Project to Create Transatlantic Competency Standards for Paralegals
LONDON, Nov. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Many UK law firms have an office in the United States of America, and vice-versa. A significant number of UK and US law firms have merged in a trend that shows no sign of abating.
Typically such transatlantic firms seek to apply uniform expectations and standards to all their fee-earners across the firm. To assist firms achieve this goal, the UK's Institute of Paralegals (IOP) is proud to be partnering with the New York City Paralegal Association (NYCPA) to produce paralegal competency standards relevant to both UK and US paralegals.
The standards, which will be available at no charge, will assist firms to standardize paralegal recruitment, appraisal, development and competency benchmarks.
World's First International Paralegal Standards Project
This project is the first by paralegal representative bodies to create international standards. It highlights the growing sophistication of the paralegal profession in both the UK and US.
About the Project
The IOP and NYCPA have formed a joint working party to create competency standards for paralegals working in transatlantic law firms. The Standards will reflect the usual paralegal career structure, being set at introductory, intermediate and advanced levels.
Modelled upon the IOP's existing UK competency standards, the draft transatlantic paralegal competency standards will be circulated for comment to all UK and US transatlantic firms.
James O'Connell, Chief Executive at the IOP said: "Firms want to treat their fee-earners in a consistent manner across all their offices. They also want the same level of performance, competency and professionalism. Our standards will help firms to identify the core skills and knowledge that they should require of their paralegals at the various stages of their career."
Nikki Doughty, International Liaison at the NYCPA said: "This project is a timely response to the increasingly international nature of legal practice. We hope that firms looking to apply consistent standards to their paralegals will find the standards helpful. We're aiming to get significant feedback from firms on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure that the standards are helpful and relevant."
The IOP and the NYCPA are working to have a first draft available for circulation to interested parties before the end of January 2011.
Contact Details
Any firm or other relevant organisation interested in either being on the Joint Standards Working Party or having a watching brief should contact either:
James O'Connell at [email protected] or
Nikki Doughty at [email protected]
Organisations which are already existing members of the IOP's UK Standards Working Party or who have already requested a watching brief will be automatically included in the consultation.
Note to Editors
1. This project builds upon the successful Competency Standards for Paralegals produced by the Institute and a working party containing numerous law firms and others (see list).
2. For background information on the Institute please visit the Media Centre.
3. For more information on the NYCPA please click here or email Nikki Doughty of the NYCPA at [email protected]
4. Whilst a growing list of organisations focus on the potentially lucrative paralegal training market, the Institute consistently works on the non-commercial aspects of the developing paralegal profession, e.g. competency standards, career paths, paralegal apprenticeships, management standards for paralegal law firms, dialogue with the judiciary and Bar about dealing with paralegals, regulatory matters and offering careers advice and mentoring programmes to schools etc.
5. The IOP is the largest paralegal professional body in the UK. It is the oldest incorporated professional body for paralegals in the UK and is the oldest not-for-profit paralegal body in England & Wales. The IOP was formed in 2003 and granted institute status by the government in 2005 (its application being supported by inter alia, The Law Society, Bar Council, Citizens Advice and Crown Prosecution Service). Visit our web site.
6. The Institute also publishes The Paralegal - the UK's leading publication for all paralegals. For more information click here.
Quick Links
New York City Paralegal Association
Institute of Paralegals Contact Information
Within the United Kingdom phone:
020 7099 9122
Outside the United Kingdom phone:
+44 20 7099 9122
Within the United Kingdom fax:
020 7904 3750
Outside the United Kingdom fax:
+44 20 7904 3750
New York City Paralegal Association Contact Information
Within the United States phone:
(347) 586 9272
Outside the United States phone:
+1 347 586 9272
SOURCE Institute of Paralegals
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