Paralegals Standards

On this page:

1. General information

2. Number of levels

3. Content

4. Linked LPQ legal qualifications

5. Guidance for Institute members

6. The Standards working party

7. Wide applicability

8. Solicitors Regulation Authority compliant

9. Downloading your copy

10. Subscribe to updates

11. For more information

The Institute's Competency Standards for Paralegals are designed for paralegals already in practise and those who aspire to become paralegals.

1. General Information

For general information on Competency Standards: their purpose, how they are formatted, how to use them and download them for free, copyright issues, etc, please click here.

2. Number of Levels

The Competency Standards for Paralegals are set at three levels: Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced. Broadly these correspond to entry-level, established and senior.

3. Content

The Competency Standards for Paralegals at all three levels cover:

4. Linked LPQ Legal Qualifications

For just GBP£195+ VAT you can potentially obtain a linked legal qualification: the LPQ [Introductory/Intermediate/Advanced] Certificate in Paralegal Practice. For more information please click here.

5. Guidance for Institute Members

Affiliate and Registered Paralegal members of the Institute should be benchmarking against the Introductory Level and be working towards meeting them.

Institute members  at the Certified Paralegal grade should be benchmarking against the Intermediate Level and be working towards meeting them.

Institute members at the Qualified Paralegal grade should be benchmarking against the Advanced Levels and also be working towards meeting them.

6. The Standards Working Party

The Competency Standards for Paralegals have been created by the Institute with kind assistance from members of the Standards Working Party.

7. Wide Applicability

The Competency Standards for paralegals are designed to be used by a wide variety of employers. They work for different types of employer (in-house, law firm etc.) different size of employer (sole practitioner to magic circle firm) and for different practice areas (litigation, IP, commercial, etc.). The only exception are the Competency Standards for Conveyancing Paralegals (created in conjunction with the Lands Registry) which are specific to senior (i.e. advanced level) conveyancing paralegals.

8. Solicitors Regulation Authority Compliant

These Competency Standards have been vetted by the SRA for professional conduct compliance purposes. They also map against the SRA's work-based-learning project for recognising approved paralegal work as an alternative to a trainee solicitors' training contract.

9. Downloading your Copy

All the following documents are in .PDF format. You can choose another format for free by downloading them and then converting them online for free at www.zamzar.com or similar.

10. Subscribe to Updates

Although you can download copies for free here in .PDF format you should consider taking out an annual subscription to the series relevant to you. Subscriptions cost GBP £70 + VAT per year, per series of standards.

The advantages of subscribing are that you:

11. For More Information

We will be delighted to answer your questions. Please email office @ theiop.org (note breaks in link) or telephone 02070 999 122 (or from overseas +44 2070 999 122).


 

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