Registered Paralegal Scheme
Latest News
March 2012
Annual Membership Renewal Payments
The Registered Paralegal scheme is into its second year of
annual membership renewals, there have been some lapsed payments
due to the following circumstances: -
The members credit/debit card has expired - If a member has not
checked their personal e-mail address they will be unaware of the
three automated annual membership renewal reminders that have been
sent out before their annual renewal date, they will also be
unaware of any card payment failure messages that have been
generated from WorldPay.
The members firm arranged payment from a business credit/debit
card that has expired - The Society strongly recommends that
individual members arrange payment from a personal credit/debit
card and recovers the money from their firm if the firm wishes to
cover the cost of membership. Again three automated annual
membership renewal reminders will have been sent to either the
members personal e-mail address or firms cardholder e-mail
address.
Member's are encouraged to be aware of their annual membership
renewal date and should check their personal e-mail address for
automated messages sent from the Society's CRM on-line membership
site and from WorldPay.
A members WorldPay agreement can be updated at any time if
they know their credit/debit card is due to expire, this is why it
is important that the member arranges the membership payment and
manages the WorldPay agreement.
A members annual renewal date is the anniversary of the date
they joined and is always on the 1st of the
month.
If you have any questions regarding your membership renewal
payment please e-mail registeredparalegals@lawscot.org.uk
March 2012
SPA Annual Conference
The Scottish Paralegal Association is pleased to announce their
Annual Conference will be held on Saturday 21 April from 12 noon to
4.15 at the Radisson Hotel, Argyle Street, Glasgow.
This event will deliver 3 hours qualifying CPD relevant to
all areas of practice. Topics include an update on the year's
developments and the Law Society of Scotland Registered Paralegal
scheme; Money Laundering Regulations; advice and guidance delivered
by Richard Farquhar, Financial Compliance Adviser of the Law
Society of Scotland; using social media for business
development delivered by Joanna Goddard, Business Development
Manager at Morton Fraser.
There will be a varied selection of exhibitors including the
LSSRP, education providers and services to the legal
profession. We are also joined by some high street names
which we are sure will tempt you with their pampering products,
gifts and something for the sweet tooth.
This free event is open to all paralegals and paralegal students
to attend and includes a buffet lunch. This is also a great
opportunity for networking and catching up with your fellow
paralegals. To find out more and register your place (and
ensure a record of CPD) please download a form from our website
Registration Form.
February 2012
Scottish Paralegal Association launches new logo and
website
"It's exciting times of change at the Scottish Paralegal
Association" said Karen Leslie and Alison Butters, joint
presidents, today. The Association was formed in 1993 to
represent the interests and promote the development of the
paralegal profession in Scotland.
"2012 will mark the beginning of our first full year since the
Law Society of Scotland implemented and introduced the Registered
Paralegal scheme developed in partnership with our
Association. We are delighted that there are over
300 paralegals Registered to the scheme working over 8
different areas of law with further applications continuing to be
received daily."
To celebrate this new phase of the Scottish Paralegal
Association they are delighted to announce the launch of their
new website and logo. You will find useful information on
membership, CPD, opportunities to advertise and apply for
employment vacancies, our annual conference in April and the
Registered Paralegal scheme http://www.scottish-paralegal.org.uk/
July 2011
Registered Paralegal Scheme - Full Route
Stage 3 of the Scheme, the "Full Route" goes live on 15 August
2011. Applicants to the scheme prior to that date should
apply through Stages 1 and 2 below. We strongly encourage
paralegals who believe they meet the standard of the
Registered Paralegal and the criteria for Stage 2 to apply to the
Society as soon as possible. Further, we strongly
encourage paralegals who work in legal domains that have not
yet been created within the Scheme - but believe they meet the
criteria of Stage 2 - to contact the Society noting
interest in their legal domain (e.g. Commercial Conveyancing,
Employment Law etc).
In order to qualify for the 'Full Route', applicants must hold a
formally recognised and assessed qualification relevant to the work
they will be doing as a Trainee Registered Paralegal.
The paralegal must then:
- Spend twelve months, or the equivalent of twelve months, as a
Trainee Registered Paralegal, working under a Supervising
Solicitor, in delivering legal advice to clients.
- Demonstrate to the Supervising Solicitor during the twelve
month (or equivalent to twelve month) training period that they are
applying the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values contained in
the General Competencies and Additional Competencies for the Legal
Domain in which they work, and that they understand and are abiding
by the Standards.
- At the end of the twelve month period, be declared as competent
by the Supervising Solicitor according to the General Competencies
and Additional Competencies in the Legal Domain in which they work,
and the Standards.
For more information please see the Scheme of Operation or email
registeredparalegals@lawscot.org.uk
The Scheme of Operation contains the rules of the
Scheme and can be downloaded from the Paralegals page. Please also ensure you read
the rest of the guidance on this page.