Training for law graduate paralegals
An employee who is a law graduate is well on the way to becoming a legal executive lawyer. To satisfy the academic requirements for Graduate Membership of ILEX, a law graduate needs to pass the ILEX Graduate Fast-track Diploma, which comprises two Level 6 legal practice units and the Level 6 Client Care Skills unit. The benefits of up-skilling your staff are considerable, and the total cost of approximately £2,000 is considerably less expensive than the Legal Practice Course.
A period of qualifying employment of five years is required, two of which must occur after the completion of the Diploma. It is likely that the work currently being carried out by your staff will count towards their qualifying employment and that they have already achieved a number of the qualifying years.
Achieve improved outcomes for your clients
Advanced client care skills are taught (negotiation and complaints handling), so you’ll have the peace of mind that your law graduates possess the skills to achieve the best outcomes for your clients. The client care skills course is a serious piece of work taking up to 76 hours’ study time, resulting in real improvements in the client-facing role.
Improve productivity
Your law graduate staff will not have studied legal practice formally, so the detailed knowledge they gain in legal process and procedures will make them more productive. The wide choice of practice subjects offered means that your staff can select two practice subjects to reflect their precise training requirements. The recommended study time for each course is 190 hours. The courses, which are set at LPC-level, include:
- Civil Litigation
- The Practice of Company and Partnership Law
- Conveyancing
- Criminal Litigation
- The Practice of Employment Law
- The Practice of Family Law
- Probate Practice
So, for example, if you wanted to upskill the graduate paralegals in your employment department you would choose the Practice of Employment Law and Civil Litigation. Client Care Skills are also studied.
Improve your recruitment and retention
By offering your law graduates this training and career path, you will recruit the candidates you want, and be in a position to manage that talent. Increased staff satisfaction will mean that you experience a reduced attrition rate. A low staff turnover means that your firm’s productivity and client work won’t suffer. Instead customer loyalty will be strengthened through improved customer service.
Charge higher fees
You may be able to use higher charge out rates for your law graduates’ time. Having completed the ILEX Graduate Fast-track Diploma and the required period of qualifying employment to become legal executive lawyers your law graduates can command a higher hourly rate. This is approximately £40 per hour more for legal executive lawyers than for paralegals, under the guideline rates for summary assessment of costs. This will enable you to recoup your investment in just 11 chargeable hours. The total costs of convering a law graduate paralegal are shown below:
ITC course fees:
2 x ILEX Level 6 practice courses £950.00 (£1140 including VAT)
1 x ILEX Level 6 Client Care Skills £312.50 ( £375.00 including VAT)
3 x administration fees £25.00 (£30.00 including VAT)
ILEX fees (these do not attract VAT):
ILEX first registration £35
ILEX Associate Member fee £155
Law Graduate exemption fee £200
2 x Level 6 practice unit exam entry fees (2012 exam sessions) £192.00
1 x Level 6 professional skills assessment fee (2012 exam sessions) £60.00
TOTA L COST £1929.50 ( £2187.00 including VAT)
Contact
If you would like to discuss your staff's training needs with us please call our Business Team on 01234 844326.