The Law Society has opened its consultation on the proposed registered Paralegal scheme, ahead of the standardisation of paralegal qualification expected during 2010.

The Law Society is presently devloping a Registered Paralegal scheme in partnership with the Scottish Paralegal Association, aimed at unifying entry standards, initiating a Code of Conduct,CPD standards and a complaints regime.

"The Society is committed to this scheme which seeks to define and credit the role of the paralegal in Scotland – for paralegals, for solicitors, and crucially for the public who need to have faith in the knowledge and skills of the people dealing with their legal transactions," the society said in a statement.

"The SPA has firmly believed for many years that not only should the role of paralegal be promoted and that paralegals should gain the recognition they deserve, but that consistent and high standards are an absolute necessity to their integrity and respect as an emerging profession." 

The consultation follows on the opening of Central College's dedicated paralegal training programme, developed in conjunction with the SPA and Law Society.

The policy paper can be viewed at www.lawscot.org.uk/paralegals.