever paralegal organisation to be invited to join the LawCare pastoral support organisation for legal practitioners.

LawNet
This leading group of law firms supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

Law Society of England & Wales

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

The Society sponsored the Paralegal Awards.

Worked with the Society on diversity careers fairs.

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

Law Society of Scotland

We are on the Society's Registered Paralegal Standing Committee.

Law South
This leading group of law firms supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

Legal Aid Practitioners Group

We worked with the LAPG the development of paralegals in the legal aid sector and were invited to speak at its annual conference.

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 project.

Legal Services Board

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

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.

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 project.

Supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

LiST (Litigation Support Technology Group)
The Group supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

Liverpool Law Society
This leading local law society supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

London Apprenticeship Company

We have worked with this charity to investigate the creation of paralegal apprenticeships.

London Borough of Camden

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

Manchester Law Society
This leading local law society supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

Matrix Chambers

We are collaborating with this world-famous barristers' chambers to help them to assist the legal aid sector through a revolutionary online resource for practitioners.

National Consumer Federation

We are working with the Federation to review the effectiveness of paralegal law firm regulation.

New Law Journal

We are partnering with this leading legal publication to produce The Paralegal - the UK's leading paralegal journal.

Newport Business School
This leading business school supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals

New York City Paralegal Association

Reciprocal membership arrangement

Drafting trans-atlantic paralegal competency standards

Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments

We advised on establishing an accreditation procedure for government assessors.

The Prison Service

We have advised the Service on the rights and obligations of paralegals representing prisoners.

Professional Associations Research Network (PARN)

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

Police Forces

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

Police National Database

We have partnered PNDL to bring their criminal law database to the attention of the legal profession and paralegals.

Qualifications & Curriculum Authority

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

Resolution (formerly Solicitors Family Law Association)

Member of working party considering paralegal qualifications.

Sponsor of the Institute's Paralegal Awards.

Recognises senior IOP members for Resolution membership

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art

Supported our application for institute status.

Scottish Paralegal Association

We are in communication with the SPA on matters of mutual relevance, and supported their Registered Paralegal scheme in Scotland. The SPA also supported our application to government for institute status.

Skills for Justice

We liaise with this skills sector council on a potential national training framework for paralegals.

S4J has a watching brief on the ongoing IOP Competency Standards

Society of Specialist Paralegals

We work with this alumni body on matters of mutual relevance.

Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers

Our members are entitled to join this solicitors' organisation.

Shadow Attorney General

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

Met with us to be briefed on paralegal matters.

Solicitors in Local Government

We work with SLG through its training arm, LGG, to help with the development of the paralegal work force in local government.

Solicitors Regulation Authority

In regular communication relating to matters concerning paralegals

Has a watching brief on the Institute's IOP Competency Standards project and vets the standards for professional conduct compliance.

UK Trade & Investment

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

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

University of Cambridge

Partnered Cambridge to create and deliver paralegal training.

University of Hong Kong

We work closely with the university to help develop the paralegal profession in Hong Kong.

University of Huddersfield

Supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.

We were a member of the validation panel for their foundation degree in paralegal practice.

University of Lincoln

Sponsor of the Paralegal Awards

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

University of Portsmouth

We are partnering the university to issue practice-orientated qualifications to their law undergraduates.

University of the West of England

The Bristol Law School at UWE supports our Route to Qualification career path for professional paralegals.