Stage 1

Dear Grade 1 Member

IMPORTANT – REGISTERED PARALEGAL SCHEME, TRANSITION – STAGE 1

Over the last few months we have been collating the data of our Grade 1 members who believe they meet the criteria to be ‘grandfathered’ into the Law Society of Scotland Registered Paralegal Scheme under Transition – Stage 1. We are grateful for those of you who have been in contact with us. Over the next few weeks we must refine and finalise our list to ensure that we are proposing the correct category of people to the Society for ‘grandfathering’.

Our database shows that you may meet the criteria to apply to the Law Society of Scotland Registered Paralegal scheme under Transition - Stage 1.

We are attaching with this letter:

a copy of a Fact Sheet developed by the Society in relation to the stages of launch.
an excerpt from the Scheme of Operation, which is the document which will oversee the Registered Paralegal scheme, and which details the rules of the scheme in relation to admission.

We urge you to read this both carefully at the same time as this letter, so you are clear on the principles of the scheme and whether you can apply under Stage 1.

The Registered Paralegal Standing Committee will consider the block application from SPA, on behalf of all Grade 1 members who meet the criteria, week commencing 5^th July.

We say you ‘may’ meet the criteria, as even if you are a Grade 1 member we do not hold all of the detailed information on you that we would need to, in order to make this block application.
We need you to check whether you meet all of the criteria associated with Transition – Stage 1, according to the attached documents. In addition, please note:

even if you are a Grade 1 member of the SPA, you must also have a qualification relevant to the Legal Domain you wish to register in.
in order to be grandfathered under Transition – Stage 1, you must meet the criteria associated with this stage for each Legal Domain in which you work.
if you do not work in a Legal Domain which is a ‘Guide Area’, you must submit a duly completed ‘prompt sheet’ in the area in which you work. As you can see from the excerpt from the Scheme of Operation, even if you meet the other criteria associated with Transition - Stage 1, the Registered Paralegal Standing Committee will require to make a decision on the introduction of a new Legal Domain before your application can be progressed.
sign off by your solicitor, and confirmation that you will be applying an paying the £100 fee from 16 August, is required before we will submit your name as part of the block application,

We would be grateful if you would send us an email detailing your response to these points 1-4 above, by Tuesday, 20 July.

Please remember that if you do not meet the specific criteria associated with Transition – Stage 1, you may wish to apply to register under Transition - Stage 2. Transition – Stage 2 is NOT a ‘grandfathering’ process, but is a ‘window of opportunity’ for those who believe that they already meet the criteria of the Registered Paralegal to apply to the Standing Committee to have that assessed. That application can be progressed from 15^th November this year and, whilst it may not be successful, as long as you have a relevant qualification there is always the opportunity of joining the scheme through the Full Route, as a Trainee Registered Paralegal from 16 August 2011. More information on Transition – Stage 2 and the Full Route will follow in due course.

We must emphasise that each step in this process requires careful scrutiny in order to ensure that this remains robust scheme which meets the standards it states it will set. We appreciate your enthusiasm for this long awaited scheme, and your frustration that not all SPA members have attained the standards required for Transition – Stage 1.

Finally, please remember that the SPA will continue as your representative organisation, whether or not you join the Registered Paralegal scheme.

If you believe you meet the criteria associated with Transition – Stage 1, and wish to be included in the block application because you definitely intend to make a Stage 1 application from 16 August, please ensure you consult with your supervising solicitor and employer, and send an email to both of us - Karen.leslie@stronachs.com and Alison.Butters@mhdlaw.co.uk, by Wednesday 30^th June.

Thanks.

Yours faithfully

Karen Leslie and Alison Butters

Joint SPA Presidents