Scottish Paralegals are set to get letters after their names as the University of Strathclyde and Central Law Training Scotland, which is responsible for Paralegal training in Scotland, launch a new qualification.
Those who achieve the new qualification will be entitled to add the letters MSSP after their names, which will stand for Member of the Society of Specialist Paralegals.
It is intended that the new training qualification will act as a bench-marking system that will enable paralegal staff to attain much the same status as legally qualified professionals and also ensure that all Paralegals are trained to a consistent standard.
The university and CLT have now formed the Society of Specialist Paralegals and registered it with Oswalds around two weeks ago.
The University of Strathclyde and CLT have been developing the training course, which covers areas such as conveyancing, civil court practice, criminal practice, reparation, debt recovery and consumer law and litigation, over the last five years and in that time more than 2,000 Paralegals have been trained by them, either as part of face-to-face courses that operate twice a year or as part of a distanced learning syllabus.
The organisation is also looking to launch an advanced course for Paralegals in due course, which will lead to a Fellowship of the Society of Specialist Paralegals.
Speaking of the new qualification, Moira McFadyen, Managing Director of Central Law Training Scotland, said: “SSP has been set up as a not for profit organisation for the education and training of Paralegals and to improve their position in the workplace. Our exams are by no means easy to pass so it will become a benchmark for Paralegal staff who have come through the SSP training.
“This will allow Paralegals to attain the proper recognition and status for the job that they do, in the same ways paramedics have become more highly recognised in the medical arena.”
Although this is a very Scottish initiative, CLT is expected to roll out the same qualification into England and Wales in the coming year.