HNC/HND Legal Services

This HNC and HND Legal Services may be of interest to candidates if they are already working, or wish to work, as a paralegal in a law firm or a commercial organisation.

The qualifications are jointly awarded by SQA and the Scottish Paralegal Association. Paralegals across Scotland have the opportunity to complete one or more national quality-assured qualifications. These assure a minimum level of legal competence recognised by the Law Society of Scotland.

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For guidance on which approach suits your current circumstances please use the HNVQ assessment decision tree

Entry

As with all SQA qualifications, entry is at the discretion of the centre. Examples of formal entry qualifications include:

  • At least one Higher in English, Modern Studies, History or Economics
  • An appropriate grouping of National Units in Legal Services or Communication
  • If English is not your first language, an International English Language Test Score of 5.5 (recommended Higher National entry-level)
  • Higher National Unit DE1K 33 (Workplace Communication in English)

Equivalent qualifications or appropriate work experience may also be accepted for entry.

Progression and employment

HNC Legal Services

There are employment opportunities in a variety of administrative roles in central and local government, or in business or commercial contexts. You may progress to the HND Legal Services.

HND Legal Services

There are vocational opportunities in administrative or supervisory/management roles in business, finance, the commercial or public sector and the Police. If you wish to progress to an LLB degree programme with a view to eventually becoming a solicitor, the award is recognised by some universities and will allow you to start in year 1 of the LLB degree, subject to the university's normal admissions procedures. Progression into a BA Law degree or other degree programmes is also possible, although this is not the route you should choose if you wish to become a solicitor.

What you¿ll learn?

HNC Legal Services

This HNC Legal Services may be of interest to candidates if they are already working, or wish to work, as a paralegal in a law firm or a commercial organisation.

If candidates are already working as a paralegal, the awards will enable them to gain a nationally recognised qualification that provides evidence of their practical, vocationally relevant skills. 

HND Legal Services

The HND Legal Services may be of interest to candidates if they are already working, or wish to work, as a paralegal in a law firm or a commercial organisation.

The award will develop the competencies candidates will need to undertake specialist paralegal support roles in the legal profession, or in a legal context in a variety of business, public sector or financial organisations.  There are specialist paralegal options that will provide the practical skills required by employers. The course further develops the skills and themes studied in the HNC.

Centres with devolved authority for approval should use their own internal approval process.

Centres without devolved authority require to come forward for approval and should contact SQA's Business Development Team for guidance.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA's general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in theSystems and Qualification Approval Guide (510 KB).

Qualification Verification Summary Reports were formerly known as Internal Assessment Reports.