A NEW university course for Scottish paralegals has been created to support career development while meeting the complex and varied needs of the legal sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Law Society of Scotland has partnered with Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen to offer an accredited qualification tailored to paralegals, the first of its kind in Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With flexibility and accessibility at its core, the two-year online course is open to both current and prospective paralegals both in Scotland and internationally and will welcome its first cohort of students in January of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John Clifford, Dean of the Law School at RGU, said: \u201cThis new paralegal course is an ideal fit for the university\u2019s Law School and we\u2019re excited to have developed a curriculum that will meet the needs of both students and employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe course will support high-quality paralegal work by providing a strong grounding in Scots law plus specialised knowledge in key practice areas. Experience working in the legal sector will be highly regarded in gaining entry to the course, rather than past academic performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur online-based LLB degree program has proven enormously successful and this course will similarly offer a flexible approach to legal learning that\u2019s accessible to anyone in Scotland and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RGU\u2019s Law School was the first in Scotland to offer an online LLB and this new course and partnership further builds on the University\u2019s strategic mission to transform people and communities through accessible teaching excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Law Society of Scotland President Sheila Webster said: \u201cA quality paralegal is an enormous asset to any legal team. This new course will ensure paralegals are properly recognised for their skills and expertise, while also meeting the needs of employers in what\u2019s a complex legal landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is the first time the Law Society has been so involved in developing a course of study. Our Accredited Paralegal Committee has provided invaluable input, as have employers who\u2019ve told us they want a more structured career path for their paralegals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRGU\u2019s course will build on a decade of work by the Law Society through its voluntary paralegal accreditation scheme. It will not only support paralegals but ensure the legal sector\u2019s growing demand for these skill sets can be met.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n