The Post Graduate Diploma in Paralegal Practice (the PPC)
THE POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN PARALEGAL PRACTICE (PPC)
Why take the PPC Course?
Paralegals deal more with the procedural side of the Law than the academic although, of course, it is essential that they have a sound knowledge and understanding of the latter. Law Graduates, therefore, are not immediately equipped to obtain a job as a Paralegal. The Post Graduate Diploma in Paralegal Practice is a practical qualification which will provide not only a sound knowledge of practice and procedure but also hands on training covering the legal skills of interviewing, advocacy, drafting and negotiating, plus training in the areas of Civil Litigation, Criminal work, Matrimonial Disputes, Conveyancing, Succession and Corporate & Commercial work.
Graduates taking the PPC course will have an obvious advantage over all those who do not - they will have GAINED A COMPETITIVE EDGE OVER FELLOW GRADUATES.
The Post Graduate Diploma in Paralegal Practice is designed to bridge the gap between an academic Degree and the practical and procedural knowledge and skills necessary to be able to function effectively as a Career Paralegal. Alternatively, it will provide the Graduate with a foundation for subsequent professional development and will help them in their quest to obtain a Training Contract or to make a decision whether to do the LPC course.
A Degree is an academic qualification, but a Paralegal needs to also know Procedural Law and Practice.
This Diploma is designed for Law (and CPE/PGDipLaw) Graduates who have been unable to obtain a Training Contract and who hesitate to enrol on the Legal Practices Course (LPC) because of the high cost involved and the uncertainty of obtaining a Training Contract even if they do. The Law Society's Law Careers Advice Network advise "......students that do not have a training contract should think carefully before taking up a place on the LPC..."
Law Graduates have already invested a lot of time and money into gaining their Degrees. Statistically, only a relative minority are able to secure Training Contracts, but this need not be the end of the line! 45% of Solicitors' firms employ Graduates as Paralegals and more and more Solicitors are looking to Paralegals, not only to make their Practices more cost effective, but also (so far as Graduates are concerned), law firms are increasingly recruiting Paralegals as a way of selecting those suitable for a Training Contract.
Being a Paralegal is a great professional career in itself, however, and if you want to be a lawyer, but cannot get that Training Contract, then this is the best alternative - the third arm of the Legal Profession.
REFERRALS FROM THE LAW SOCIETY
The Association has received dozens of referrals via the Law Society on all aspects relating to Paralegals, especially Graduates who are looking for Paralegal jobs and this was one of the reasons why we introduced this course in 2000 and it has been run extremely successfully since then.
Course Details:
The course is run as a weekly part-time evening course in Central London consisting of three hours per evening (from 6.00pm to 9.00pm), two nights per week over 20 weeks. Total course time 126 hours. The cost is £999 and the next course commences on September 24th and will run on Wednesdays and Thursdays (to be confirmed). Please go to 'Enrolment & Payment' section.The course is also available by Distance Learning at a cost of £585 - please go to 'Enrolment & Payment' section.
The syllabus will be exactly the same for both the taught and distance learning courses and will consist of:
Induction: So that you will be aware of how the course will be conducted and also what it is like to work as a Paralegal. You will also be introduced to the Tutors.
There are SIX practice areas that the course will cover:
- Civil Litigation,
- Matrimonial Disputes,
- Criminal Practice,
- Conveyancing,
- Succession,
- Company/Commercial Work.
Civil Litigation: Civil Court structure; Preliminary considerations; Action prior to Proceedings; Commencing and Conducting the Claim; Statements of Case; Summary Judgment; Interim proceedings; Discovery; Preparing for Trial; proceedings at Trial; Forms of Judgment; Enforcement of Judgments; Costs.
Matrimonial and Civil Partnership Disputes: Preliminary considerations; Financial Provision; Ownership of Property: Children: Divorce: Valid, void and voidable marriages / CDs; Procedure - Divorce/termination, Nullity and Judicial Separation; Ancillary Relief: Forms and Documentation: Domestic Proceedings and Orders in the Magistrates Court; Decrees Nisi and Absolute.
Criminal Practice: Criminal Court Structure: Preliminary Matters; Police Powers; Police Station Interviewing; Commencement.; Legal Aid; Bail; Summary Trial: Trial by Indictment: Sentencing; Assisting Counsel/Solicitor advocate at a trial. Sanctions: Types of sentences; philosophies of sanctions; Appeal.
Conveyancing: General; Outlines of Land Law; The First Interview: The three stages of a Conveyancing Transaction; Pre-exchange of contracts; Searches and Enquiries; The draft contract: Deducing Title - Registered land and Unregistered land; Investigating Title: Mortgages, Exchange of contracts. Post contract/pre-completion: Requisitions on title; Transfer of Part, Conveyance, Assent, Searches; Obtaining funds. Preparing for completion,
Completion - date time & place, Breach of contract, Notice to complete,
Rescission; Completion; Post completion: Leaseholds: Possessory Title:
Succession: Wills: Taking instructions Functions and scope of a will: Gifts, bequests, legacies and devises, residue, appointment of Executors, Failure of bequests; Testacy and Intestacy; Probate & Administration - Practice and Procedure; Administering the Estate: Personal Representatives and their duties and powers; Protection against claims; distribution of the estate.
