diff --git a/model/attr/scope.go b/model/attr/scope.go
index 8c9d67d..406d1a9 100644
--- a/model/attr/scope.go
+++ b/model/attr/scope.go
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 package attr
 
+import (
+	"git.openprivacy.ca/openprivacy/log"
+	"strings"
+)
+
 /*
 Scope model for peer attributes and requests
 
@@ -78,3 +83,16 @@ func (scope Scope) IsPublic() bool {
 func (scope Scope) IsConversation() bool {
 	return scope == ConversationScope
 }
+
+// ParseScope takes in an untyped string and returns an explicit Scope along with the rest of the untyped path
+func ParseScope(path string) (Scope, string) {
+	parts := strings.SplitN(path, Separator, 3)
+
+	log.Debugf("parsed scope: %v %v", parts, path)
+
+	if len(parts) != 3 {
+		return UnknownScope, ""
+	}
+
+	return IntoScope(parts[0]), parts[1] + Separator + parts[2]
+}