Join Over 2,000 Paralegals When You Become A Member Of The IOP

Institute of Paralegals

Please read these notes before completing the form.

To help us process your application promptly, please write clearly and use block capitals throughout, following any instructions carefully. If your form is not completed correctly, this may delay your application process. Please only use this form if you are applying to become a member for the first time.

Membership Application Forms must contain an applicant’s name, his or her address, a disclosure of any prior record of misconduct, disciplinary proceedings or criminal convictions, a signed or if made online accepted declaration, the payment of the registration fee and the current subscription fee for the type of organisation, as notified on the Institute’s website from time to time.

The Head of Membership reserves the right to ask an applicant for further and better particulars of his or her application and/or the necessary amount of payment in settlement of the administration fee and the current subscription fee.

All completed applications will be reviewed in accordance with the Institute’s approved procedure. On receipt of a completed Membership Application Form, you will receive an acknowledgment email. The application will then be reviewed and you will receive a notification on the outcome of your membership. The Head of Membership will either send an acknowledgement, within 5 (five) working days of receiving the same to the applicant, or inform the applicant of the outcome of his or her application or, if necessary, request further and better particulars of the application.

An applicant may appeal against a decision regarding his or her eligibility for membership of the Institute, in writing, to the Chief Executive, within thirty days of being notified of a decision on his or her application. The appeal will be dealt with in accordance with the Institute’s approved procedure.

If, for whatever reason, an application for membership is unsuccessful, the accompanying payment less the non-refundable application fee will be refunded on request to the Executive.

You will also be required to comply with the Institute’s Code of Conduct and the Complaints Procedure and accept them; please read them here and here before applying.

2. Your Organization's Details

*Company, charity, solicitors’ firm, paralegal advisory firm, FE college, university law school etc

3. About Your Organisation’s Activities

4. Any Other Matters

5. Reason for Application

6. Complaints

Please Write below:

7. Your Main Liaison

You should nominate someone to be the main point of contact in your organisation (NB: this will not stop others in your organisation dealing with us).

8. Your Character and Standing

Please note here any matters relating to your character and professional standing that we ought to know about when considering your application for corporate membership. In particular, tell us if you have:

None of the above automatically means that an application for membership will be refused. If in doubt, please give details here and we will if necessary discuss it with you in confidence.

Declaration as to Conduct

I understand that one of the Institute’s main goals is to improve the standing of paralegals through increased professionalism, focused training and high standards of conduct, especially when dealing with clients, employers and other legal professionals.
I therefore agree and undertake that we shall, during my time with the Institute, as the responsible contact for this corporate membership:

• Uphold these goals
• Comply with the Institute’s Code of Conduct
• Be responsible for the actions of our staff, consultants, agents who are members of the IoP under this corporate membership. If at any time a member of staff is not a fully paid up member of the IoP, I shall ensure that clients are clearly made aware of this.

And I shall not, in the workplace or elsewhere, compromise or impair any of the following:

• Our organisation’s professional integrity
• Where appropriate my duty to act in the best interests of our clients
• Our organisation’s reputation or of the good reputation of the paralegal profession
• Our obligation to ensure all staff produce work to a professional standard
• Our duties and obligations under law

I acknowledge that our rights to describe our organisation as a corporate member of the Institute and to use the IoP’s logo are entirely contingent upon our continued membership of, and good standing with, the Institute.