The IoP’s Educational and Training Network (ETN) enables training providers, universities and colleges  to be recognised as having qualifications or training Approved by the IoP.These courses are for the legal sector and are available for use by legal secretaries, paralegals, legal assistants, solicitors and trainee solicitors and law students. Paralegal qualifications enable you to progress your career in legal departments, law firms, local authorities, businesses or as a career paralegal as a sole trader or within a paralegal law firm. No matter what your area of law contact us to find out more about paralegal careers.

One of the essential elements of developing the paralegal profession is ensuring that there is a framework in place for identifying, and giving due recognition to good courses and qualifications that are of interest to paralegals and paralegal employers.

In support of this goal we are keen to work with universities, employers, course providers and award givers, both in the United Kingdom and internationally.

The service we provide includes:

• Reviewing, validating and approving in-house courses.

• Recognising awards granted by other awarding bodies.

• Working with other professional bodies towards dual-recognition of professional qualifications.

• Conferring additional Institute qualifications on existing courses.

• Working with universities to obtain academic recognition and credits for Institute accredited courses.

• Through partnerships with leading training providers we can also assist in the development of new courses for paralegals and the evolution of existing courses.

This service simply accredits your courses for CPD purposes for one year.

It is offered on a course-by-course basis.

It costs £100 per course per year IF the course in question is already approved for CPD purposes by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, CIlex or the Bar Standards Board.

In this case approval is automatic upon application with proof of prior approval.

Recognition under Level 1 above relates solely to courses being run for CPD purposes.

If you have non-CPD courses that you want recognised by the Institute then we can help by approving them too.

We offer along with the actual accreditation:

Recognition acts as a quality kite-mark, telling your customers that an independent body has audited your course and approved it. The cost is dependent upon how much work we have to do to approve the course, but rarely costs more than £250 for a year's approval.

Please either complete the following enquiry form and return it to us, or just e-mail or phone us to discuss your requirements.

All contact is in confidence.

Please click here to download the application form.

Our Approvals policy highlights the steps in the Approval process. All qualifications must map sufficiently to the Paralegal Competency Standards.

Please email us at [email protected] and we will send you a copy of the Competency Standards.

Please see the:

• Approval Process

• Application Form

• Fee Structure

Please contact us if you have any questions and we will be happy to discuss your requirements.

For Approval of the English Law Adviser Programme – a new document will be made available soon.

Under our national career path for paralegals - the successful completion of certain approved courses allows candidates to fast-track to Fellowship status