1. Who these Standards are for

Competency Standards for Paralegals are designed for paralegals who practise law.

2. Number of levels

The Standards are set at three levels: Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced.

3. Content

The Standards for Paralegals cover:

Advocacy
Application of Legal Expertise
Business Awareness
Client Relations
Communication
Interviewing and Advising
Managing Others
Negotiating
Practical Legal Research
Professional Conduct
Self Awareness and Development
Working with Others
Workload Management
Writing and Drafting

 4. Guidance for Institute members
Affiliate and Associate members of the Institute should be benchmarking against the Introductory Level Standards and working to meet with them.

Institute members  at the Certified Paralegal grade should be benchmarking against the Intermediate Level Standards and working to meet them with them.

Institute members at the Qualified Paralegal grade should be benchmarking against the Advanced Level Standards and working to meet them.

5. Stakeholders

These Standards have been created by the Institute in partnership with the members on its Standards Working Party.

6. Publication information

The current edition of the standards were published in April 2010.

7. Additional information

Please note that the Advanced Level Standards for Paralegals are generic in nature. We have produced practice-area specific Advanced Level Conveyancing Standards which, where appropriate, should be used instead of the 'generic' Advanced Level Paralegal Standards.

These Standards map against the Solicitors Regulation Authority work-based-learning pilot project for recognising approved paralegal work as an alternative to a trainee solicitors' training contract.

8. Downloading your copy

Introductory Level Paralegal Standards

Intermediate Level Paralegal Standards

Advanced Level Paralegal Standards

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 Paralegal Standards we will also send you a set in Word 97-2003 format.

9. 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 altered to let you easily mark standards as having been met, and which also allow  for a verifier to initial his/her 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
 

For more information visit the subscribe page.