Institute of Paralegals

Introduction

The Institute of Paralegals is a government recognised, not-for-profit professional body that represents paralegals, that is to say those who undertake legal work but are not one of those who are authorised to do so by an approved regulator.

Their stated remit is to:

• assist people to join the legal profession as paralegals and other non-lawyer legal professionals,
• improve the standing and status of paralegals and other non-lawyer legal professionals through better recognition, regulation, support, training and career development,
• set national competency standards to assist with career development, training, appraisals etc.,
• assist employers to attract, retain and motivate the best non-lawyer staff through standards; appropriate affordable training; in-house course accreditation; expert advice and information,
• provide practising paralegals with nationally recognised quality-mark professional designations (i.e. Certified Paralegal and Associate Paralegal),
• work with employers firms to help them professionalise and refocus their non-lawyer staff,
• lobby government, the Legal Services Ombudsman, legal regulators and trade groups to improve members? standing, careers and status.

Code of Conduct

In addition to setting standards for paralegals and support staff in the legal profession through National Competency Standards for paralegals and other non-lawyers who work in the legal profession, the Institute of Paralegals has also established a Code of Conduct.

The Institute of Paralegal’s Code of Conduct sets out the standards and requirements which the Institute expects its members to Observe. It operates in addition to any other conduct standards to which Members are subject, e.g. duty to the court, contractual or statutory obligations. Compliance with the Code is a requirement of all those who are members of the Institute.

The Code deals with a number of key areas in relation to the conduct of paralegals, including:

• the manner in which members should conduct themselves during the performance of their duties and responsibilities,
• the need to ensure that they have the requisite skills, knowledge and expertise to perform their duties and responsibilities,
• the need for honesty, integrity, diligence and due care and attention,
• confidentiality,
• discrimination,
• the provision of information on fees to clients,
• the need for work management systems,
• the need for professional indemnity insurance.

In addition the Code provides for a complaints procedure and for a Disciplinary Tribunal. The provision in relation to this latter states, at Rule 9:

9.1 Complaints will be handled initially by the Institute’s secretariat.

9.2 The Institute has provided for a Disciplinary Tribunal to be convened if so requested by the secretariat. If convened it has the authority to consider and determine any complaint that the Code or other principle of conduct has been breached.

9.3 The Tribunal has the power to order a member found in breach to excluded either permanently or temporarily from membership, and/or be reprimanded and/or admonished. It may also order that a Fellow cease to use the Certified Paralegal title even if such a member remains a Fellow.

9.4 The Tribunal does not have authority to order payments of fines or costs or compensation to a complainant or other party.