Login myCILEx About CILEx About CILEx Lawyers Membership Study For Centres Media Contact Us You are here CILEx Home About CILEx Paralegal Enquiry News Who we are Royal Charter Consultations Paralegal Enquiry Media coverage The CILEx Council Corporate Governance Business Plan Annual Report Pro Bono Our work in Wales CILEx videos Equality and Diversity Customer Service CILEx Vacancies Paralegal Enquiry Legal workforce of the future – can paralegals meet market needs? CILEx is leading an enquiry which will answer whether paralegals can meet the market needs of the future. We will commission research, which we anticipate will deliver a holistic view of the future market context (regulated and unregulated) for legal services delivery from 2020. This research will be scoped and defined through a series of focus groups and roundtable discussions, and importantly, will consider the characteristics of the legal workforce who will meet those needs, and employer attitudes towards the use of paralegals in future. The focus groups, which began in October 2014, are taking place in England and Wales over the coming months. Parameters What will this legal workforce look like? What is the true position of the ‘paralegal uprising’? What skills and competence will this workforce need? Where will they be and what role do professional and regulatory bodies have to play? How does this workforce best serve the future needs of the legal services consumer? What impact is the increasing influence of IT having on the legal workforce of the future? What are employer attitudes toward the future use of paralegals/pre-qualified legal professionals? Will they employ more or fewer in future? What advantages/disadvantages do employers find to using paralegal staff? What progression/training/support do they offer them? What ethical and consumer issues arise from the increased use of paralegals, and how can employers be supported to address these? Will current qualification and progression provision meet those market needs? Do attitudes and challenges to future deployment of paralegals differ in regions, cities, and varying size or speciality of firms? This enquiry will address questions such as these. We will publish the research findings to inform the profession, provoke debate and challenge assumptions. Stakeholders and interested parties We will arrange a number of focus groups and roundtable discussions to assist us in refining the parameters and informing our findings, with particular emphasis on employer groups. The roundtables, to be held under Chatham House rules, will take place around the country and with specialist firms including BAME. Research will be commissioned and will be guided by the outcomes of the focus groups and roundtable discussions. A literature review will also be carried out. This research will build upon recent published studies, such as the LETR, and whilst recognising that legal education and training has an important part to play in the skills and competence arena, it will deliver a number of future market scenarios to inform the profession. Get involved If you have an interest in this project and would like to assist CILEx with the enquiry, email: paralegal.enquiry@cilex.org.uk Explore CILEx CILEx Regulation Regulating our members, Consultations CILEx Journal Features, Brief CPD CPD Requirements myCILEx Members' Rights and Responsibilities, My profile CILEx Law School Studying with us, A - Z Course List Recruitment website Search jobs, Work for CILEx Roles of Chartered Legal Executives Partners, Judges, Advocates... Visit our Careers website Qualifications, Membership, Registration Find a study centre Find a lawyer Find a CILEx branch The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7AB Tel: +44 (0)1234 841000 Examination enquiries: +44 (0)1234 845727 Membership enquiries: +44 (0)1234 845777 General enquiries email: info@cilex.org.uk Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Copyright Accessibility Feedback Sitemap Cookies Policy Connect with us Facebook Page Twitter LinkedIn Youtube