Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services launched next week
The new Level Four Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services will be officially launched in
The qualification heralds a new vocational pathway for paralegal professionals working in personal injury, insolvency and debt recovery and commercial litigation.
It has been developed by Skills for Justice, CILEx and Damar Training, and the launch event will tie in with the start of the National Apprenticeship Week on 11 March.
Alan Woods, chief executive of Skills for Justice, said: “With law firms expected to increase the number of paralegals they employ by anything up to 18 per cent between 2012 and 2017, we are delighted to announce that they can now be confident that there is clarity about how the role and skills required of those who provide legal services, but are currently unqualified, are defined.
“83 per cent of firms told us they would be interested in taking on apprentices in this sector, and working in partnership with CILEx, Damar and the National Apprenticeship Service to professionalise the role through this Apprenticeship means that full recognition and parity can finally be given to an essential part of the workforce that has been lacking for so long.”
Natalie Thornhill
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