PDA Debt Recovery SCQF level 8

The PDA in Debt Recovery at SCQF level 8 has been developed in partnership with The Scottish Paralegal Association, employers and practitioners and replaces the PDA in Debt Recovery (G95V 48).

It will help employers meet skills gaps and provide continuing professional development for paralegals who already work in the legal domain of debt recovery, or for paralegals from other legal domains who are re-training in this area. It will help learners who aspire to the role of a paralegal to gain the knowledge and practical skills needed for entry and progression in the workplace.

The PDA is also recognised for the purposes of registration as a Law Society of Scotland Registered Paralegal.

The PDA in Debt Recovery is aimed at both trainee and experienced paralegals working in the specialism of debt recovery, whether in private practice, local authorities, banks or building societies. It could also be undertaken by paralegals in other legal domains who wish to move into this area of work, or those learners not currently employed who aspire to a paralegal role in the near future.

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre. Learners will usually be already working as a paralegal, either as a trainee or a more experienced paralegal in this or another legal specialism, although this is not essential. Ideally, learners would normally have some experience in debt recovery, although this is also not essential. Learners would normally be expected to have competence in Communication at SCQF level 6 or equivalent.

Learners who have achieved the HNC or HND in Legal Services would have some evidence towards the Units in the PDA.

The Units in the PDA have been mapped against the Law Society of Scotland's competences in the legal domain of Debt Recovery.

Learners would have the opportunity of progressing to other PDAs in the suite of paralegal awards.

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 the Systems and Qualification Approval Guide.

Each individual Unit specification gives detailed information on the Evidence Requirements and approaches to assessment for each Unit.

Ongoing course assessment will apply. Candidates will be assessed by a range of methods including written and/or oral responses designed to test their problem solving and research skills in a legal context, and the application of these skills to real-life scenarios.

Learning support materials are available for the Essential Skills for Paralegals Unit on SQA Academy, accessible using a candidate and tutor enrolment key available to centres once approved for the qualification.