The Advanced Award in Paralegal Studies for the Voluntary and Community Sector
Gloria Wills, Chair person of CAVOS receiving her Advanced Award in Paralegal Studies for the Voluntary and Community Sectors at the course Presentation ceremony at Darlington.
These Awards were specially designed by the Association in co-operation with Stockton Riverside College and The Headland Development Trust for those working in the Community and Voluntary Sectors in a variety of organisations and settings, usually but not necessarily in a Managerial or Administrative capacity. Amongst the aims of the Awards are the provision of knowledge and skills in the legal aspects of Community work, initiatives and development. Since the 1980s, Local Government has encouraged Communities to play a more proactive role in regenerating themselves. This resulted in local resident and self-help groups undertaking project development focused on the needs of their particular areas, be it geographical social or economic. These groups have helped tremendously in the regeneration of otherwise run down or derelict areas and the social and economic ills that emanate from them and to bring development in housing, local business, job creation, homelessness, youth work, work amongst the handicapped, community growth (in all its aspects), environmental improvement, etc.
Against this background of social change, Government led initiatives have been established and have grown in the regions, providing a variety of sources of funding. As these community led projects have grown as a result of their success so has the demand for training and self help opportunities that have given a grass roots approach to regeneration. Running such projects is not only time consuming but fraught with legal obstacles that constantly have to be overcome for the project to continue. Every aspect of life is concerned with legal matters to some degree or another and businesses (whether they are run for profit or for social concern) particularly so. This usually means taking legal advice which not only is time consuming and frustrating but, of course, usually very costly.
These courses address many of the legal issues that community and voluntary workers, managers or administrators will come across on a regular basis and is specifically designed to provide learners with the opportunity to acquire key legal skills that will greatly assist in the running, administration and growth of a sector project or organisation.
The Advanced Award in Paralegal Studies for the Voluntary and Community Sectors:
There are three courses at differing levels. The Main qualification is The Advanced Award in Paralegal Studies for the Voluntary and Community Sectors:
The following is a brief outline of the content of this course:-
It became clear during the delivery of the Advanced Award that a structured programme of study was needed at a foundation level to allow underpinning of knowledge that would equip people to progress. A Foundation Course (The Foundation Certificate in Paralegal Studies for the Voluntary and Community Sectors) was developed from the Advanced Award. It is aimed at providing individuals who may be volunteers or community activists with a basic knowledge and understanding of key issues surrounding community development. Each session of two hour duration will provide students with the opportunity of learning in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, by undertaking exercises around re-enforcing and supporting key knowledge and skills, such as: Why do we get involved? All this jargon how do I understand it? What areas of law affects me and my role in the community? What is a trust, and who are the Charity Commission? Roles, duties, powers, responsibilities, liabilities and obligations and how do I carry them out in the community? What is a business constitution, why have one? What are the different types of constitution? What is the purpose of a chairperson? Who should be the chair and what is expected of that person?
What do a secretary and a treasurer do? What is expected of people who carry out these tasks? Who writes the agenda for meetings and how should this agenda be worked through? What if a conflict arises in the meeting how can it be resolved? The next stop. Identifying a way forward to make progression towards the Advanced Award.
The Fellowship Award in Paralegal Studies for the Voluntary and Community Sectors:
This course was introduced to provide a further measure of expertise, especially but not exclusively, for those wishing to become freelance Community Paralegal Practitioners.
The course, briefly, consists of:
However, the Association is anxious to be able to provide these courses in all areas of regeneration, and in areas of assisted area status. If anyone reading this page feels qualified to deliver or to organise the delivery of these courses on a franchised basis, then please contact the Association at its Head Office in Bristol, or send an e-mail from the 'Contact' page
"I was delighted to embark upon this unique course which has given me not only the knowledge, but also the confidence, to dissect often complicated documents, full of legal jargon; question the relevance of the agreements and the implications for my organisation.. I have also been able to support others in drawing up Constitutions and with applications to the Charity Commission. I feel it has been a valuable asset to my work and my position as Chair in two large voluntary charitable organisations"
These courses address many of the legal issues that community and voluntary workers, managers or administrators will come across on a regular basis and is specifically designed to provide learners with the opportunity to acquire key legal skills that will greatly assist in the running, administration and growth of a sector project or organisation.
The Advanced Award in Paralegal Studies for the Voluntary and Community Sectors:
There are three courses at differing levels. The Main qualification is The Advanced Award in Paralegal Studies for the Voluntary and Community Sectors:
The following is a brief outline of the content of this course:-
- Sources of Law,
- Administration of Justice,
- Business Constitutions
- Charity Law
- The Law of Contract
- The Law of Tort and Civil Litigation
It became clear during the delivery of the Advanced Award that a structured programme of study was needed at a foundation level to allow underpinning of knowledge that would equip people to progress. A Foundation Course (The Foundation Certificate in Paralegal Studies for the Voluntary and Community Sectors) was developed from the Advanced Award. It is aimed at providing individuals who may be volunteers or community activists with a basic knowledge and understanding of key issues surrounding community development. Each session of two hour duration will provide students with the opportunity of learning in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, by undertaking exercises around re-enforcing and supporting key knowledge and skills, such as: Why do we get involved? All this jargon how do I understand it? What areas of law affects me and my role in the community? What is a trust, and who are the Charity Commission? Roles, duties, powers, responsibilities, liabilities and obligations and how do I carry them out in the community? What is a business constitution, why have one? What are the different types of constitution? What is the purpose of a chairperson? Who should be the chair and what is expected of that person?
What do a secretary and a treasurer do? What is expected of people who carry out these tasks? Who writes the agenda for meetings and how should this agenda be worked through? What if a conflict arises in the meeting how can it be resolved? The next stop. Identifying a way forward to make progression towards the Advanced Award.
The Fellowship Award in Paralegal Studies for the Voluntary and Community Sectors:
This course was introduced to provide a further measure of expertise, especially but not exclusively, for those wishing to become freelance Community Paralegal Practitioners.
The course, briefly, consists of:
- Legal Research and Methodology,
- Areas of Substantive Law,
- Civil Litigation (including Advocacy)
- Legal Practice.
However, the Association is anxious to be able to provide these courses in all areas of regeneration, and in areas of assisted area status. If anyone reading this page feels qualified to deliver or to organise the delivery of these courses on a franchised basis, then please contact the Association at its Head Office in Bristol, or send an e-mail from the 'Contact' page
"I was delighted to embark upon this unique course which has given me not only the knowledge, but also the confidence, to dissect often complicated documents, full of legal jargon; question the relevance of the agreements and the implications for my organisation.. I have also been able to support others in drawing up Constitutions and with applications to the Charity Commission. I feel it has been a valuable asset to my work and my position as Chair in two large voluntary charitable organisations"
Gloria Wills, A.PLL. Chairperson of CAVOS