Three years ago, Lyons Davidson introduced a Paralegal Training Award for junior staff members to gain legal knowledge and use as a springboard into the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) qualifications. Our in-house training team wrote the first of three courses and assessments, focusing on Civil Litigation in 2010.
In 2011, the training team developed the project further by creating a second award following the same format but focusing on Employment Law. More recently, in 2012, a third award focusing on Family Law was added to the programme. Each course stands alone and consists of legal theory topics in the relevant area, as well as legal practice elements such as research and client care. Each module is assessed with a mixture of in-class tests and take-home coursework that candidates complete in their own time.
Legal studies
The awards are endorsed by CILEx and the Civil Litigation Award contributed to our winning the ILEX Employer of the Year Award for 2009, presented at the ILEX graduation ceremony at the Corn Exchange in Bedford in June 2010. The Institute of Legal Executives recognised Lyons Davidson’s commitment to staff development, stating: “Lyons Davidson not only promotes the ILEx route to its staff, it funds their study and is generous in the time given for revision and examinations. In 2010 this employer appointed a legal executive as a partner, proving to its staff that anything is possible with the CILEx route, and has now begun a paralegal training programme (endorsed by CILEx) to encourage its junior members to further their career in law.”
Law training: employment and family
We have now delivered the Civil Litigation Award for the third year running, and it is proving to be as popular as ever. The Employment Award has just completed its second year in action, and the Family Award has just been rolled out for the first time. We feel that offering these awards demonstrates not only our enthusiasm for staff development and alternative routes to a legal career, but also our staff’s enthusiasm for furthering their knowledge and taking control of their career progression with us.
Find out more about Paralegal Training and careers at Lyons Davidson on our website.
