1. Who these standards are for
The National Competency Standards (NCS) for Legal Assistants are designed for people working in the legal profession or other legal environments whose work is of a clerical or administrative (but non-secretarial) nature.
NB: legal assistants doing paralegal work should refer to the paralegal NCS.
2. Number of levels
The standards are set at one level.
3. Content
The NCS for Legal Assistants cover:
Application of Legal Knowledge
Business Awareness
Client Relations
Communication
Equipment Use
IT Skills
Practical Research
Professional Conduct
Self Awareness and Development
Working with Others
Workload Management
Writing Skills
4. Guidance for Institute members
These standards are appropriate for Institute members in the Affiliate grade who do work of a clerical or administrative nature. we suggest that relevant members work towards compliance with these standards and discuss them with their employer/line manager.
Do you want to join the Institute: click here.
5. Stakeholders
These standards have been prepared by the Institute in partnership with the members on its Standing NCS Working Party.
6. Publication information
The current edition of the Legal Assistant NCS were published in October 2009.
7. Downloading your copy
You can download a copy of the current edition in .PDF format for free by clicking here.
If you cannot open a .PDF document then you can download a free copy of Adobe Reader by clicking here. Alternatively, if you subscribe to the NCS for Legal Assistants series we will send you a set in Word 97-2003 format.
8. Subscribing
Although you can download a copy for free here in .PDF format you should consider taking out an annual subscription to the series relevant to you. Subscriptions cost GBP £70 per year, per series of standards.
The advantage of subscribing is that you:
Automatically receive all updates, amendments, corrections and notices concerning that series and the standards in general
Receive copies which have provision for you to mark individual standards as having been met, and which also allow for a verifier to initial their confirmation
Receive copies in Word 97-2003 format for easy editing/cutting and pasting
Have the opportunity to speak with us about implementation of the standards
Are eligible to be/register candidates for the LPQ qualifications (Legal Secretarial NCS only)
For more information please visit the subscribe page.