Corporate / Commercial work: Business Structures: Sole Trader, Partnership and Company. Types of Companies, Incorporation: The 'veil of incorporation' and lifting the veil. Public and Private Companies: Incorporation Procedure: Functions of the Registrar of Companies; Promoters; The Memorandum and Articles of Association; Share Capital; Loan Capital; Debentures; Floating Charges; Membership; powers of the Court; Directors & Secretary; powers; Board Meetings; Managing Director; Contracts of Employment; Loans to Directors; Fiduciary duties; insider dealing; Meetings and Resolutions; Annual Return; Accounts; the Directors' Report. Reconstructions, Mergers and Take-overs: Take-overs; basic procedure; the City Code. Liquidation, Administration and Receivership: Liquidation, dissolution and winding up.
Skills:
There are FOUR legal skills that the taught course will cover:- Interviewing,
- Negotiating,
- Advocacy,
- Drafting.
Interviewing: The Paralegal as a communication specialist; a model of the client interview; purpose; environment; introduction and closure; language; preparation; listening; rapport; investigative interviewing; record of the interview; checklists
Negotiating: The PPC criteria for negotiation. Preparation, Three stages of every negotiation, beginning, middle and ending gambits, power and how to get it, personality styles, factors that influence negotiation.
Advocacy: Paralegals have rights of audience in the Small Claims Courts, most Tribunals and before District Judges on Interim Applications, principles and ethics, preparation for hearing/trial, examination and cross-examination; submissions, persuasion.
Drafting: Introduction; the PPC criteria for drafting; drafting informal documents, drafting formal documents, forms and prece
Please note that Advocacy and Drafting skills are not available by Distance Learning.
The course (including the Distance Learning Course) will include the opportunity to visit the Royal Courts of Justice in London, and also a look around 'legal London' - Lincoln's Inn, The Middle Temple and The Inner Temple.
Negotiating: The PPC criteria for negotiation. Preparation, Three stages of every negotiation, beginning, middle and ending gambits, power and how to get it, personality styles, factors that influence negotiation.
Advocacy: Paralegals have rights of audience in the Small Claims Courts, most Tribunals and before District Judges on Interim Applications, principles and ethics, preparation for hearing/trial, examination and cross-examination; submissions, persuasion.
Drafting: Introduction; the PPC criteria for drafting; drafting informal documents, drafting formal documents, forms and prece
Please note that Advocacy and Drafting skills are not available by Distance Learning.
The course (including the Distance Learning Course) will include the opportunity to visit the Royal Courts of Justice in London, and also a look around 'legal London' - Lincoln's Inn, The Middle Temple and The Inner Temple.
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"When I left University, I felt that I would just step into a legal position - after all, I was a Law Graduate with Honours! This course brought it home to me that I knew virtually nothing of how the practice of law was conducted. But I do now!! Thank you!
AT
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Venue and Cost: The taught courses will take place in London The cost is £999 and start date/s and details of the location/s will be given in the documents sent out to students. Payment can be made online through PayPal or by a deposit and balance payable by instalments via a Bank Standing Order. Please email The Association regarding this.
If you are interested in the course, contact the Association for an Enrolment Form
"The future, in employment terms, for Paralegals, seems bright and those firms which employ them are convinced of the value of so doing ..."
The Law Society Research and Policy Planning Unit Research Report No. 23.
If you are interested in the course, contact the Association for an Enrolment Form
"The future, in employment terms, for Paralegals, seems bright and those firms which employ them are convinced of the value of so doing ..."
The Law Society Research and Policy Planning Unit Research Report No. 23.
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"I enjoyed the course immensely and even though I had taken the LPC, I found that this course was easier to absorb. The course was well structured and easily understood through the course material, the personal experiences of the tutors and the excellence of the tutors themselves.. Thank you for a most enjoyable and very interesting course.
ER
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"We were fortunate in having tutors who not only knew their subject inside out, but could also express that knowledge in a way that really encouraged , inspired and stimulated us".
TB
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I thoroughly enjoyed the PPC and it helped me to choose the career path that I want to take. The Tutors were excellent and very helpful in explaining and clarifying any matters. I found the trip to the Courts very interesting and an essential part of the course. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to be a career paralegal as I found that merely being a Law Graduate was not sufficient to enable me to get a job. The course was just perfect.
SB
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Distance Learning Course Delivery Policy
Upon receipt of the course fees, or if paying by instalments on receipt of the initial payment, the course material is delivered by first class post within seven working days. The course material is written on CD or delivered by email. The reason for this is that (a) it is easier and cheaper to produce, which keeps the cost of the course down (b) it is more convenient and cheaper to post and the pack will easily go into the average size letterbox and (c) it is easier and quicker to update.
Refund / Return / Cancellation Policy
A student can cancel the Distance Learning Agreement within 10 days of the receipt by them of the Distance Learning course and will receive a refund of the full amount paid, less the sum of £25 to cover postage and packing and adminstration costs, provided that the course material/CD is returned in 'as new' condition. No refunds will be made in any other circumstances.
Privacy Policy
All financial details (Credit or Debit Card numbers) are not, and will not be stored by us and will be destroyed as soon as the financial transaction has been completed.
Upon receipt of the course fees, or if paying by instalments on receipt of the initial payment, the course material is delivered by first class post within seven working days. The course material is written on CD or delivered by email. The reason for this is that (a) it is easier and cheaper to produce, which keeps the cost of the course down (b) it is more convenient and cheaper to post and the pack will easily go into the average size letterbox and (c) it is easier and quicker to update.
Refund / Return / Cancellation Policy
A student can cancel the Distance Learning Agreement within 10 days of the receipt by them of the Distance Learning course and will receive a refund of the full amount paid, less the sum of £25 to cover postage and packing and adminstration costs, provided that the course material/CD is returned in 'as new' condition. No refunds will be made in any other circumstances.
Privacy Policy
All financial details (Credit or Debit Card numbers) are not, and will not be stored by us and will be destroyed as soon as the financial transaction has been completed.